Court Of Appeal Ruling On Children's Consent To Receiving Puberty Blockers

• Published date: 13 October 2021
• Law Firm: Shoosmiths
• Author: Mr Adam Maguire

The Court of Appeal has overturned an earlier decision of the High Court in which guidance was given on the circumstances where a child might be able to give consent to the administration of puberty blockers.

Puberty blockers are drugs used to postpone puberty in children and are prescribed to some children diagnosed with gender dysphoria, which is where somebody feels distress as a result of a mismatch between their gender identity (the gender they identify with) and their biological sex. This is sometimes known as gender identity disorder, gender incongruence or transgenderism.

In 2020, the High Court gave guidance on the relevant information a child under 16 would have to understand in order to be competent to give consent to the administration of puberty blockers. The guidance...