Evan Urquhart

Perhaps things have changed since 2017? I don’t practice in England, so I can’t say for sure, but this came up recently in the discussion about puberty blockers.

Its was acknowledged (too late) that antidepressants work differently in adolescents than adults and a disproportionate number of teens on anti-Ds were experiencing much worse MH issues, including suicide. Teens aren't just small adults-we have to be more careful.

But Gillick competence doesnt come in?

Gillick is for when there is a clear treatment pathway that has well-understood benefits and potential downsides. Children were being given treatment when it wasn't understood what the effects were, which impacts whether informed consent can be given.

But, that doesn't describe PBs, which have been prescribed for decades and are well understood?

Do children need to demonstrate Gillick competence to be treated with the same drugs at the same ages for early onset of puberty?

Early onset puberty is totally different to gd. Children younger than 8 are prescribed pb's but they are stopped in time to allow natural puberty to proceed. Blockers are used in gd to stop puberty happening at all, therein lies the problem as its an important time for a child/1