“We are making strong recommendations based on weak evidence,” a statement from practicing pediatrician, Dr. Julia Mason, about the basis of gender affirming care, which is the model of care currently backed by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

In this episode, Dr. Mason sits down with Sasha & Stella to discuss her relentless efforts towards charging the AAP to pursue a systematic review of the evidence behind gender affirming care. They discuss the series of events leading up to the AAP’s most recent article reaffirming their commitment to the affirmation model as laid out in the AAP’s policy statement published in 2018, but also announcing their authorization of a systematic review of the evidence. This decision on the part of the AAP comes long overdue in the wake of so many European organizations who have recently conducted their own reviews, all of which have resulted in abrupt shifts in the care protocols around gender transition.

Links:

NY Times article about the AAP's recent moves:

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/03/health/aap-gender-affirming-care-evidence-review.html 

SEGM’s Spotlight

https://segm.org/news 

Rafferty’s 2018 AAP Statement

https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/142/4/e20182162/37381/Ensuring-Comprehensive-Care-and-Support-for 

Cantor Fact Checks the Rafferty Paper

http://www.jamescantor.org/uploads/6/2/9/3/62939641/cantor_fact-check_of_aap.pdf 

Wall Street Journal Article

https://www.wsj.com/articles/doctors-group-to-examine-guidelines-for-treatment-of-transgender-youths-dbe98caa  

The Cass Review | Interim Report - Independent Review of Gender Identity Services for Children and Young People

https://cass.independent-review.uk/publications/interim-report/

Genspect’s Open Letter to the AAP

https://genspect.org/an-open-letter-to-the-american-academy-of-pediatrics/ 

Leor Sapir’s Article

https://www.wsj.com/articles/second-thoughts-on-gender-affirming-care-american-academy-pediatrics-doctors-review-medicine-a7173276 

AAP Reaffirms But Authorizes Systematic Review

https://publications.aap.org/aapnews/news/25340/AAP-reaffirms-gender-affirming-care-policy?autologincheck=redirected 

Opinion Supporting Gender Dysphoric Youth

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