NHS to give sex change drugs to nine-year-olds: Clinic accused of 'playing God' with treatment that stops puberty

• Treatment with controversial drugs is for youngsters trapped in wrong body
• Monthly drug injections into the stomach stop puberty and may do harm
• Trial in North London was completed - and is set to be rolled out further
  

By SANCHEZ MANNING and STEPHEN ADAMS

PUBLISHED: 21:17 GMT, 17 May 2014 | UPDATED: 02:23 GMT, 18 May 2014

Children as young as nine will be given controversial drugs on the NHS to prepare them for sex-swap surgery, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

The treatment, which halts the onset of adulthood, is aimed at youngsters who believe they are trapped in the wrong body. But critics accused the clinic offering the puberty- postponing injections of ‘playing God’.

‘I think many people will be horrified at the thought of a nine-year-old being provided with a drug that effectively stops them developing and maturing naturally,’ said Conservative MP Andrew Percy.

Others insisted that undisputed research shows that the vast majority of under-16s who
are troubled about their gender do not go on to take the drastic step of surgery. Many turn out to be gay, but no longer feel confused about whether they are male or female.

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