Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Aug 7, 2023 / 12:17 pm
An influential pediatricians’ group affirmed its support for what activists call “gender-affirming” medical procedures performed on young people, though the group also called for a “systematic” review of existing evidence related to the controversial treatment regimens.
“Gender-affirming care” is the term for medical treatments that assist individuals in changing their bodies to look more like that of the opposite sex. Those procedures can include “puberty-blocking” drugs, synthetic cross-sex hormones, and surgeries such as mastectomies and castrations.
Advocates say such treatments are medically necessary for both adults and youth who claim to be members of the opposite sex, while critics say the evidence of the safety and effectiveness of those treatments is sparse or nonexistent.
In a statement last week, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) said its board of directors had voted to reaffirm its 2018 policy statement in support of those treatments and that it had further “authorized development of an expanded set of guidance for pediatricians” pending a “systematic review” of available treatment guidelines.