The head of the Australian Medical Association’s Queensland branch says the state must listen to doctors ahead of it own “ideological views”, after the government moved to block new child patients from accessing puberty blockers and other transgender hormone therapies.
The health minister, Tim Nicholls, announced the temporary ban on Tuesday, saying potential governance issues at a Cairns clinic had raised “concerns about paediatric gender therapies state-wide”.
The Cairns and Hinterland Health and Hospital Service released a statement clarifying that a review had found “process issues” with the clinic, but that there had been no evidence of patient harm.
Staff at the clinic reported receiving abuse after the announcement.
Dr Nick Yim, president of AMA Queensland, said claims of non-compliance with clinical guidelines should be investigated, but that investigations must be free from political pressures.
“This is a highly sensitive practice area with a unique and vulnerable patient cohort,” he said, “and it is crucial that a knee jerk reaction to an isolated incident does not prevent these patients from accessing the support and care they need.
“LGBTQIASB+ patients are at high risk of suicide and self-harm, with a recent Australian Government report showing nearly 75 per cent consider suicide at some point in their life.
“It is vital these patients have access to safe health services that are free from judgement and discrimination.”
Yim said the government should implement the recommendations of last year’s independent review of the Queensland Children’s Gender Service, which had recommended the expansion of the service amid long waitlists.
“There is a reasonable expectation that government decisions prioritise expert advice over ideological views,” Yim said.
Before the 2024 election, Guardian Australia twice sent questions to the LNP opposition asking about their positions on puberty blockers and gender-affirming care.
Those questions – sent in September and October – received no response.
Asked about its refusal to comment prior to the election, Nicholls’s office said on Wednesday they could not “speak to questions you may have asked in the past”.
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In response to other questions, including whether process issues at one clinic justified the statewide suspension of hormone treatments, Nicholls’s office referred to his media statements and press conferences this week.
Dr Portia Predny, vice-president of the Australian Professional Association for Trans Health, told ABC Radio National on Wednesday the decision was shocking and disappointing.
She said puberty blockers have been used for decades and not just for gender-affirming care but for precocious puberty and endometriosis.
“There’s ample evidence that supports these medications as being safe, effective and reversible,” Predny said.
“All of the concerns that are being expressed about the safety of these medications are only being expressed in the context of gender-affirming care.”
In Cairns on Wednesday, Nicholls said about 450 to 500 people were on the waitlist for the Queensland Children’s Gender Service at the time of the block on hormone treatments.
He said the review was a “calm and methodical approach” and that there was “contested evidence” related to the use of hormone therapies.
“The health and wellbeing of children is our prime concern,” he said.
“There is a very significant amount of concern about children going down that pathway and the long-term effects … without an understanding of those long-term effects.”
Nicholls said abuse of staff in Cairns was “clearly unacceptable” and that those staff “were not involved in the circumstances” that has prompted the reviews.
With Australian Associated Press
Article by:Source: Ben Smee Queensland state correspondent
