Overview
- The MHRA said Professor Jacob George is recused from further involvement as a precaution after old posts suggesting gender‑critical views were identified.
- In a February 13 letter, George urged raising the trial’s minimum age to 14 and cited Gillick competence in raising consent concerns.
- His intervention prompted the Department of Health to pause the £10.7 million study, which had prior MHRA approval and was preparing to recruit 226 children.
- Legal experts including Sir Jonathan Montgomery argue Gillick competence does not apply to clinical trials, pointing to a 2021 Court of Appeal ruling in the Keira Bell case.
- Baroness Cass and clinicians such as Dr Max Davie say no new evidence justifies the halt, as trial leaders report two meetings with the regulator and further talks planned.