AAP leaders say they are “deeply concerned” about a new government report on caring for transgender and gender-diverse youths. Medical society leaders also are defending the physician-patient relationship from political interference.
The report on pediatric gender dysphoria from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services raises concerns about medical interventions for transgender youths and relies on a narrow set of data and perspectives.
AAP President Susan J. Kressly, M.D., FAAP, questioned the credibility of the report.
“This report misrepresents the current medical consensus and fails to reflect the realities of pediatric care,” Dr. Kressly said in a statement. “As we have seen with immunizations, bypassing medical expertise and scientific evidence has real consequences for the health of America's children. AAP was not consulted in the development of this report, yet our policy and intentions behind our recommendations were cited throughout in inaccurate and misleading ways. The report prioritizes opinions over dispassionate reviews of evidence.”
She urged policymakers to consider the “full breadth of peer-reviewed research” and said the AAP would continue to support pediatricians and the well-being of all children.
“Patients, their families, and their physicians—not politicians or government officials —should be the ones to make decisions together about what care is best for them based on evidence-based, age-appropriate care,” she said. “… The AAP remains focused on supporting pediatricians in delivering the best possible care to every child, informed by science and the lived experiences of patients and families. We will continue to support the well-being of all children and access to high-quality care that meets their needs.”
President Donald J. Trump called for the report in a Jan. 28 executive order on gender-affirming care, which he refers to as “chemical and surgical mutilation.” An April 28 update on actions taken since the order was signed touts the elimination of $477 million in related research grant funding, making plans to remove gender-affirming care as a covered benefit for the children of federal employees and exploring ways to increase access to detransition care.
The update follows an April 22 memo from Attorney General Pam Bondi threatening physicians with felony charges for providing certain types of gender-affirming care.
The AAP joined five other medical organizations representing 600,000 physicians and medical students opposing infringements on the patient-physician relationship.
The groups said they “firmly believe the trusted relationship between a physician and their patient should never be jeopardized by the actions of policymakers, that physicians should not be criminalized or penalized for providing care and that medical standards of care and physician education training and education must remain evidence-based and free from political interference.”
In addition to the AAP, the statement was signed by the American Academy of Family Physicians, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American College of Physicians, American Osteopathic Association and American Psychiatric Association.
