A group of 20 Republican state attorneys general is urging the American Medical Association (AMA) to reject the use of puberty blockers for minors. They claim that the AMA’s positions on sex reassignment surgery for youth are inconsistent.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall sent a letter to AMA CEO Dr. John J. White, asking the organization to revisit its stance on these medications and clarify the evidence backing its current recommendations.
The attorney general acknowledged the AMA for aligning with the American Society of Plastic Surgeons in recognizing the lack of “clear evidence” against gender reassignment surgery for minors. He also argued that the evidence for the effectiveness of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones is weak.
The letter expresses concern, stating, “We are therefore concerned that the AMA continues to support the use of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to treat gender dysphoria in minors… The quality of evidence is the same as for surgery: low or very low quality.”
The officials referenced an organizational review showing insufficient high-quality evidence to back the use of sex-change drugs for young people.
They highlighted the contradiction in the AMA’s stance if it deems there isn’t enough evidence for surgical interventions yet supports hormonal treatments without similar justification. “These treatments have not been proven to be as safe as surgery for children, and may, in fact, pose greater risks because they are often viewed as less serious,” they noted.
The Attorney General pointed out that “hormones can sterilize a child just as reliably as surgery.”
He provided the AMA with questions regarding the safety and effectiveness of these drugs for minors and inquired if the AMA endorses current professional standards. Organizations like the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), the Endocrine Society, and the American Academy of Pediatrics advocate for the use of puberty blockers and hormones for transgender youth.
Other major medical organizations have adopted gender-affirming protocols that permit access to puberty blockers and surgeries for children. However, WPATH’s credibility has faced scrutiny due to various scandals, including an endocrinologist who candidly stated that discussing long-term infertility risks with minors often feels futile.
Recent actions by the Biden administration have also removed age restrictions for gender reassignment surgeries.
In response to these developments, the Attorney General expressed concern over the AMA’s contradictory evidence regarding sex-changing drugs. A deadline of March 25 was set for the AMA to address the letter.
“The American Medical Association has finally acknowledged what many have warned about for years concerning recommendations for surgery in children,” stated Attorney General Marshall. “The same weak science applies to puberty blockers and hormones. We can’t disregard one while continuing to endorse the other. The integrity of our science matters, especially when children’s futures are at stake.”
The attorneys general from various states joined in on this letter, including those from Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, and Texas, among others.
The AMA hasn’t made any statements regarding this matter at the time.
Earlier in the month, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons became the first prominent medical association to oppose gender reassignment surgeries for minors, citing uncertainties in supporting such interventions.
ASPS President Dr. Bob Bass remarked, “Given what we see today, we cannot endorse gender-related surgical interventions in minors and adolescents.”
Additionally, a recent New York jury awarded damages to a detransitioner who alleged that she had been pressured into undergoing a double mastectomy at the age of 16. The case concluded that her healthcare providers were liable for malpractice.
