Children’s Hospital in Washington, DC Discontinues Gender-Affirming Medications
A children’s hospital in Washington, DC has announced plans to stop prescribing medications aimed at helping children transition to the opposite sex. The hospital made this information clear on its website.
The Gender Development Programs section includes updates for both new and current patients, indicating a concern about potential “legal and regulatory escalation.”
“Given the rising legal and regulatory risks to our young patients, our healthcare providers, and the families we support, we will no longer provide prescriptions for gender-affirming medications,” the announcement states. It also mentions that the hospital will continue to offer mental health services and other types of support for LGBTQ patients.
Representatives from the hospital expressed that they are still available to assist young patients with other medical needs, acknowledging that this shift will significantly affect patients, their families, and staff.
The care team is committed to working closely with the families of existing patients to provide support throughout this transition.
This announcement follows an executive order signed by President Trump titled “Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Amputation,” which prohibits government funding or promotion of procedures related to children’s transitions.
Critics argue that such procedures, described as harmful, have been promoted based on guidelines from the World Professionals Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), which some view as lacking in scientific rigor.
In light of recent developments, the Trump administration’s Department of Justice issued over 20 subpoenas to various doctors and clinics engaged in transgender medical procedures for minors, often referred to as “gender-affirming care” by advocates. Attorney General Pamela Bondi stated that healthcare professionals who have caused harm in the pursuit of ideological beliefs will be held accountable.
It remains uncertain if the National Pediatric Hospital is among those served with subpoenas, but the hospital maintains that it welcomes LGBTQ patients for other medical needs and treatments.
