Surgical Sophistry: The 216th Evolutionary Lens with Bret Weinstein and Heather Heying
Mar 13, 2024
01:45:05
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Discussion on ethical concerns of hormonal and surgical interventions on young individuals, debates on transgender healthcare, the emotional rollercoaster of transitioning surgeries, amphibian parental care, and promoting sponsors like VanMan, MUDWTR, and Helix mattresses.
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Quick takeaways
In the WPATH files, patient autonomy is prioritized over minimizing harm, leading to fulfillment of desires without considering risks.
Surgeons experiment with underdosing to meet desired outcomes, focusing on customization rather than standardized practices.
The emergence of a gender doula role in gender medicine discussions advocates for individuals transitioning between genders.
The leaked WPATH files reveal a flawed belief system emphasizing individual desires over potential risks and societal norms.
Deep dives
The Emphasis on Autonomy in Gender Medicine
In the WPATH files, patient autonomy is prioritized over minimizing harm, leading to patient desires being fulfilled without considering the potential risks. The concept of harm is viewed as unfulfilled consumer desire rather than focusing on minimizing actual harm. This approach results in treating individuals' bodies like gendered art pieces, aiming to challenge cisnormativity and meet unique embodiment goals.
Surgeon's Experimentation with Hormone Dosages
A surgeon in the leaked WPATH files discusses experimenting with underdosing natal females with testosterone to meet their desired goals without full virilization. The focus is on customization of hormone levels to achieve individual outcomes rather than adhering to standardized practices. This approach raises concerns about the long-term effects and unforeseen consequences of such experimental treatments.
The Role of a Gender Doula
The concept of a gender doula, borrowing from the role of a traditional doula during childbirth, has emerged in gender medicine discussions. A gender doula is presented as an advocate for individuals transitioning between genders, mirroring the support provided during childbirth. This appropriation of the doula role suggests the normalization of gender transition as a significant life event, similar to the process of giving birth.
Flawed Beliefs within WPATH
The leaked WPATH files reveal flawed beliefs within the organization, where patient autonomy is paramount while minimizing potential harm is undervalued. Trans embodiment goals that challenge dominant expectations, such as mastectomies without nipples and vagina-preserving phalloplasties, are seen as valid expressions of gender. This flawed belief system emphasizes individual desires over potential risks and normative societal standards.
Sicilian Amphibian's Unconventional Parental Care
A lesser-known amphibian, the Sicilian, provides an extraordinary form of parental care by offering its babies nutrient-rich skin to eat and producing a milk-like substance that the offspring consume. Upon hearing high-pitched clicks from the babies, the mother releases the milk-like secretion near and within her cloaca, with the young Sicilians actively collecting this nourishment directly from her. This unique amphibian's approach to parental care involves intricate behaviors such as skin consumption and milk solicitation, showcasing a fascinating aspect of amphibian biology.
Challenging Podcast Episode
The podcast delves into a contentious issue surrounding the provision of gender transition procedures to children, highlighting ethical concerns and challenges faced by therapists. The discussion touches on the lack of informed consent, potential risks and regrets associated with such procedures, and the ethical dilemma of therapists caught between advocating for young clients' well-being and facing professional threats. The episode sheds light on the complex landscape of gender transition therapies for minors and the critical need for thorough understanding and ethical considerations.
Debunking Absurd Ideologies
The podcast episode critically examines the ideologies surrounding gender transitions, particularly focusing on the misleading narratives and ethical implications. It underscores the importance of rational examination and understanding the complexity of individuals' experiences in the context of gender dysphoria and plural identities. The discussion challenges misguided beliefs and emphasizes the necessity of informed consent, responsible medical care, and ethical considerations in addressing various gender identity complexities and treatment decisions.
In this 216th in a series of live discussions with Bret Weinstein and Heather Heying (both PhDs in Biology), we talk about the state of the world through an evolutionary lens.
In this episode, we discuss the WPATH files—internal documents from the World Professional Association on Transgender Health—which were released this month. In them, we find evidence that clinicians are encouraging hormonal and surgical interventions on young people who are too young to consent, have not been informed of the risks, and often have comorbidities. We also discuss an article by a trans-identified man who argues “the moral case for letting trans kids change their bodies.” Finally: the milk of amphibians.
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Mentioned in this episode:
The WPATH Files: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/56a45d683b0be33df885def6/t/65e6d9bea9969715fba29e6f/1709627904275/U_WPATH+Report+and+Files.pdf
Andrea Long Chu in New York magazine: https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/trans-rights-biological-sex-gender-judith-butler.html
Amphibian Milk at Natural Selections: https://naturalselections.substack.com/p/amphibian-milk
