A group of 20 attorneys general is urging the American Medical Association (AMA) to clarify its stance on puberty blockers for children. They argue that the AMA’s support for these treatments contradicts their recent position against gender-related surgeries for minors, citing the lack of evidence for both.
In a letter led by Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, sent to AMA CEO Dr. John J. White, the coalition expressed concerns about the AMA’s endorsement of hormonal treatments. They noted that the quality of evidence supporting these interventions is similar—both are seen as low or very low quality. The letter highlighted findings from systematic reviews by the Department of Health and Human Services and Dr. Hilary Cass, which also indicated insufficient evidence to guarantee the safety or effectiveness of these treatments for young patients.
Marshall’s letter pointedly asked how the AMA can reject surgical interventions due to lack of evidence while simultaneously endorsing hormonal treatments. He emphasized that these hormonal interventions might actually pose greater risks because they are perceived as less severe than surgeries. He cautioned that hormone treatments could permanently sterilize children.
The letter concluded with questions directed at the AMA regarding its support for guidelines from organizations that back puberty blockers and hormone therapies, such as the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, the Endocrine Society, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. The attorneys general suggested the AMA’s current position may violate consumer protection laws, as it could mislead the public about the efficacy of these treatments.
Marshall added that the AMA’s acknowledgment of the lack of solid evidence for pediatric surgeries raises significant issues. “When children’s lives and futures are at stake, anything less than complete scientific integrity is reckless,” he stated, calling for a consistent application of scientific standards.
The letter set a deadline of March 25 for the AMA to address these concerns. Meanwhile, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons has recently advised surgeons to delay all gender-related surgeries for individuals under 19 while ongoing reviews assess the impacts on young patients.
