Huge questions are again being raised regarding the practice of affirmation therapy for children suffering from gender distress and gender dysphoria, this time by senior physicians at the Westmead gender clinic in NSW’s Children Hospital.
Director of Politics for the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL), Wendy Francis, said,
“The Federal government can no longer ignore the growing number of physicians, academics, psychologists, psychiatrists, endocrinologists and senior medical ethics experts casting doubt on any scientific basis of gender-affirmation treatment for children suffering from gender distress and gender dysphoria.
“Parents and de-transitioners, testifying to the devastating lifelong harm caused by puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones must not be ignored. This new body of academic research from NSW medical experts is a further wake-up call and should act as a tipping point for the Federal Government, who, up to this point, have rejected calls for a national inquiry into best practice for children experiencing gender dysphoria.
“Our government has a responsibility to act in the best interests of vulnerable children. They cannot, in all good conscience, continue to turn a blind eye to the devastating fallout occurring, including serious side-effects from experimental drugs, causing ongoing, lifelong mental distress, transition regret, infertility and other irreversible impacts on young bodies.
“How many more children, who present at a clinic with no physical ailment, will we allow to suffer from being prescribed experimental drugs which cause irreversible, life changing harm?”
The Australian Christian Lobby urges the Federal Health Minister Mark Butler to urgently initiate an independent inquiry into what is proven best practice in treating children with gender dysphoria.
ENDS
