The Good Law Project and TransActual are leading a challenge against the UK’s ban on prescribing puberty blockers for young people, criticising the lack of consultation and parliamentary scrutiny, and the potential criminalisation of healthcare providers involved.
A legal challenge has been initiated against the UK’s recent ban on prescribing puberty blockers for young people. The ban, implemented by Health Secretary Victoria Atkins on May 30, 2024, just before the dissolution of parliament, applies to England, Wales, and Scotland. It was enacted following the Cass review into NHS services for transgender youth, which criticized but did not recommend a ban on puberty blockers.
The Good Law Project and transgender advocacy group TransActual are leading the challenge, arguing that the emergency ban could criminalize healthcare providers with penalties of up to two years’ imprisonment. They also claim the ban bypassed necessary consultations with statutory committees and lacks proper parliamentary scrutiny.
Legal representation for the challenge includes Russell-Cooke solicitors and senior barristers David Lock KC, Jason Coppel KC, and Rob Harland. If the judicial review proceeds, it aims to overturn the ban and any related regulations. The UK government has a deadline of Friday to respond to the challenge.
