Hospital in Minnesota to Resume Prescribing Sex-Change Drugs to Minors

A hospital in Minnesota has announced that it will begin prescribing sex-change medication to minors again, effective Monday.

This decision comes after Minnesota Children’s Hospital had suspended these treatments in February, citing pressure from the Trump administration’s health policies. The pause followed a December announcement from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which proposed regulations that would aim to restrict hospitals from providing gender-affirming medications or surgeries to minors. Hospitals would face potential exclusion from Medicare and Medicaid if they failed to comply.

According to reports, hospital officials stated they are reopening their gender health programs following a federal court’s decision to overturn HHS guidelines. They emphasized their commitment to delivering evidence-based medical care to transgender and gender-diverse youth. The hospital expressed that their aim is to partner with families in fostering healthier children.

Additionally, the hospital plans to reach out to families of affected patients to update them on the situation. Initially, when the suspension was put in place, the Minnesota Children’s Association mentioned that its Gender Health division would remain available to provide mental health services and guidance about both medical and non-medical treatment options. They described the decision to suspend services as a tough choice but insisted that gender-affirming care is essential and saves lives for youth facing gender dysphoria.

In a statement from December, HHS characterized certain gender-affirming procedures, including puberty blockers and surgeries, as potentially harmful, claiming they could lead to irreversible consequences like infertility and altered brain development.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. highlighted that physicians have a duty to safeguard the well-being of children. He criticized medical institutions for performing irreversible procedures and emphasized that they are violating their ethical responsibilities.

Kennedy also pointed a finger at prominent medical organizations like the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics, accusing them of misleading the public about the effectiveness of gender-denial treatments for minors experiencing gender dysphoria.

HHS is currently investigating multiple hospitals nationwide for allegedly administering sex-change medications and surgeries to minors without proper oversight.

Earlier this year, HHS General Counsel Mike Stewart pointed out that Children’s Hospital of Minnesota was among those under investigation. It is noteworthy that the hospital claims not to perform gender reassignment surgeries on minors.

This shifting stance on gender-affirming care marks a stark contrast between the Trump administration’s restrictive policies and the Biden administration’s proactive promotion of such treatments for youth.