HHS Clashes With Major Medical Groups Over Pediatric Gender Care Review

The Department of Health and Human Services released a review On Thursday, findings indicated that the quality of evidence concerning the impacts of transition-related treatment for young individuals "is very low." Consequently, numerous American physicians inadvertently "failed their patients" by offering this form of care.

“A central theme of this Review is that many U.S. medical professionals and associations have fallen short of their duty to prioritize the health interests of young patients,” the conclusion of the 409-page report states.

The HHS evaluation revealed that there is scant evidence concerning the impact of medical treatments for transgender youths on "mental well-being, quality of life, instances of regret, or long-term health." Additionally, it noted that "the data pointing towards adverse effects related to pediatric medical transitions in comprehensive analyses" is minimal. However, this conclusion must be viewed cautiously since current research lacks studies specifically monitoring and documenting negative consequences.

The report strongly condemned the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), an international non-profit organization comprised of healthcare providers who develop standards for transgender health care. It contends that these guidelines are skewed and driven by political motives. According to the HHS document, WPATH has allegedly shaped American medical organizations' perspectives, fostering a misleading impression of unanimity concerning transitioning procedures for young people, even though there have been reservations expressed by insiders and individuals who have undergone de-transitioning. or the comparatively few individuals Who no longer consider themselves transgender or lament the transition-related treatments they underwent.

The review similarly questions the growing body of research from recent years that has identified a notable independent connection related to gender dysphoria and suicide , and on studies that have linked access to transition care to improved mental health outcomes for youth.

The HHS review ultimately calls for psychotherapy as “a noninvasive alternative to endocrine and surgical interventions for the treatment of pediatric gender dysphoria” and for more research regarding the effects of exploratory psychotherapy on minors with gender dysphoria.

The report highlights the latest intensification of the Trump administration’s attempts to restrict access to gender-transition services and other rights for transgender individuals. During his initial period as president, Donald Trump signed multiple executive orders affecting transgender people, such as an order stating that there are just two immutable genders determined at birth, another barring transgender persons from joining or continuing their service in the armed forces, and one stopping federal funds from going to hospitals that offer transitioning treatments to young people under 18.

The directive concerning transgender healthcare for young people, signed on Jan. 28 The requirement mandated by HHS was for them to release an analysis of current research on "optimal methods for supporting the well-being of children experiencing gender dysphoria," defined medically as the discomfort arising from a discrepancy between one's assigned sex at birth and their sense of self. This HHS report explicitly states that it should not be regarded as a clinical practice guideline aimed at assisting healthcare providers and individuals in making treatment choices. It also clarifies that it doesn’t provide legislative suggestions or formulate policies. Nevertheless, this document has the potential to impact young people’s accessibility to transitioning treatments across the country due to how it might intensify ongoing political debates around these issues.

The review's conclusions represent a notable divergence between the federal government and the positions held by prominent U.S. medical organizations—including the American Medical Association , the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Psychological Association —which back the availability of transition-related care for young people and are against imposing limitations on it.

Consequently, the review faced swift criticism from medical groups and transgender advocates due to concerns over its methodologies and opacity. Notably, HHS deviated from standard practice by failing to disclose the identities of the review’s contributors, which is typically expected. required to be included on any scientific publication.

"Although this comprehensive review of existing literature on the topic was conducted by specialists in the field, numerous individuals within the scientific and medical circles doubt its reliability since the names of these experts are nowhere to be found," stated Dr. Morissa Ladinsky, who serves as a clinical professor of pediatrics at Stanford University School of Medicine.

She mentioned that typically, such a scientific report would include the names of the experts who reviewed it through the peer-review process, but this particular review doesn’t do so.

It remains uncertain whether the complete report underwent peer review or just a part of it did. A news release Issued by HHS on Thursday indicates: "The chapters of this assessment underwent peer review before being published, and a post-publication peer review will commence within the next few days, encompassing participants from various viewpoints."

Ladinsky stated that this is quite unusual, and typically, post-publication peer review occurs only when "significant doubts" have been raised about the conclusions of a study or report.

The HHS did not respond to requests for comments about the exclusion of the authors' names from the report or the peer review process.

Susan J. Kressly, who serves as the president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, stated that her organization is "extremely concerned" about the report.

Kressly stated in a release, "For this type of analysis to be credible, it needs to take into account all accessible data and the complete range of clinical outcomes instead of depending solely on selective viewpoints and limited information." He further added, "The report inaccurately portrays the present medical agreement and does not accurately depict the truths of pediatric healthcare."

The review advocates for " exploratory psychotherapy," an approach that suggests talking therapies as a substitute for treatments like pubertal suppressants or hormonal interventions. This type of therapy aims to assist young individuals in reconciling themselves with their physical selves, as stated in the review, or in accepting their assigned gender at birth.

Several prominent LGBTQ advocacy groups in the country, such as GLAAD, which focuses on media representation for LGBTQ individuals, and The Trevor Project, dedicated to preventing suicides among LGBTQ young people, along with specialized medical professionals researching healthcare for LGBTQ youth, have stated that " exploratory psychotherapy" is frequently just another term for "conversion therapy." This practice, considered outdated, aims to alter a person's sexual orientation or gender identity and has been debunked.

This is an argument they've employed for many years, essentially it's mild conversion therapy," stated Doug Haldeman, a psychologist and clinical psychology professor at John F. Kennedy University. "Currently, we're in a period where the leadership has unequivocally expressed since day one their desire to completely eradicate transgender identities.

Haldeman, who authored "The Case Against Conversion 'Therapy': Evidence, Ethics, and Alternatives," stated that there is years of research demonstrating that attempting to make transgender individuals "accept" their assigned gender at birth leads to adverse mental health consequences.

The HHS review pushes back on equating “exploratory” therapy with so-called conversion therapy, arguing that all psychotherapy is “exploratory by definition.”

The review additionally references several "whistleblowers," individuals who formerly assisted in providing care for transgender youths but later criticized such practices. It includes the account of Jamie Reed, a previous caseworker from the Transgender Center at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, who made allegations in a 23-page affidavit Children were often given puberty inhibitors or hormone treatments without "suitable or precise" psychological evaluations, according to her claims. These accusations supported state legislators who pushed for laws ultimately prohibiting gender-affirming treatment for young people in Missouri.

The review says that the concerns of whistleblowers have been “discounted, dismissed, or ignored by prominent advocates and practitioners of pediatric medical transition.”

Reed stated, "Given my status as a designated whistleblower in the report and considering my personal experience as a lesbian with firsthand understanding of this area, I completely concur with the findings" of the review.

Since its inception, gender medicine has functioned as gay conversion therapy," Reed stated to NBC News. "This HHS review echoes that past and highlights serious justice-related issues due to the disproportionate number of LGB youths affected. Being a longtime Democrat, I think it’s crucial now for both parties to unite behind these report conclusions.

Previously, Ladinsky worked as a pediatrician in Birmingham, Alabama, for ten years, during which she cared for numerous transgender teenagers. However, when the state implemented a prohibition on transitional healthcare for minors in 2022, her practice was affected. This legislation places Alabama among the 25 states that have introduced similar limitations.

"All of us working at the forefront can attest that in these 25 states where certain aspects of care are prohibited, we haven't encountered a single instance of a young person ceasing to be transgender," Ladinsky stated.

The article was initially posted on https://smarthealthradar2025.blogspot.com/