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Deborah Cohen
@deb_cohen
Author | LSE Visiting Senior Fellow | Escapee medic | Ex science & health ITV News & BBC Newsnight | investigations ed The BMJ | Scouse | Rep'd @LittleHardman
London/Liverpool on match days
lse.ac.uk/lse-health/peo…
Joined December 2010
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  • Pinned
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    Deborah Cohen
    @deb_cohen
    Sep 23, 2025
    New book klaxon: I finally p!ss EVERYONE off! What happens when you put health on platforms geared for shopping, PR & entertainment? What's medicine & what's marketing? What impact is it having on health? In public health lingo-commercial meets digital determinants of health
    21K
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    Deborah Cohen
    @deb_cohen
    Jul 29, 2022
    A few people have described those of us who have reported on the Tavistock as “brave’ (which is kind) But it shouldn’t take bravery to point out there’s a lack of good evidence for a drug; little long term follow up for surgery; and to say we should listen to whistleblowers
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    Deborah Cohen
    @deb_cohen
    Mar 12, 2024
    Back in 2019 @hannahsbee and I broke a story questioning how puberty blockers were being studied and used at the Tavistock’s gender clinic. It was a purely medical investigation, yet there was backlash for even asking scientific questions. Now they’re not to be prescribed.
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    PA Media
    @PA
    Mar 12, 2024
    #Breaking Children will no longer be prescribed puberty blockers at gender identity clinics, NHS England has confirmed
    141K
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    Deborah Cohen
    @deb_cohen
    Mar 10, 2022
    For several years the indefatigable @hannahsbee and I reported on the care of young people with gender dysphoria - against a backdrop of complaints and allegations about us. Today an independent review set up by NHSE largely vindicates our work:  cass.independent-review.uk/publications/i… 1/
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    Deborah Cohen
    @deb_cohen
    Sep 28, 2021
    I’m chuffed to say I’m joining @itvnews as their Science Editor taking on an exciting and important brief that includes climate change, medicine & tech. I want to thank the hugely talented @BBCNewsnight team for their work and creativity & @esmewren for giving me so much support
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    Deborah Cohen
    @deb_cohen
    Jul 19, 2024
    Just out..a review of the data about suicides at the gender services at the Tavistock by @ProfLAppleby, suicide prevention specialist 1The data do not support the claim that there has been a large rise in suicide in young gender dysphoria patients at the Tavistock 🧵
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    Deborah Cohen
    @deb_cohen
    Jul 28, 2022
    The NHS gender identity service is closing following safety concerns. Amid toxicity @hannahsbee and I investigated allegations other mental health issues were overshadowed at the clinic for @BBCNewsnight with @esmewren. Let’s hope the NHS offers a more holistic approach in future
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    The Times and Sunday Times
    @thetimes
    Jul 28, 2022
    🔺 BREAKING: The NHS is shutting down its gender identity clinic for children after a damning review found that it failed vulnerable under-18s thetimes.co.uk/article/tavist…
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    Deborah Cohen
    @deb_cohen
    Aug 20, 2023
    Mary Earps…the spirit animal of women around the world!
    68K
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    Deborah Cohen
    @deb_cohen
    Jan 29, 2024
    Gahhh!! I got a b*llocking from Devi for questioning her assertion that zero Covid was possible when I interviewed her for a film on it for @BBCNewsnight in July 2020. I remember it made me look like some oddball Covid denier
    Nicola Sturgeon's adviser says 'I was wrong to push for zero Covid'
    From dailymail.com
    114K
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    Deborah Cohen
    @deb_cohen
    Oct 6, 2021
    When people can’t get a hospital appointment the view seems to be it’s because of pressure on the system and waiting lists. When people can’t get an on person GP appointment it seems to be that the GP is to blame. Why is that?
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    Deborah Cohen
    @deb_cohen
    Aug 1, 2024
    Academy of Royal Medical Colleges has released statement to support Cass implementation & holistic evidence based care of young people. In subtle rebuke to BMA: “further speculative work risks greater polarisation on this matter which is not helpful”
    aomrc.org.uk
    Academy statement: Implementation of the Cass Review - AOMRC
    The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges is mindful that some members of the medical profession are questioning the validity of the evidence and consequently the findings of the
    20K
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    Deborah Cohen
    @deb_cohen
    Dec 9, 2024
    My first for @BBCNews for a while I look at key methodological & ethical considerations about NHS puberty blocker trial for children w gender dysphoria. Is there equipoise? Will a placebo arm be feasible?  Thanks @jakemorristw in particular for his support
    The male and female symbols and a syringe going into a bottle
    Puberty blockers: Can a drug trial solve the big debate?
    From bbc.co.uk
    46K
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    Deborah Cohen
    @deb_cohen
    Jan 11, 2022
    I remember trying to tell some of these stories— the indirect covid challenges of the pandemic—and was called all the names under the sun for doing so. We lost compassion for others at times
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    Deborah Cohen
    @deb_cohen
    Apr 10, 2024
    Who doesn’t love a story needing dozens of right of reply pages, being yelled at by press officers, threats of GMC & COPE referral, Twitter suspension, press hatchet jobs, entry on block lists…@hannahsbee said if story not on red list not worth doing. (Same applies to Covid too)
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    Sue Nelson
    @ScienceNelson
    Apr 10, 2024
    What bothers me is that so many national science and health reporters and correspondents - other than a selected few like @deb_cohen @hannahsbee - absented themselves from one of the biggest medical science stories in decades. Something to discuss at the upcoming AGM @absw ?
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