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Jacob George vs. transgender people

Jacob George is a British physician and anti-transgender activist. George was responsible for pausing a planned PATHWAYS clinical trial for use of puberty blockers in gender diverse youth. George was soon revealed to have made a number of social media posts about trans topics that led to George’s removal from involvement in the PATHWAYS trial.

Background

Jacob George was born on March 12, 1975 in London, England. In 1998, George graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree. Following graduation, George undertook pre-registration house officer training from 1998 to 1999. Between 1999 and 2003, George completed Senior House Officer and Specialist Registrar training in general internal medicine. In 2004, George achieved Membership of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP). George was appointed Consultant Physician in 2008, marking the beginning a clinical career within the National Health Service (NHS).

From 2010 to 2015, George served as Clinical Lead for Acute Medicine, overseeing service development and patient safety initiatives. In 2016, George was appointed Director of Medical Education, expanded postgraduate training programs, and supervised junior doctors.

George has contributed to clinical research and quality improvement projects, publishing several peer-reviewed articles between 2009 and 2022. In 2018, George was elected Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians (FRCP).

Anti-trans activism

In January 2026, George was named Chief Medical and Scientific Officer (CMSO) at the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). One of George’s first actions was to pause the PATHWAYS clinical trial for use of puberty blockers in gender diverse youth.

In February 2026, George was removed from involvement in the PATHWAYS trial after Time Radio presented Cathy Newman reported multiple instances of anti-trans sentiment on George’s social media. Via the Sunday Times:

In the posts, now deleted, he criticised the “well-meaning idiocy” of those in the NHS in denying what he called the “basic biological fact” that gender is set at birth. He praised JK Rowling as a “treasure of our time” when she welcomed the Supreme Court’s ruling that the legal definition of a woman should be based on biological sex. And in another post, when questions arose whether Algerian Olympic boxer Imane Khelif was a woman, he said “the denial of basic biological fact is concerning.”

Below are verbatim posts from George’s deleted X account:

  • “Women’s rights are a hard fought right. Many women died for that cause over a hundred years ago. Society should never allow a militant minority to undermine this. Citizens, wake upo and smell the coffee. This affects your mothers, sisters, wives and daughters.”
  • “@iocemedia you are a disgrace. The dienial of biological reality means that women are being put at risk of brain injury because of your nonsensical reckless actions. Shame on you spineless cowards #istandwithAngleaCarini”

MHRA stated: “Following the identification of social media posts made prior to his appointment, Professor Jacob George is recused from further involvement on the Pathways clinical trial as a precaution.”

References

Robson, Graham (March 2, 2026). Doctor who praised JK Rowling removed from puberty‑blocker review amid fears over anti‑trans bias. Scene https://www.scenemag.co.uk/doctor-who-praised-jk-rowling-removed-from-puberty-blocker-review-amid-fears-over-anti-trans-bias/

Cocker, Alex/Rose (March 2, 2026). Puberty blocker trial overseer recused due to bigoted posts. The Canary https://www.thecanary.co/uk/analysis/2026/03/02/puberty-blocker-recuse/

Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (February 27, 2026). MHRA statement on Pathways clinical trial. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/mhra-statement-on-pathways-clinical-trial

Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (January 5, 2026). MHRA welcomes Professor Jacob George as he starts Chief Medical and Scientific Officer role. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/mhra-welcomes-professor-jacob-george-as-he-starts-chief-medical-and-scientific-officer-role

Anti-trans coverage

Sodha, Sonia (March 1, 2026). More controversy over the puberty blocker trial. https://soniasodha.substack.com/p/more-controversy-over-the-puberty

Smith, Joan (March 2, 2026). Why are sex-realist doctors facing discrimination? UnHerd https://unherd.com/newsroom/why-are-sex-realist-doctors-facing-discrimination/

Moore, Suzanne (March 2, 2026). This professor has been hounded out of the puberty blocker trial for stating a medical fact. The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/03/02/doctor-hounded-out-of-the-puberty-blocker-trial/

Partridge, Oliver (March 2, 2026). Health official who halted puberty blocker trial removed over trans-critical views. GBNews https://www.gbnews.com/news/trans-row-health-official-halted-puberty-blocker-trial-sacked-trans-critical-views

Thomas, Tobi (March 1, 2026). UK health official recused from puberty blockers trial after bias claims. The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/mar/01/professor-reportedly-paused-uk-puberty-blockers-trial-recused-bias

SEEN in Journalism (February 28, 2026). Breaking (literally): Cathy Newman’s exclusive backfires. https://seeninjournalism.substack.com/p/breaking-literally-cathy-newmans

Spencer, Ben (February 28, 2026). Professor who stopped Pathways puberty blocker trial recused over ‘bias.’ The Times https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/pathways-puberty-blocker-trial-recused-jacob-george-qnn669rjx

Resources

University of Dundee (dundee.ac.uk)

UK Government (gov.uk)

X/Twitter (x.com)