Stanford Medicine has stopped performing gender-affirming surgeries for patients under the age of 19 to expand children’s hospital Los Angeles for transgender youth amid growing political pressure from the Trump administration.
“After careful consideration of the latest federal actions and directives and consultations with clinical leadership, including interdisciplinary LGBTQ+ programs and their providers, Stanford Medicine has suspended its provision of gender-related surgical procedures as part of its comprehensive health services for LGBTQ+ patients on June 2nd.”
The announcement reiterates a similar decision by Children’s Hospital Los Angeles to shutter a long-standing healthcare program serving around 3,000 transgender children and young adults on July 22.
Both health facilities said this was a tough decision after a careful analysis of federal government actions that hinder the ability of healthcare providers to provide transgender health services to young people.
“We have taken this step to protect both our providers and our patients,” Stanford Medicine said in a statement. “This was not a decision we underestimated, especially knowing how deeply this affects individuals and families who rely on our essential care and support.”
Although CHLA is closing the entire centre for Transyouth Health and Development, Stanford continues to run Stanford Child and Adolescent Gender Clinics, providing other types of gender maintenance care outside of surgical procedures.
Stanford clinics were founded in 2015 to provide healthcare services to young people who make up their gender, including hormone blockers and psychiatric support for children transitioning gender identity.
In January, Trump issued an executive order directing federal agencies to cut federal funds to health care providers who provide gender-affirming care to minors.
“It is a US policy not to fund, sponsor, promote, support or support the so-called ‘transition’ of children, and strictly enforce all laws prohibit or limit these destructive and life-changing procedures,” the executive order states.
A federal judge blocked the order in March.
Federal agencies, including the Department of Justice, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, are warning doctors and hospitals that provide care against the administration of severe consequences.
April, US Atty. General Pam Bondy issued a memorandum of understanding notifying health care providers that “female genital mutilation” is a felony, directed the FBI to investigate potential criminal activities, and directed US lawyers to prosecute such activities.
“These threats are no longer theoretical,” a senior member of Children’s Hospital La wrote to staff in an email in June. “Together, our recent solicitation of Attorney General’s Memo, HHS Review and tips from the FBI to report GAC hospitals and providers. [gender-affirming care] This administration is strongly signaling to entities that both criminal and civilians that it considers to be in breach of the executive order. ”
Last week, the Supreme Court banned Tennessee from providing adolescent blockers and hormonal treatments to transgender teens. Similar laws are in effect in 23 other Republican-led states, all of which have been enacted in the past four years. California continues to support the right of minors diagnosed with gender discomfort to be prescribed adolescent blockers and hormonal treatments.
Source link
