Recently, certain hospitals in Colorado, Virginia, and Washington D.C. have temporarily halted gender-affirming care for young individuals as they review the implications of a new executive order issued by former President Donald Trump. This directive aims to reexamine federal support for such care and mandates compliance from institutions receiving federal support.
Denver Health in Colorado was among the first to announce the cessation of gender-affirming surgeries for those under 19 years old. This move aims to align with the executive order while ensuring continued federal funding. However, it remains unclear if other gender-affirming services like hormone therapy and puberty blockers will also be affected, as the hospital assesses its policy.
Following suit, VCU Health and Children's Hospital of Richmond in Virginia have also temporarily suspended both gender-affirming medications and surgeries for minors. In Washington, D.C., Children's National Hospital has halted the prescription of puberty blockers and hormone therapy, although the hospital historically refrained from performing surgeries on minors.
The executive order, which was signed recently, primarily focuses on reversing former President Joe Biden's policies that were put in place to safeguard transgender rights and healthcare. This order instructs federal agencies to guarantee that hospitals receiving federal funds discontinue what it controversially terms as 'chemical and surgical mutilation of children'.
In contrast, other medical institutions across the country, like Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, have indicated their commitment to evaluating the executive order's potential impact without immediate changes to their clinical practices. They emphasized ongoing advocacy for evidence-based and compassionate care for their patients.
The language used in the executive order contrasts sharply with common practices within gender-affirming care, often described by its terms such as 'maiming' and 'sterilizing'. This stark divergence from the recommendations by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) is referred to as 'junk science' in the order. WPATH has defended the necessity of these medical services, warning of harmful repercussions related to restricting transgender youth's access to essential healthcare.
Despite being a contentious subject, gender-affirming medical treatments for minors are relatively rare. Recent studies highlight that less than one in 1,000 American adolescents covered by commercial insurance received puberty blockers or hormones over a recent five-year span, and the majority of surgeries attributed to gender affirmation do not involve minors.
Denver Health's representatives have expressed concerns over the expected negative ramifications of the order on the mental well-being of their transgender patients. They affirm continued provision of primary and behavioral health care services to their patients under 19 years old, reinforcing their commitment to the health and safety of their gender-diverse youth population.
As the healthcare landscape adjusts to this new directive, many institutions strive to balance compliance with compassionate care standards, all while championing the rights of their diverse patient base.