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The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently reaffirmed its 2018 position on adolescents suffering from gender dysphoria and called for a systematic review of the evidence on how to treat such children.
Looking back at the AAP’s 2018 statement, as pediatricians we both agree with the 2018 report that “transgender and gender-diverse youth must be protected from discrimination and violence.” Masu. Our job is to protect children.
But I doubt the 2018 report lives up to the millennia-old doctrine of “do no harm.” The conclusions contained in the 2018 opinion recommend that young people who identify as transgender have access to insured “comprehensive, gender-affirming, and developmentally appropriate health care.” ing.
While European countries restrict young people’s sex reassignment, the United States is calling for a daily release of hormones into the bodies of young people and major surgery, with scant evidence of benefit. It’s not just frowning. This push, and the demand for insurance coverage amid many other claims being denied, not only has the potential to cause long-term harm to young people, it also further undermines confidence in the U.S. health care system. It is
AAP has long championed gender responsiveness to minors
The conclusion of these AAPs is that Dr. Rachel Levin, a self-identified transgender and now senior HHS official, sent an email to the co-founders of the Gender Clinic at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, writing: announced a year later. Discussed in US PATH [Professional Association for Transgender Health] Potential gender reassignment surgery for young people under the age of 18. This could include upper surgery for transgender young men and upper and lower surgery for transgender young women. Is there any literature supporting this protocol?”
The answer was, “I don’t know of any existing literature, but it definitely happens. There are more than 10 patients under 18 (as young as 15) who have undergone chest surgery, and one who has undergone hip surgery (17 age) I think I got it.”
Despite a lack of evidence, approximately $17 million in taxpayer dollars has been spent on child sex reassignment treatments in Pennsylvania alone in recent years.
“There is not enough evidence to support the treatments we use,” said the director of the Gender Clinic at Chicago’s largest children’s hospital. His reward for not following evidence-based medicine is his $5.7 million grant from the NIH.
The FDA recently issued a warning against using some puberty blockers because of short-term neurological side effects. No one knows the long-term effects of introducing hormones into young brains or what permanent use will do for the future of these patients.
Despite warnings, 14,726 gender dysphoric minors started hormone therapy between 2017 and 2021. Between 2019 and 2021, 832 irreversible surgeries were performed on minors for gender dysphoria. These numbers are expected to increase further, as the diagnosis of gender dysphoria has tripled at an accelerating rate over the last few years.
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When the AAP reviews the evidence, they, and all pediatric professionals, want to thoroughly analyze the 2015 American Transgender Survey Report, a study often cited by minor transsexual advocates. You might think The survey of 27,000 individuals used advocacy groups to solicit responses, but notably excluded migrants. There were other unpleasant red flags in the survey. Survey respondents were not asked basic questions about mental health, respondents were asked to recall how they felt a few years ago, and 25% of respondents lived in three states (California, New York, Washington). was from Notably, the survey asked respondents whether they sought any of the “gender-affirming care” lists and excluded those who did not seek hormones. Colloquially we call it cherry picking.
The survey, compiled by a group that calls itself a social justice advocate, has been used in recent years to justify increased health care for gender-questioning youth, despite the very small number of adolescents.
During a conversation about transgender care, equity and access during National Transgender Visibility Month with Family Planning Keystone’s program The Rainbow Room on March 29 in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, USA. Heart-shaped stickers with gender flags were photographed. , 2023.Reuters/Hannah Byer/File Photo (Reuters/Hannah Byer/File Photo)
The journal Pediatrics relied on this research in its 2020 paper. The same physician authors of the 2020 pediatrics paper used the survey for another “second look” paper. This second study of his in 2022 was funded by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and financially supported by pharmaceutical companies Arbor and Pfizer. Both produce hormones used for sex change.
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The second survey in 2022 yielded a series of sensational headlines. “Transgender teens who are given sex-affirming hormones are healthier and happier as adults,” advertised Today. USA Today claimed that “transgender children on hormone therapy enjoy better mental health.”
It’s good that the AAP has a systematic review. They should be transparent, thorough and honest. They may wish to comment on perverted incentives that may have led to overtreatment in the past few years. And above all, remember: Purim non nochere.
Dr. Nicky Johnson is a Cleveland area pediatrician.
