 |
| Anti-vaxer HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testifying before a Senate committee Wednesday. / Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call/Zuma |
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) joined five other medical organizations representing 600,000 physicians and medical students have said in a press release that they are "deeply alarmed" by the report released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on medical care for transgender and gender-diverse individuals."
"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 term "gender mutilation" was used 16 times in the HHS report, and "detransition care" is Trump speak for conversion therapy, a damaging, unethical practice that is banned in 27 states.)
"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.
Susan J. Kressly, MD, FAAP, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said in a statement that the AAP "was not consulted in the development of this report, yet the AAP's 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.
"This report misrepresents the current medical consensus and fails to reflect the realities of pediatric care," she said.
"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."
"We urge government officials and policymakers to approach these conversations with care, humility, and a commitment to considering the full breadth of peer-reviewed research. 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," the statement concludes.
Planet Trans informed our readers prior to the publication of the HHS report that it would likely be a political hit job similar to the Cass Review. In tone and form, NPR reports, the HHS report mirrors the Cass Review, published in the U.K. last year and commissioned by the National Health Service. The name "Cass" is cited 149 times in the HHS report, according to NPR.
Moira Szilagyi, MD, PhD, FAAP, who was president of the AAP in 2022, issued a statement in support of gender-affirming care, as have 30 other American medical associations, when laws were being passed at the state level denying such care to adolescents.
Related: In war against Trans healthcare Trump Threatens Medical Publications
The AAP joined five other medical organizations representing 600,000 physicians and medical students, condemning the HHS Document.
