On Wednesday, the National Health Service in Britain took a significant step by prohibiting the use of puberty blockers in treating gender dysphoria among transgender minors. This decision contrasts sharply with the stance of the US medical community and the Biden administration, which continue to support practices that have been criticized for lacking scientific basis.
In the United States, the approach to transgender health is heavily influenced by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH). Despite presenting itself as an authority, leaked internal communications from WPATH reveal a disregard for scientific evidence in favor of promoting hormone treatments and even surgical interventions for minors. These revelations have raised serious ethical concerns, especially when it comes to informed consent. Some patients receiving puberty blockers may be too young or unable to fully grasp the long-term consequences of their treatment, such as the potential loss of fertility.
Britain’s National Health Service has recently decided to stop the use of puberty blockers for minors with gender dysphoria. This move highlights a growing divide between the medical practices of the UK and much of Europe, and those endorsed by organizations like WPATH in the United States. For years, WPATH has been a leading voice for “gender-affirming” care, influencing not only the World Health Organization and European health agencies but also major US medical bodies like the American Academy of Pediatrics.
However, the UK and other European countries are distancing themselves from what they term as “junk science,” particularly concerning pediatric gender transition. Independent research challenges many of the claims that have been used to justify these interventions, including the assertion that they are essential for preventing suicide.
WPATH’s 2022 Standards of Care guidelines marked a significant shift by eliminating a chapter on ethics and removing age restrictions for starting puberty blockers or undergoing gender modification surgeries. Despite these changes, the American medical establishment remains aligned with WPATH’s recommendations. The American Academy of Pediatrics continues to advocate for hormones and surgeries for minors, and the American Medical Association supports policies that prevent parents from being informed about their children’s social transitions.
The implications of these practices are profound. In Scarsdale, for example, public schools have introduced discussions on gender expression and identity into the 5th-grade sex education curriculum, following the American Academy of Pediatrics’ inclusive approach. Moreover, a member of WPATH, Dr. Rachel Levine, a transgender woman, holds a significant position as the US assistant secretary for health. Her role underscores the Biden administration’s commitment to these controversial health policies.
Countries like Britain and Sweden, which have chosen to follow the science and reject these contentious practices, stand in stark contrast to the United States. The American medical community’s continued embrace of what some consider to be unproven and potentially harmful treatments raises concerns about the future of healthcare and the well-being of minors in the country.