US government plans to block transgender care for minors
US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other health officials announced on Thursday that the federal government intends to prevent hospitals and doctors from providing transgender care to children, asserting, “this is not medicine, it is malpractice,” reports BritPanorama.
Kennedy stated, “These procedures fail to meet professionally recognized standards of care,” emphasizing that medical professionals or entities offering sex-rejecting procedures to minors are out of compliance with health care standards. This directive marks a significant shift in the administration’s approach to gender identity treatment.
At a Thursday morning event, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz indicated that under the proposed regulations, hospitals participating in Medicare and Medicaid could face penalties if they offer treatments such as puberty blockers and surgical interventions for transgender minors.
In response to this new policy, US Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary announced that the agency is sending warning letters to 12 manufacturers and vendors of breast binders marketed for treating gender dysphoria in minors. Additionally, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, Director of the National Institutes of Health, expressed that the agency would cease its funding for research related to gender transition, labeling such studies as “junk science.”
Health officials from HHS cited their review of relevant evidence and reports from various countries that have experienced similar debates, many of which have faced significant backlash. Furthermore, while they plan to focus on psychosocial assessments, they acknowledged a limited availability of mental health care providers.
Gender identity care, often referred to as gender-affirming care, employs a multidisciplinary approach to assist individuals transitioning from their assigned gender at birth to their identified gender. This comprehensive care may encompass mental health services or age-appropriate medical treatments including hormone therapies and reproductive care.
Despite the government’s new stance, major medical organizations such as the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, and the Endocrine Society maintain that gender-affirming care represents the gold standard of clinically appropriate care for both children and adults, asserting that it is vital for their health and wellbeing.
Regrettably, surgery is generally not advised for children within these frameworks, and research indicates that such procedures remain rare among transgender or gender-diverse teens.
As these developments unfold, the implications for healthcare providers and children experiencing gender dysphoria remain to be seen, with advocacy groups likely to challenge these regulatory moves. The debate highlights the ongoing conflict between evolving medical guidance and regulatory practices, a conflict that appears set to intensify.
