The procurement or possession of puberty blockers to treat gender dysphoria could lead to prosecution in Northern Ireland. The news comes according to correspondence seen by Belfast Live between Health Minister Mike Nesbitt and Ministers Naomi Long and Andrew Muir.
In December 2024, a proposal to ban puberty blockers for under-18s was approved by all parties in the Executive, namely Sinn Féin, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) and the Alliance Party. While it was initially believed that this would only apply to the sale, supply or prescription of the medication, it now appears that this is not the case.
In a joint letter from January 8, Long and Muir told the Health Minister, “A number of parents have already been obtaining or exploring the option of seeking treatment for their child in Dublin; however, they now have concerns about the consequences of doing so.”
The letter continued, “Whilst you were clear with Executive that it is the prescribing of puberty blockers that will be a criminal offence, and that being in possession of them as a patient will not be, parents are fearful that, in light of the ban, should they disclose to a medical or other professional that their child is taking this medication, they may be referred to Social Services or face other sanctions.”
The ministers requested assurance from Nesbitt that “no parent will face such a response for seeking treatment for their child outside the UK,” adding, “We are sure that you would agree that it would be placing children at greater risk were they and their parents not to disclose all of the medications which they are taking when seeking medical care, due to fear of prosecution or other sanctions.”
After receiving the letter, the Department of Health sought legal advice regarding the sanctions people may face should they try to circumvent the ban. The Department reportedly responded in line with this advice, the full version of which has been withheld.
In a heavily redacted letter, Nesbitt told Long and Muir that the information he originally provided to the Executive in December 2024 was “based on an incomplete assessment of the various scenarios that are now emerging.” He then confirmed that anyone who sells, supplies or imports puberty blockers in Northern Ireland, as well as those in possession of the medication contrary to the ban, will be committing an offence.
“The legal advice received makes clear that any breach of the Order is a criminal offence under the Medicines Act 1968, which also applies to those knowingly in possession of GnRH analogues which we been supplied to them contrary to the Order. These offences have existed in Northern Ireland since the making of the Medicines (Gonadotrophin-Releasing Hormone Analogues) (Emergency Prohibition) (Extension) Order 2024 on 27th August 2024,” Nesbitt wrote.
Speaking to Belfast Live, The Rainbow Project’s Policy, Campaigns and Communications Manager Alexa Moore shared, “When we met the Minister alongside a group of parents and the charity Mermaids, he told us that the ban was targeting the prescription and not the possession or administration of the drugs.”
She continued, “It is disappointing that this policy appears to have been developed with such haste and a lack of consideration for the potential implications for patients. We have been here before with individuals being criminalised for procuring and taking abortion medication, and I don’t think that anyone wants to go back there.
“We are now in a position where it is illegal to be in possession of these drugs, but if you drive an hour down the road, it is perfectly legal.”
Moore questioned whether or not this new information would have influenced Executive ministers’ decisions in December, explaining that the proposal was approved “in the pretext that this would not be the criminalisation of parents and that Northern Ireland would form part of the puberty blockers trials that were supposed to commence at the start of this year, but to date, we have heard nothing.”
She concluded, “Transgender people and their families have been left without any kind of support, and while the investment in services is welcome, but that will take a long time to bed in, and we know that this is having an impact right now.
“Yes, we will always welcome new research to ensure that the drugs are safe, but the reality is that these drugs have been prescribed for 30 years and the data is there on their long-term impacts.”
by ChloeOnTheInternet
16 comments
So the christofascists want to control everyone as usual
The order uses powers under the Medicines Act 1968 to make it illegal to possess, import or sell them.
Either change the law or run the risk going down South for scripts.
Sickening
Who would’ve thought that our leftist parties’ lack of spine would result in the criminalisation of trans people accessing medication we were assured we would be able to access through the (non-existent) medical trial…
This Act, in conjunction with the (over) 8-year waiting list for a first appointment at the GIC, alongside the lack of the promised medical trial has now became a de facto ban on trans people accessing the medical pathway endorsed by the NHS.
At the time, Muir claimed that this would not be the case. Guess it’s easy to make assurances you can’t follow through on when you’re not the one who has to deal with the consequences.
They really need to do deep psychological tests on the parents of the children requiring the medications, as it would be tragic if the parents were mentally ill and started a child on these medication.
Can we just stop trying to make life shit for trans people?
I don’t get it, why are so many people obsessed with being twats to them
The puberty blockers ban was forced through quickly (without public consultation if I remember correctly) as a political football and no one thought about the actual intricacies and how it would be implemented. It’s going to be a dangerous shitshow for people with trans kids or those who are questioning their gender. This essentially forces parents of trans kids to fly abroad to get them proper care or risk prosecution getting the puberty blockers imported via mail from a (hopefully) reputable seller.
There has been no evidence of long term negative side effects of puberty blockers, they’ve been used since the 60s at least for precocious puberty. All puberty blockers do is delay puberty to allow the child to explore their identity before the irreversible changes of puberty set in. Then if they want to proceed with their natural puberty, they stop taking them – or if they want to transition, they then go under the care of additional doctors to get HRT so they can undergo the correct puberty for them. Far too much misinformation and scare mongering flying around on this topic. Loads of parents say they’d do anything for their kids, but these parents are putting that into action. They shouldn’t have to risk a criminal record just to get their kids healthcare.
Am I wrong in my understanding that puberty blockers need to be proscribed after due process, so procuring them privately would be a criminal act anyway?
This just seems really inhumane to me. It’s possible to have the treatment and care in place to manage this effectively but there is no willingness to do it. Putting a blanket ban on them is such a simple minded and backwards approach. Trans kids will just suffer needlessly until they are 18 and will have a harder time transitioning physically after.
And some people will still find a way to procure these blockers. Without the care of a dedicated medical expert.
Good.
Recent medical advice is that these drugs used for **this** purpose, i.e almost always to permanently stop normal puberty and replace with cross sex hormones, have not been tested appropriately.
These are very vulnerable children, the majority of who have autism, trauma or other comorbidities. They aren’t test subjects.
In any event the UK is running trials on puberty blockers to see how safe and realistic they can be and if safe they’ll be prescribed like any robustly tested drug
Starting from Monday, all people believed to be trans will be dipped in vat of acid on a weekly basis as part of a new routine of cruel and unusual punishments.
Sinn Fein 🤝 the DUP
Not letting trans kids transition.
Good. Children are not old enough to consent to this madness.
Whens the paras gonna start selling them?
I see this is bringing the usual transphobic cunts out of the woodwork….
Fucking focus that ire on the rich and powerful distracting you by making you think that innocent trans people just trying to live their lives are the problem.
Cunts.
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