Concerns and Hope

Discussion on concerns about current practices, acknowledgment of lack of evidence, and hope for reversal of course in pediatric gender transition.

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“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