HEALTHCARE

We provide advice in public law challenges in relation to the lawfulness of actions by the State in the provision of medical treatment. We also provide advice on private law disputes concerning disagreements as to the appropriate medical treatment that should be offered to a patient.

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)

Judicial review challenge against the Care Quality Commission, Britain’s independent regulator of health and adult social care, regarding the registration of the first private paediatric gender clinic in the UK. 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. In response to our client’s challenge, the CQC hurriedly conducted a thorough inspection of the clinic based on the grounds raised in the legal case. Subsequently the Court found in favour of the defendant. 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

A significant judicial review challenge to the practice of a GP surgery in Brighton prescribing hormonal medication to teenagers with gender dysphoria. The case has already resulted in a rapid investigation by the NHS into the conduct of the GP practice. The legal issues to be resolved concern the lawful parameters of a GP’s prescribing practice for teenagers with gender dysphoria. 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 decisions made by the Health Research Authority and the Secretary of State for Health, who are authorities behind the Pathways clinical trial of puberty blockers on children. 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 and the irregularities in the approval process for the trial. Two weeks after the claim was served, the defendants decided to pause the clinical trial to address concerns relating to the wellbeing of participants. At the time of writing the litigation is stayed but is scheduled to resume in late April 2026. ONGOING.