HEALTHCARE

Re J  (Transgender: Puberty Blocker & Hormone Replacement Therapy)  [2024] EWHC 922 (Fam)

Paul Conrathe acted on a case concerning a dispute over transgender medical treatment for a young person who had been treated by GenderGP, an overseas online gender clinic.  CONCLUDED

​

Bell & another v The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust [2021] EWCA Civ 1363

​

Paul Conrathe represented Keira Bell in a landmark legal challenge to the lawfulness of the practice of prescribing puberty blockers to under 16 years olds at the Gender Identity Development Service at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust. The case was initially successful before the Divisional Court with that ruling ultimately being overturned on appeal. Nonetheless the case had a very significant impact upon the development of paediatric gender services in the NHS.  CONCLUDED

 

Evans and XX v Care Quality Commission [2025] EWHC 2015 (Admin)

​

A case on behalf of a mother (anonymous) and Sue Evans, a Tavistock whistleblower, challenging the decision of the CQC to register the first private paediatric clinic.  The claimant claimed that the CQC had acted beyond the scope of its powers by approving a clinic which is run by a trans activist and does not conform to the NHS regime put in place after the Cass Report.  The case lost at first instance and permission to appeal was not granted.  CONCLUDED

​

Bell v Sec of State for Health and Social Care 

 

A challenge to the failure of the SoSH to ban cross sex hormones in the private sector on behalf of a young woman who transitioned to male and then regretted it. The case has concluded with a successful outcome as the SoSH has ordered an immediate review to report to him in June 2025 on a possible ban.  A new judicial review claim, with two further claimants, was launched in December 2025 as Wes Streeting had not produced a review despite the Judge in the original hearing saying that the review required ‘urgency and intensity’.  Our client is determined for this to be addressed because private gender clinics continue to freely offer cross-sex hormones, assuring children they can receive them in just 2-3 weeks.  ONGOING

​

ATT v Wellbn Surgery

 

The claimant was a father who wanted to prevent his 16-year-old son from being given oestrogen by GP in Brighton under a protocol which is contrary to the Cass review and NHS guidance. In June/July 2025 the NHS announced a review into the practice with up to 139 children potentially harmed.  The case has been temporarily suspended as the review is conducted. The GP surgery has been required to stop treating any new patients under the age of 18 years old in response to the application for judicial review.  ONGOING

​

Bell & Esses v The HRA and The MHRA (Pathways 1)

​

This case concerns the government's plans for a multi-year, publicly funded trial of puberty blockers on children which was undergoing regulatory approvals prior to being launched. On behalf of our clients we made extensive demands for information concerning the trial, but the Health Research Authority and the Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency have refused to comply. In this regard they are failing to fulfil their duty of candour as public bodies. Our clients are threatening judicial review.  ONGOING.

​

The Bayswater Support Group, Bell & Esses v The HRA and The MHRA (Pathways 2)

​

This is a judicial review of the authorities behind the Pathways clinical trial of puberty blockers on children: the Health Research Authority and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. Our claimants, Bayswater Support Group (who support parents of trans children and young people), Keira Bell (who brought the case against the Tavistock in 2020) and James Esses, (a psychotherapist who campaigns for the ethical treatment of gender dysphoria), are challenging the lawfulness and ethics of this trial of banned drugs on children.  ONGOING.

​