This isn’t about denying care, it’s about demanding better care. One Judge finally asked the question too few clinicians dare to: where is the evidence?
Beautifully written. After a long career in child protection practice and policy I despair at the lack of insight and curiosity shown by former colleagues about so called gender affirming care. The contrary evidence is overwhelming now, yet experienced professionals appear disinterested, locked in ‘frozen watchfulness’, perhaps with some legitimacy, given the potential career-ending consequences of raising concerns.
(Grok: Frozen watchfulness is a psychological state where an individual remains hyper-alert and vigilant, often due to trauma or extreme stress, but feels paralyzed or unable to act. It’s like being stuck in a moment of intense observation, scanning for danger, while emotionally or physically immobilized. The term is sometimes linked to dissociative responses in PTSD or survival instincts in threatening situations, where the body and mind prepare for action but are "frozen" in place.)
Great article! There are many things we agree that our young people need support around and things we don't let them do that are potentially dangerous and irreversible that they are biologically (i.e. not having fully developed brains) and socially (i.e. not having much life experience) ill-equipped to deal with (driving, voting, getting tattoos....) so why not supportive, conscientious and evidence-based practice here too?
Beautifully written. After a long career in child protection practice and policy I despair at the lack of insight and curiosity shown by former colleagues about so called gender affirming care. The contrary evidence is overwhelming now, yet experienced professionals appear disinterested, locked in ‘frozen watchfulness’, perhaps with some legitimacy, given the potential career-ending consequences of raising concerns.
(Grok: Frozen watchfulness is a psychological state where an individual remains hyper-alert and vigilant, often due to trauma or extreme stress, but feels paralyzed or unable to act. It’s like being stuck in a moment of intense observation, scanning for danger, while emotionally or physically immobilized. The term is sometimes linked to dissociative responses in PTSD or survival instincts in threatening situations, where the body and mind prepare for action but are "frozen" in place.)
Great article! There are many things we agree that our young people need support around and things we don't let them do that are potentially dangerous and irreversible that they are biologically (i.e. not having fully developed brains) and socially (i.e. not having much life experience) ill-equipped to deal with (driving, voting, getting tattoos....) so why not supportive, conscientious and evidence-based practice here too?
Well said Clare. It's a message clinicians need to hear
Thank you!