Florida Sues Medical Groups Over Youth Gender-Affirming Care

 Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier targeted three major medical organizations in a lawsuit over gender-affirming care for youth.

The lawsuit alleges that the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the Endocrine Society misled "public opinion on the safety" of gender-affirming care for minors, according to an announcement from the Attorney General's office.

The complaint stated that "defendants' campaign to mislead patients, parents, insurers, regulators, and courts about the reversibility and efficacy of pediatric sex interventions violates the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act and constitutes a pattern of racketeering activity under the Florida Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act."

In a video posted to X, Uthmeier said "we believe these organizations failed to disclose the risks, limits, and evidence when promoting so-called gender-affirming care for children. For years, these groups insisted the recommendations were settled science, but behind closed doors, they knew the evidence was weak. They knew the outcomes uncertain and the risks very real."

"Parents were not told the full story," Uthmeier continued. "In fact, some parents were told that if they didn't put their kids through permanent, life-altering, sick procedures ... that their child would commit suicide. Not only is that unethical and dangerous medicine, but it is against the law."

The complaint points to the 2024 Cass Review, a U.K. report that concluded there is no high-quality evidence supporting puberty blockers and hormones in gender-affirming care for youth.

At the time the Cass Review was published, however, U.S. experts told MedPage Today that it should be taken in "totality" and that treatments should be available while the evidence base is enhanced.

Gender-affirming care for youth has fielded significant challenges at the state and federal level.

In May, HHS released a report urging greater reliance on behavioral therapy rather than broad gender-affirming medical care for minors with gender dysphoria; the report did not include input from WPATH, AAP, or the Endocrine Society. In response, a number of major medical organizations pushed back.

WPATH, AAP, and the Endocrine Society all publish guidelines on gender-affirming care for youth, which include factors that are important to consider prior to physical interventions, and describe the reversibility or irreversibility of specific interventions, among other information and recommendations.

In response to the lawsuit, WPATH pointed to the importance of its guidelines.

"As a professional organization for clinicians and experts, WPATH is committed to advancing cautious, evidence-informed guidelines for care to help improve the lives of transgender people globally so they may live full and authentic lives," WPATH told MedPage Today in an email.

"WPATH believes strongly in the value of scientific and academic research as well as discussion among peers to help improve the standards of care and outcomes for transgender and gender-diverse people," the organization added. "Transgender people -- and all people -- deserve the freedom to make their own personal, private healthcare decisions in consultation with their families and medical providers, free from political interference and retaliation."

AAP declined to comment, and the Endocrine Society did not immediately respond to request for comment.

https://www.medpagetoday.com/pediatrics/transgendermedicine/118970