Ministry of Health delays review into use of puberty blockers

The Health Ministry has again delayed its long-awaited review of the evidence for transgender children and teenagers' use of puberty blockers after a highly critical report from Britain.

Hormone blockers, which stop the physical changes of puberty, are under scrutiny internationally, after a four-year independent inquiry in Britain found "remarkably weak evidence" for their use.

Last week, the New Zealand Ministry of Health announced its own evidence brief - which was originally due in November - would be published this week.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/514615/ministry-of-health-delays-review-into-use-of-puberty-blockers

Best practice gender-affirming healthcare is based on trans people’s self-determination and agency. The Māori health framework Te Pae Mahutonga terms this Te Mana Whakahaere: autonomy. As The Professional Association for Transgender Health Aotearoa (PATHA) explains, this principle encompasses “people’s autonomy over their own bodies, represented by healthcare provision based on individual choice and informed consent”.

https://thespinoff.co.nz/society/19-04-2024/what-access-to-puberty-blockers-means-for-trans-young-people-and-their-whanau