UK National Health Service to Test All 'Transgender' Kids for Autism: Report
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NHS to Screen Trans-Identifying Children for Autism
Above: A general view of the NHS's Tavistock Centre on June 23, 2023 in London, England. Image copyright: Dan Kitwood/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Spin
Right narrative
The NHS's shift from the Tavistock clinic’s approach to a more holistic, cautious model is a positive change. Under the new guidelines, treatments like puberty blockers will no longer be automatically prescribed, addressing concerns about their long-term effects. This new approach, based on the Cass Review, prioritizes thorough psychological assessments and reduces the risk of irreversible medical interventions for vulnerable youth.
Left narrative
The NHS’s plan to screen all trans youth for autism and ADHD pathologizes trans identity and reinforces harmful, ableist assumptions. It suggests neurodiverse people can’t understand their own gender, while creating new barriers to gender-affirming care and worsening already long wait times for both trans healthcare and autism assessments — all under the guise of caution.
Narrative C
The NHS’s new holistic approach for transgender youth is a positive shift from the Tavistock clinic’s methods, prioritizing thorough mental health and neurodevelopmental assessments. However, it still lacks sufficient attention to environmental factors, such as the role of schools and social media in shaping children’s gender identities, which could influence the accuracy of diagnoses and appropriate care.