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, which was investigated for allegedly harming up to 600 children after they took irreversible hormonal medications and underwent gender transition surgeries, announced the end of this practice following the introduction of a new state law.

Attention focused on Washington University’s transgender center at St. Louis Children’s Hospital earlier this year after a whistleblower came forward and claimed that parents had been intimidated into allowing their children to be prescribed hormonal medications.

The Center “will no longer prescribe puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones to minors for the purposes of gender transition,” the university announced Monday.

A new state law bans hormone therapy for minors under 18.

The Center “will no longer prescribe puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones to minors for the purposes of gender transition,” the university announced Monday.

In February, the whistleblower alleged that doctors routinely administered hormonal medications to children without conducting a thorough examination of their mental health issues.

Jamie Reed, a former employee, said The free press the clinic administered a litany of irreparable treatments to minors, often without parental consent.

Reed claimed doctors asked questions like, “Do you want a dead daughter or a living son?” » “bully” their children’s parents into making gender transitions – under the pretext that not doing so would make them suicidal.

The whistleblower said working at the center, which provided medical transition to 600 children in two years, was: “It was like I was in a cult, and I had to deprogram to get out of it.” to go out.”

Reed, said its practices were “morally and medically appalling” and “permanently harming” 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 believed what was happening amounted to ‘permanent harm’ for vulnerable young children.

David H. Perlmutter, MD, is executive vice chancellor for medical affairs and dean of the University of Washington School of Medicine

Dr. Cynthia Herrick, left, and Dr. Thomas J. Baranski, right, are both co-directors of the Washington University Transgender Center at Children’s Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri.

The Center also ignored the potential side effects of taking hormones and surgery – ignoring the few people who subsequently decided to detransition.

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey is currently investigating Reed’s allegations.

All major medical organizations, including the American Medical Association, have opposed the ban on gender-affirming care for minors and have supported medical care for young people when administered appropriately.

Lawsuits have been filed in several states where bans have been enacted this year.

Missouri patients who were already receiving gender-confirming hormone medications before the law took effect Aug. 28 will still be able to receive the treatment in the state, but the Transgender Center has decided to terminate its services to all its patients, new and old.

Instead, the Center will refer current patients to other providers. It will also continue to provide education and mental health support to transgender children.

“University of Washington physicians will no longer prescribe puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones to minors for the purposes of gender transition,” the university said in a statement.

“This lawsuit creates unsustainable liability for healthcare professionals and makes it untenable for us to continue to provide comprehensive transgender care to minor patients without subjecting the university and our providers to an unacceptable level of liability.”

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey is currently investigating Reed’s claims about the clinic.

The law provides for 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 providers have described as part of gender-affirming care for minors.

A number of patients at the clinic criticized Reed’s allegations, pointing out that she only worked administratively and was not present for actual medical appointments.

A New York Times investigation who spoke with dozens of patients, relatives, former employees and local healthcare providers, in many cases have been corroborated while in other cases they remain unconfirmed.

The lengthy report pointed out that the clinic often relied on therapists who had little expertise in gender issues — much less enough to decide whether children should be eligible to receive hormonal medications.

The University of Washington defended its practices Monday.

“Our doctors treated these patients with skill and dedication,” the statement said.

“They have continually provided treatment according to standards of care and with the informed consent of patients and their parents or guardians.”