In a significant legal development, the Queensland Supreme Court has overturned the state government’s freeze on puberty blockers for patients under the age of 18 with gender dysphoria. This landmark court battle between the mother of a 14-year-old transgender teenager against the Queensland Health Director-General and its freeze on public doctors prescribing puberty blockers has ruled in favour of the mother. Supreme Court judge Peter Callaghan overturned the ban, ruling Queensland Health director-general David Rosengren had failed to properly consult the directors of hospital and health services, as required by state law.
Justice Callaghan found the directive was improperly made, with the mother’s legal team arguing it was based on the Liberal National conservative government rather than medical evidence. Despite the mounting evidence of the harms of puberty blockers on children from the CASS review to the Tavistock gender clinic tragedy to increasing stories of detransitioners, gender affirming care advocates continue to push for the chemical castration of children.
Whilst the judgment highlighted that lifting the ban was based solely on ‘the legal requirements that attend any decision of this nature’, and was not making any ruling on the arguments for or against puberty blockers, this court ruling sets a dangerous precedent.
However, the fight is far from over, with Queensland’s Health Minister Tim Nicholls noting the government will consider steps available to them that will enable the reinstatement of the ban on prescribing puberty blockers for patients under the age of 18.
This article was originally published by Family First New Zealand.
