Court of Appeal Overturns Bell v Tavistock Ruling
The Court of Appeal, led by the Lord Chief Justice Lord Burnett, unanimously overturned the December 2020 High Court ruling in Bell v Tavistock. The Court found that the High Court should not have issued guidance on Gillick competence and puberty blockers, ruling that decisions about treatment were matters of clinical judgement for doctors, not courts. The Supreme Court later refused Keira Bell permission to appeal in April 2022.
Impact & Significance
Restored clinical autonomy over puberty blocker prescribing decisions, though the broader debate about evidence and safety continued, ultimately leading to the Cass Review and subsequent NHS ban.
Reference Record
- Date
- 17 September 2021
- Era
- 2020-present
- Sources
- 1
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