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Brook welcomes the ruling as upholding the right of young people to consent to medical treatment.
In response to the ruling of the Court of Appeal in the judgment of Bell v Tavistock, Helen Marshall, Chief Executive of Brook, says: “We are delighted by today’s judgment. It will not only offer reassurance for trans young people and their parents, but everyone who values young people’s right to make decisions about their own healthcare in line with their evolving maturity and understanding.
Brook intervened in this appeal out of concern that young people’s autonomy was threatened by the original ruling. It is vital that we uphold the right of young people to consent to their own medical treatment in line with their individual capacity, and their ability to understand the nature, risks and benefits of treatment.
By confirming that clinicians are able to use their professional judgment to evaluate an individual young person’s capacity to consent to the use of puberty blockers, today’s judgment crucially upholds the principle of Gillick competence which underpins practice across health, social care and many other areas of work with young people.”
About the judgment in the Bell v Tavistock appeal
Read the judgment.
Read the summary of the judgment.
About Brook’s role in the Bell v Tavistock appeal
Brook made a joint intervention in the appeal alongside The Endocrine Society and Gendered Intelligence. Find out more about the reasons for Brook’s intervention.
About Brook
Brook is the only national charity to offer a holistic approach to improving the sexual health and wellbeing of under 25s. Each year Brook supports hundreds of thousands of young people through its unique combination of clinical services, education and wellbeing programmes, training and advocacy work. Brook also provide a range of services for adults, ensuring that whole communities can benefit from its innovative, non-judgmental approach to sexual health and wellbeing For more information visit the Brook website.
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Brook’s Media and Communications Officer, Eliza Bell, writes on the harmful and hypocritical nature of the 40 Days for Life Campaign and why it’s a stark reminder that providing abortions is not enough – we must fight stigma at its root.
Lisa Hallgarten, Head of Policy and Public Affairs reflects upon the overturning of Roe v Wade and explains why the right to abortion in the UK is far more precarious…