Dr Hilary Cass says 'more children will be harmed' without puberty blockers trialhttps://www.thepinknews.com/2026/06/23/dr-hilary-cass-pathways-nhs-puberty-blockers-trial-2026/ 🔗Jack Wetherill (23 June 2026)
Dr Hilary Cass has defended the NHS-backed Pathways puberty blockers trial as a harm-reduction measure, saying she is "absolutely convinced that more children will be harmed if we don't do the trial than if we do".
Cass made the comments in a BBC interview, as the study faces political pressure and a legal challenge calling for it to be scrapped.
The Pathways clinical trial, which confirmed the minimum ages for young participants, will be run by researchers at Kings College London (KCL). Researchers plan to examine the impact of puberty blockers on participants' physical, social and emotional wellbeing, such as bone density, brain function and fertility.
Cass claimed that since UK-wide restrictions were introduced, "some of the hype about risks have been exaggerated in that we genuinely don't know if there are harms".
She described the trial as "essential" to answer whether the drugs are helpful, adding that young people will be "closely monitored in every respect" and that the drugs would be stopped if concerns emerge.
Cass also claimed that, without a regulated trial, young people would continue to access medication through "unregulated and dangerous routes".
