Thursday 19 May 2022 05:22 PM Doctor wrongly prescribed sex change treatments to seven transgender patients trends now
A retired consultant physician wrongly prescribed sex-change treatments to seven transgender patients - one who was aged just nine and another a teenager who took their own life few months later.
Dr Michael Webberley provided puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones via GenderGP, an online gender clinic which he ran with his GP wife Dr Helen Webberley.
A Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) panel found a number of charges proved against him after he was accused of failing to provide good clinical care to seven patients between February 2017 and June 2019.
In several cases, he'd taken care of the patients after restrictions had been placed on his wife's practise.
But several doctors raised concerns about his treatment with the GMC (General Medical Council) and he was later suspended.
Following the panel's conclusions, his wife tweeted: 'My heart and soul goes out to my husband. While he was in hospital today having a big operation, he was sent the damning list of proven allegations that the GMC have found against him.
'He hasn’t been able to tell his side of the story and he wasn’t able to be represented or to ask experts who truly understand the needs of trans people.
'I know that he has helped so many trans people, and I know that you will wish him well in his retirement. He has served the NHS for a long and hard career.
'His patients have always loved him, as I do.'
Dr Michael Webberley, 55, wrongly prescribed sex-change treatments to seven transgender patients, a Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) panel has found
With all seven patients, he was found guilty of providing or allowing treatment that was 'not clinically indicated' or had been prescribed without adequate tests, examinations or assessments.
The tribunal found he had acted 'outside the limits of his expertise' as a consultant gastroenterologist and without the necessary qualifications and training in general practice, transgender medicine or paediatrics.
And he failed to adhere to a recognised training pathway in transgender medicine and to obtain consent for treatments.
Dr Webberley, who didn't attend the hearing and was only legally represented for the preliminary stages, also failed to establish an adequate multi-disciplinary team (MDT) and had reached diagnoses of gender dysphoria based on inadequate examinations or assessments.
The tribunal heard about one nine-year-old patient - know as Patient V - who'd been born a biological girl but identified as a boy.
Dr Webberley diagnosed the patient as suffering from gender dysphoria based on a questionnaire that was 'inadequate for the assessment of a minor' and without performing an adequate mental or physical examination.
He then prescribed puberty blockers - which pause the physical changes of puberty - off-licence and without considering alternative treatments or adequately assessing the balance between the risks and benefits.
Dr Michael Webberley, 55, pictured with his GP wife Dr Helen Webberley, 52,
The panel also looked at Dr Webberley's treatment of a 17-year-patient - referred to as Patient W in the tribunal - but believed to be Jayden Lowe, a transgender teenager who took his own life in September 2018 by stepping in front of a train.
Patient W was transitioning from female to male and first contacted Dr Webberley in June 2018.
Patient W first contacted Dr Webberley in June 2018 after he had become unhappy at the long waiting lists for NHS treatment elsewhere.
He said in an email that he wanted to transition as soon as possible as it would have a 'massively positive impact' on his mental health.
'I have been waiting to go on hormones so long now and it means so much to me,' he added. 'I am so happy it is finally happening.'
Bur Dr Webberley diagnosed Patient W as gender dysphoric without checking