Scottish Medical Chief Defends Puberty Blocker Pause Amid BMA Critique

Scotland's top doctor asserts that the decision to pause puberty blockers was evidence-based, countering claims of ideological influence.

Scotland's Chief Medical Officer, Sir Gregor Smith, emphasized that the pause on puberty blockers was based on scientific evidence, not ideology.
The Cass review, led by Dr. Hilary Cass, raised concerns about the long-term impacts of puberty blockers, prompting the Scottish Government to halt their prescription for new patients.
The British Medical Association (BMA) initially critiqued the review but later adopted a neutral stance after internal backlash from doctors.
Sir Gregor Smith highlighted flaws in the BMA's evidence, noting that some critiques were based on non-scientific sources such as blogs.
The Cass review called for comprehensive assessments of children with gender issues, moving away from the previously common 'affirmative' model.