Puberty blockers trial can go ahead as court throws out challenge
A participant holds a ‘Protect Trans Children’ placard during London Trans Pride 2025 (Getty Images)
The High Court has ruled that the PATHWAYS puberty blockers trial can go ahead, after a judge threw out a challenge from campaigners.
The challenge came from a number of groups or individuals, including the Bayswater Support Group which give “support for parents of children IDing as trans”.
They asked that the trial be blocked, arguing it was unlawful. However the High Court has ruled it can go ahead after a two-day hearing.
In a statement, the PATHWAYS Trial research team said: “We welcome the Court’s decision. The safety and welfare of young people will remain our highest priority in carrying out this research.
“PATHWAYS Trial is a carefully designed study to give much needed evidence about the potential benefits and risks of puberty suppression to improve NHS care.
“A small number of young people with long-term gender incongruence, who have already received comprehensive psychological and social support through NHS Gender Services, will be eligible.
“Only a small proportion of young people attending NHS Gender Services will take part in PATHWAYS Trial.
“The study has strict eligibility requirements, and young people must already have received significant psychological and social support through NHS Gender Services to take part. Before taking part, young people will also have physical and mental health checks, be assessed by the independent national multidisciplinary team, demonstrate they understand the potential risks involved. They must provide informed assent and their parent or legal guardian must consent.
“The design of PATHWAYS Trial has been carefully reviewed by independent researchers and has been approved by the UK’s health research regulators, the HRA and MHRA. The study has extensive safeguards, including strict eligibility criteria, consent processes, physical and mental health monitoring before and during the study, and continued psychological and social support.”
James Esses, from the Bayswater Support Group, said: “Vulnerable children should never be used as guinea pigs in medical experimentation that may lead them down a path towards irreversible physiological and emotional damage, including infertility.
“This trial is the antithesis of child safeguarding and I will now be consulting with my lawyers regarding the possibility of an appeal.”
Keira Bell, who detransitioned, said it was a “tragedy” that the court had refused the legal challenge over the trial.
The trial came about after a review by Dr Cass, who argued the evidence was “remarkably weak” when it came to the use of puberty blockers. She said in June that “more children will be harmed if we don’t do the trial than if we do”.
Outside of the PATHWAYS Trial, puberty blockers are currently unavailable for new patients under the age of 18.
In June, the trial set the minimum age requirements for participants. Trans boys aged 11 and over, and trans girls aged 12 and over, will be permitted to take part.
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