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I am sure others have made this point, and done so better than i, but can bite my tongue no more in respect of the a-holes at @NHSEngland and their response to the Keira Bell ruling.
Like...
Like...
...i get that they must now comply with the law.
But equally, whatever happened to "First Do No Harm"?
(and yeah: anyone who comes at me to point out that is NOT part of the Hippocratic Oath gets an instant block).
But equally, whatever happened to "First Do No Harm"?
(and yeah: anyone who comes at me to point out that is NOT part of the Hippocratic Oath gets an instant block).
The point about practising medicine is that one deals not just with the law, but also with the individual and with the situation.
That is why medics in the UK (and worldwide) prescribe shedloads of medication off-label...
That is why medics in the UK (and worldwide) prescribe shedloads of medication off-label...
...it's not been tested for a specific purpose: but it has been proven efficacious and in certain circs (about 50% of the time, actually), it is better to take the risk of prescribing a substance not officially tested than allowing illness to run its course.
That is why all manner of outreach workers will continue to prescribe prohibited substances, because the alternative, bringing someoone off a drug cold turkey can itself have detrimental effects.
It's why police turn a blind eye to projects such as that run by @FMeasham, which involve testing drugs at Festivals...
...because the drug may be unlawful, but if it's toss up between someone consuming an unlawful substance tested or untested, tested is better.
Police get this
...because the drug may be unlawful, but if it's toss up between someone consuming an unlawful substance tested or untested, tested is better.
Police get this
And it is also why GP's are supposed to take over HRT prescriptions that trans people have obtained by a range of routes, some more licit than others...
...because having someone inside the tent being monitored is better than them being outside unmonitored...
...because having someone inside the tent being monitored is better than them being outside unmonitored...
Are you starting to see a pattern here?
There are all sorts of times and occasions where the letter of the law comes into conflict with best medical practice...where strict application of the law can do more harm than good.
There are all sorts of times and occasions where the letter of the law comes into conflict with best medical practice...where strict application of the law can do more harm than good.
In the case of trans kids, this should be pretty obvious to all involved. But not, apparently to the @NHSEngland bods (who, i may have mentioned, are a bunch of a-holes).
Whatever you BELIEVE about trans kids, and that encompasses even those who think it's all a hoax...
Whatever you BELIEVE about trans kids, and that encompasses even those who think it's all a hoax...
...it should be obvious to anyone with half a brain that sudden withdrawal of puberty blockers from a load of vulnerable young people is likely to have consequences.
And that in many cases, those consequences will be harmful.
And that in many cases, those consequences will be harmful.
Hell! You don't have to have ANY view on transness to understand that. Because whatever else is going on there is a degree of psychological dependence on puberty blockers and on the say so of a judge, with apparently no additional medical input...
... @nhsengland has ordered GP's to pull the plug.
Does anyone honestly think that is in the best interests of individuals?
That no harm will thereby be done?
Or that there was no alternative to responding this way to the court ruling?
Does anyone honestly think that is in the best interests of individuals?
That no harm will thereby be done?
Or that there was no alternative to responding this way to the court ruling?
Sure: what the court said became operative on Tuesday...but what consequences, if any, of @nhsengland stating that would be the position going forward and that for the sake of individual children there needed to be a managed period of withdrawal from puberty blockers?
