Federal authorities under the Trump administration are examining whether healthcare providers should be required to reveal potential risks associated with transgender treatment.
In a significant turn of events, gender-affirming care for minors in U.S. hospitals is facing severe restrictions, following President Donald Trump’s January 2025 Executive Order 14187. This order, titled "Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation," has intensified a rollback of such care in hospitals across the country.
The Health and Human Services (HHS), led by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., released a report in May, revealing serious concerns about medical interventions, such as puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgeries, for children and teens with gender dysphoria. The report highlighted evidence of risks associated with these treatments, including irreversible infertility, sexual dysfunction, reduced bone density, adverse cognitive impacts, cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, psychiatric disorders, surgical complications, and regret.
The FTC is also looking into potential deceptive trade practices relating to gender-affirming treatments, specifically as it concerns minors. The Federal Trade Commission launched an inquiry in July, evaluating whether consumers, particularly minors, have been harmed and whether medical professionals or others may have violated sections of the FTC Act. The FTC announced the investigation on Monday, giving consumers until September 26 to come forward with concerns.
The change in policy at the Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., is a notable example. The hospital has stopped providing gender transition-related medical interventions due to escalating legal and regulatory risks. However, mental health and other support services for LGBT patients remain available.
The Trump administration is pushing back on transgender care for minors and the participation of biological males in women’s sports. This stance has led to many providers suspending such services, often facilitating safe transfer of existing patients' care but no longer accepting new minors for gender-affirming treatments.
Simultaneously, more than a dozen states along with Washington D.C. have filed lawsuits against the Trump Administration and the Department of Justice, arguing these federal actions unlawfully restrict access to necessary medical care for transgender minors. This legal and political conflict at multiple levels of government underscores the significant challenges faced in this area.
While major medical organizations like the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics continue to endorse gender-affirming care for transgender youth, the regulatory and enforcement environment has led to many providers suspending such services. The HHS believes that medical ethics should be central in the debate about transgender care for minors.
A study found that transgender surgeries increase the risk of mental health conditions and suicidal ideations. However, it's important to note that this is a complex issue, and more research is needed to fully understand the long-term effects of various interventions.
The FTC investigation is part of broader federal scrutiny, including DOJ subpoenas to clinics and practitioners, amid claims that gender-affirming treatments might involve deceptive trade practices or insufficient risk disclosure. This scrutiny has contributed to the widespread restriction of gender-affirming care for minors in hospitals across the U.S.
As this issue continues to evolve, it's crucial for all parties involved to prioritise the well-being and best interests of the affected individuals, ensuring that they receive the care and support they need in a safe and informed manner.
Sources: 1. Newsweek 2. The Washington Post 3. The Hill 4. NPR 5. The New York Times
- Science and policy-and-legislation are intertwined, as the Trump administration's Executive Order 14187, titled "Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation," has instigated a rollback of gender-affirming care in U.S. hospitals.
- The Health and Human Services (HHS) report has raised concerns about various medical interventions for children and teens with gender dysphoria, including puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgeries, outlining potential risks to mental-health, health-and-wellness, and general-news.
- The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is investigating gender-affirming treatments, particularly in relation to minors, focusing on potential deceptive trade practices and insufficient risk disclosure, which might have violated sections of the FTC Act.
- CBD (a non-psychoactive component of the cannabis plant) could potentially be considered as an alternative or complementary therapy for managing mental-health conditions associated with gender dysphoria, but the scientific evidence and policy guidelines regarding its use are still evolving and require further research.
