The Listener magazine publishes a puberty blockers' article that cites errors of logic.

An article about puberty blockers appeared in the September 5 issue of The Listener magazine, titled 'Identity Crisis - Transgender health advocates are seeking a fairer approach to puberty blockers, other than an outright ban'. The writer, Nicky Pellegrino, sought comment from Wellington GP Rona Carroll, who 'specialises in transgender healthcare'. In the article, it's clear that she is an ardent advocate for puberty blockers, and claims 'there's no evidence of harm'. Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. However, Fern Hickson fromResist Gender Educationsaw several flaws in Dr Carroll's reasoning, and sent this excellent letter to the editor of The Listener - 'Dr Carroll makes three errors in logic in her defence of puberty blockers. The first is to advocate for no regulations because some people might flout or circumvent them. We don't apply that logic to speed restrictions. The second is to say that because only a small number of minors are affected, the issue doesn't matter. We don't apply that logic to helmets for cyclists. The third is claiming that blocking puberty allows the child time to mature. There is a complete lack of logic in believing a child's brain development and decision-making ability can mature when the trigger for maturation - puberty - has been switched off. While puberty blockers themselves may not cause irreversible changes, the vast majority of children who take them move like clockwork onto cross sex hormones, whichdohave irreversible effects and can severely compromise health. At the least, cross sex hormones turn previously healthy adolescents into lifelong medical patients. In a current US court case, WPATH (the parent body of PATHA, of which Dr Carroll is vice president) has admitted that its standards of care are not settled medical science. The Minister of Health correctly exercised his duty of care when he introduced restrictions on puberty blockers for the treatment of gender dysphoria in minors. Multiple international reviews have found very weak evidence of their benefit and even the organisation that has promoted blocking puberty for decades now argues it was just expressing an opinion in an 'area of medical and scientific uncertainty'. For info re WPATH's admission of scientific uncertainty see:https://segm.org/media/transgender-health-group-now-says-its-guidelines-treating-youth-are-only-opinions-intense' Ends. So far, The Listener hasn't published Fern's letter. Here is the article. An online version isn't available. Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. Website:The New Zealand Women's Rights Party(membership NZD$5/yr) Facebook:Women's Rights Party NZ X: @WRP_NZ DONATE