Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: https://segm.org/Sweden_ends_use_of_Dutch_protocol
May 5, 2021
Sweden's Karolinska Ends the Use of Puberty Blockers for <16: New policy statement from the Karolinska Hospital
The "Dutch protocol" for treating gender dysphoric minors has been discontinued over concerns of medical harm and uncertain benefits
The Karolinska Hospital in Sweden recently issued a new policy statement regarding treatment of gender dysphoric minors at its pediatric gender services division. This policy, which took effect in April 2021, ended the practice of prescribing puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones for minors under age 16. Hormonal intervention for youth ages 16-18 is still allowed, but can only occur in research settings approved by Sweden?s ethics review board, following a thorough informed consent that discloses the significant risks and uncertainties of hormonal interventions, and considers the minor?s maturity level and ability to provide true informed consent.
This is a watershed moment. Sweden is the first country whose renowned hospital has explicitly stopped following the Dutch protocol, which allows for administration of puberty blockers at age 12 (and increasingly, as young as 8-9, at the early stage of puberty known as Tanner 2), and cross-sex hormones at the age of 16. It also is the first country to officially deviate from WPATH guidance. WPATH has long positioned itself as the world authority in transgender health. However, in recent months, several countries? health authorities have conducted their own reviews of the evidence and found the evidence insufficient to justify early medical interventions promoted by WPATH?s guidelines...
...The original announcement of the new policy obtained by SEGM, as well as the unofficial translation, are below:
Attachments
Karolinska_Policy_Statement_Swedish.pdf
Karolinska _Policy_Statement_English.pdf
May 5, 2021
Sweden's Karolinska Ends the Use of Puberty Blockers for <16: New policy statement from the Karolinska Hospital
The "Dutch protocol" for treating gender dysphoric minors has been discontinued over concerns of medical harm and uncertain benefits
The Karolinska Hospital in Sweden recently issued a new policy statement regarding treatment of gender dysphoric minors at its pediatric gender services division. This policy, which took effect in April 2021, ended the practice of prescribing puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones for minors under age 16. Hormonal intervention for youth ages 16-18 is still allowed, but can only occur in research settings approved by Sweden?s ethics review board, following a thorough informed consent that discloses the significant risks and uncertainties of hormonal interventions, and considers the minor?s maturity level and ability to provide true informed consent.
This is a watershed moment. Sweden is the first country whose renowned hospital has explicitly stopped following the Dutch protocol, which allows for administration of puberty blockers at age 12 (and increasingly, as young as 8-9, at the early stage of puberty known as Tanner 2), and cross-sex hormones at the age of 16. It also is the first country to officially deviate from WPATH guidance. WPATH has long positioned itself as the world authority in transgender health. However, in recent months, several countries? health authorities have conducted their own reviews of the evidence and found the evidence insufficient to justify early medical interventions promoted by WPATH?s guidelines...
...The original announcement of the new policy obtained by SEGM, as well as the unofficial translation, are below:
Attachments
Karolinska_Policy_Statement_Swedish.pdf
Karolinska _Policy_Statement_English.pdf