Missouri transgender clinic that faced an investigation for ‘pressuring parents to give hormone drugs to 600 kids’ will stop giving puberty blockers to children following new state law
The Missouri transgender clinic under investigation for allegedly harming some 600 children after taking irreversible hormone drugs and undergoing gender reassignment surgery announced an end to the practice following the introduction of a new state law.
The spotlight fell on the Washington University Transgender Center at St. Louis Children’s Hospital earlier this year after a whistleblower came forward alleging how parents were bullied into getting their children prescribed hormone medications.
The Center “will no longer prescribe puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones to minors for the purpose of gender transition,” the university announced on Monday.
A new state law bans hormone therapy for minors under the age of 18.
A transgender clinic at the Washington University Transgender Center at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, which is under investigation for alleged harm to children by hormone drugs and gender reassignment surgery, will now end the practice
The Center “will no longer prescribe puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones to minors for the purpose of gender transition,” the university announced on Monday.
In February, the whistleblower alleged that doctors would routinely give out hormone drugs to children without examining their mental health issues.
Jamie Reed, a former employee, told me The free press the clinic administered a litany of irreparable treatments to minors, often without parental consent.
Reed claimed that doctors would ask questions like “do you want a dead daughter or a living son?” to ‘bully’ children’s parents into going ahead with gender transitions – on the pretext that failure to do so would make them suicidal.
The whistleblower said working at the center, where 600 children were medically transferred within two years, was: “It was like being in a cult and having to deprogram myself from it.”
Reed said the practices were “morally and medically abhorrent” and caused “permanent harm” to children by failing to address “red flag” mental health issues.
Earlier this year, whistleblower Jamie Reed said she took the job with the intention of “saving” trans children, but she believes what is happening is causing “lasting damage” to young, vulnerable children.
David H. Perlmutter, MD, is executive vice chancellor for medical affairs and dean of Washington University School of Medicine
Dr. Cynthia Herrick, left, and Dr. Thomas J. Baranski, right, are both co-directors of the Washington University Transgender Center at St. Louis Children’s Hospital in Missouri
The Center also ignored all possible side effects of taking the hormones and undergoing surgery – and ignored the few who later decided to detransition.
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey is now investigating Reed’s claims.
Every major medical organization, including the American Medical Association, has opposed the ban on gender-affirming care for minors and has supported medical care for young people if it is properly administered.
Lawsuits have been filed in several states where bans have been passed this year.
Missouri patients who were already receiving gender-affirming hormone medications before the law went into effect on August 28 can still receive the treatment in the state, but the Transgender Center has decided to discontinue services to all its patients, both new and old.
Instead, the Center will refer current patients to other providers. It will also continue to provide education and mental health care to transgender children.
“University of Washington physicians will no longer prescribe puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones to minors for the purpose of gender transition,” the university said in a statement.
“This legal claim creates unsustainable liability for healthcare professionals and makes it untenable for us to continue to provide comprehensive transgender care for minor patients without subjecting the University and our healthcare providers to an unacceptable level of liability.”
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey is now investigating Reed’s claims regarding the clinic
The law sets a minimum liability of $500,000.
The announcement is a victory for conservative Republicans who wanted to see an end to puberty blockers and hormone treatments, which health care providers describe as components of gender-affirming care for minors.
A number of the clinic’s patients have criticized Reed’s allegations, noting that she only worked on the administrative side and did not attend actual medical appointments.
a New York Times investigation who spoke to dozens of patients, parents, former employees and local healthcare providers, were confirmed in many cases, while remaining unconfirmed in others.
The lengthy report noted that the clinic often relied on therapists who had little expertise in gender issues — let alone enough to decide whether children should be eligible to receive hormone medications.
Washington University defended its practices on Monday.
“Our physicians cared for these patients with skill and dedication,” the statement said.
“They have consistently provided treatment in accordance with the standard of care and with informed consent from patients and their parents or guardians.”