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High court clears way for clinical trial giving puberty blockers to children
The judge said the challenge was not arguable, and the trial will enroll about 220 children with strict consent and monitoring safeguards.
- On Friday, Mr Justice Chamberlain dismissed a legal challenge to the PATHWAYS Trial, ruling that the High Court would not block the puberty blocker study from proceeding.
- NHS England commissioned the PATHWAYS Trial to assess puberty blocker risks after Baroness Cass's 2024 review found evidence for the drugs "remarkably weak," though legal action had previously paused recruitment.
- Researchers at KCL hope to recruit 226 children under 16 who have received "many months" of psychological support from NHS Gender Services, with strict monitoring of physical and mental health throughout.
- Good Law Project solicitor Zoe Johannes called the ruling "a significant win for young trans people," while Keira Bell described it as a "tragedy" that ignores long-term harm concerns.
- Recruitment for the trial begins today, August 1, 2026, for children aged 11 to 16, with the Health Research Authority maintaining that the study remains "carefully designed" to ensure participant safety.
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UK High Court Clears Puberty Blocker Trial on Children as Young as 11
The British High Court has rejected an attempt to stop children being recruited for an NHS-funded trial of puberty blockers. Judges refused campaigners permission to bring a full judicial review against the Pathways study, allowing researchers to begin enrolling around 226 children. Girls must be at least 11 and boys at least 12 before receiving the drugs. The legal challenge was brought by the Bayswater Support Group, which represents parents o…
Coverage Details
Total News Sources12
Leaning Left3Leaning Right5Center2Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Right
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources lean Right
50% Right
L 30%
C 20%
R 50%
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