Australia Should Implement Recommendations in Landmark Puberty Blockers Report: Psychiatrist

Psychiatrist Urges Australia to Adopt Recommendations from Groundbreaking Puberty Blockers Report

April 11, 2024 TruthUSA

Dr. Spencer expressed her concerns about the current Affirmation Model, which was implemented at the request of transgender activists.

An esteemed Australian psychiatrist has embraced a groundbreaking review on the use of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones for young children with gender dysphoria, hailing it as a “return to evidence-based treatment.”

In an interview with 2GB, psychiatrist Jillian Spencer stated, “I was so relieved to read the Cass Review final report because it signals a return to a careful and evidence-based treatment approach. Unfortunately, the current model that’s in use, called the Affirmation Model, that was implemented at the behest of transgender activists.”

Dr. Spencer, a child psychiatrist who was removed from her position at the Queensland Children’s Hospital for being perceived as a threat to transgender and gender-diverse children, mentioned that her removal followed an NHS review that exposed the fragile foundations of gender medicine.

Dr. Hilary Cass, the chair of the report, emphasized that NHS England’s prescription of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to children was based on “remarkably weak evidence” and described the toxicity of the debate as “exceptional.”

Report Downplays Treatment Options for LGBT People: Lobby

Equality Australia, a national advocacy group for LGBT individuals, asserts that the Cass report disregards the consensus of major medical organizations globally and lacks applicability within the Australian context.

Dr. Portia Predny, vice president of the Australian Professional Association for Trans Health (AusPATH), commented, “The way that gender-affirming care is accessed and provided in Australia differs significantly from the approach in the NHS. In Australia, our guidelines for gender-affirming care for young people already prioritize holistic, individualized, and person-centered care involving multidisciplinary teams of clinicians with various areas of expertise to assist and support young individuals on their gender journey.”

In February, the Australian Medical Association (AMA) updated its position statement on LGBT health, noting the positive health outcomes associated with gender-affirming care, such as reduced substance abuse and harm from self-administered hormones, for individuals with gender dysphoria.

Government Should Implement Recommendations ‘Today’: Dr. Spencer

Dr. Spencer emphasized that for the Australian government to offer safe and evidence-based care to children with gender dysphoria, it should immediately begin implementing the recommendations from the Cass report.

The Albanese government considers the report to be “significant” and will review its findings, as reported by The Australian.

Dr. Spencer suggested changes to health service policies, advocating against immediate use of preferred pronouns for children and an affirming approach to those with gender dysphoria.

She also called for the dissolution of pediatric gender clinics, proposing redistribution of funding to general child and adolescent clinics that offer psychosocial interventions for gender dysphoria.

“Puberty blockers should only be administered in high-quality, ethics-approved research trials, and cross-sex hormones should be reserved for adult treatment with careful consideration of safety,” she added.

The federal health minister’s department has been contacted for a statement.

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