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IOWA AG ACCUSES PEDIATRICS ACADEMY OF POSSIBLE CONSUMER VIOLATIONS OVER GENDER
CARE POLICIES


BIRD JOINS LETTER FROM IDAHO AG AND OTHER STATE OFFICIALS

BY: CHRISTINA LORDS - SEPTEMBER 25, 2024 5:45 PM



Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, shown here at a news conference May 31, 2024,
has joined a letter claiming a pediatric medical association's gender-affirming
care policy may violate the law. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird — along with attorneys general and other
officials from 20 U.S. states – has accused the American Academy of Pediatrics
of possible “violations of state consumer protection statutes” over its
standards and recommendations for gender dysphoria care for children.

Bird joined a letter sent Tuesday by Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador. The
attorneys general requested information detailing the academy’s evidence for its
current recommendations for puberty blockers for gender dysphoria-diagnosed
youth.

“Most concerning, AAP claims that the use of puberty blockers on children is
safe and reversible,” Labrador’s office said in a press release. “This assertion
is not grounded in evidence and therefore may run afoul of consumer protection
laws in most states.”

Children with gender dysphoria “need and deserve love, support, and medical care
rooted in biological reality,” Labrador said in the release.

“It is shameful the most basic tenet of medicine – do no harm – has been
abandoned by professional associations when politically pressured,” Labrador
said.  “These organizations are sacrificing the health and well-being of
children with medically unproven treatments that leave a wake of permanent
damage.”

The American Academy of Pediatrics, an organization made up of 67,000 primary
care pediatricians, voted in August to reaffirm its 2018 policy statement on
gender-affirming care and authorized development of an expanded set of guidance
for pediatricians.

The organization could not immediately be reached for comment. But at the
organization’s August 2024 leadership conference in Itasca, Illinois, American
Academy of Pediatrics CEO and Executive Vice President Mark Del Monte emphasized
that the organization is confident that the principles presented in the original
policy statement, “Ensuring Comprehensive Care and Support for Transgender and
Gender-Diverse Children and Adolescents,” remain in the best interest of
children, according to an Aug. 4 press release from the academy.

The decision to authorize a systematic review reflects the academy’s board’s
concerns about restrictions to access to health care with bans on
gender-affirming care in more than 20 states, according to the Aug. 4 release.

In Iowa, the Legislature passed Senate File 538, a law prohibit transgender
minors from obtaining gender-related medical care such as puberty blockers,
hormone replacement therapy or any surgical interventions. It was signed into
law by Gov. Kim Reynolds in March 2023.

WHAT IS IN THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS GUIDELINES FOR GENDER-AFFIRMING
CARE?

As outlined in its policy statement, the academy encourages pediatricians to use
a gender-affirmative care model when treating young patients. The model
encourages pediatricians to recognize that:

 * transgender identities and diverse gender expressions do not constitute a
   mental disorder;
 * variations in gender identity and expression are normal aspects of human
   diversity, and binary definitions of gender do not always reflect emerging
   gender identities;
 * gender identity evolves as an interplay of biology, development,
   socialization, and culture; and
 * if a mental health issue exists, it most often stems from stigma and negative
   experiences rather than being intrinsic to the child.

“Many medical interventions can be offered to youth who identify as (transgender
and gender diverse) and their families,” the academy notes in its policy
statement. “The decision of whether and when to initiate gender-affirmative
treatment is personal and involves careful consideration of risks, benefits, and
other factors unique to each patient and family.”

However, Labrador said treatments that suppress hormones or use puberty blockers
may have adverse health effects to the patient, including interfering with
neurocognitive development, compromising bone density and interfering with
normal puberty experiences. He said the treatments may cause “harm particularly
egregious” to children who “grow out” of the condition by the time they are
adults.

Planned Parenthood Great Northwest, Hawai`i, Alaska, Indiana, Kentucky Chief
Medical Officer Deborah Nucatola said in an emailed statement that her
organization condemns the letter sent by Labrador and that it undermines “the
evidence-based practices of gender-affirming care.”

“The use of puberty blockers for youth, endorsed by the American Academy of
Pediatrics, is safe, reversible, and critical for supporting the physical and
mental health of transgender individuals,” Nucatola said in the statement. “This
care is not only widely accepted by every leading medical organizations but is
also essential for ensuring that young people can make informed decisions about
their bodies and futures. We need to prioritize compassionate, science-driven
care over political rhetoric, ensuring that all individuals receive the respect
and support they deserve.”

The American Academy of Pediatrics in its policy statement says that research
shows that children who assert their transgender identity before puberty and who
“know their gender as clearly and as consistently” as their cisgender peers
benefit from the same level of social acceptance as those peers.

“More robust and current research suggests that, rather than focusing on who a
child will become, valuing them for who they are, even at a young age, fosters
secure attachment and resilience, not only for the child but also for the whole
family,” the academy wrote in its policy statement.

But Labrador and the other state officials say they want more information on how
the academy has come to those conclusions, especially when it comes to puberty
blockers.

“The letter requests detailed information from the AAP regarding its
communications and practices related to youth gender dysphoria and
substantiation of the academy’s claims regarding the safety and reversibility of
puberty blockers,” the attorney general’s press release says.

Other states joining Idaho and Iowa in sending the letter to the academy include
officials from Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana,
Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina,
South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia.

Page 1 / 10
Zoom 100%
This story was originally published by Idaho Capital Sun, which is part of
States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of
donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Idaho Capital Sun maintains editorial
independence. Contact Editor Christina Lords for questions:
info@idahocapitalsun.com. Follow Idaho Capital Sun on Facebook and X.

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CHRISTINA LORDS

Christina Lords is the editor-in-chief of the Idaho Capital Sun and has been a
professional journalist covering local and state government since graduating
from the University of Idaho in 2009. A Pocatello native, Lords is a
fifth-generation Idahoan who served as a reporter at the Moscow-Pullman Daily
News and the Post Register in Idaho Falls and served as assistant editor for the
Idaho Press in Nampa. She also led the Idaho Statesman in Boise for two years
before turning to nonprofit journalism. Idaho Capital Sun is part of States
Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.

MORE FROM AUTHOR

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IOWA AG ACCUSES PEDIATRICS ACADEMY OF POSSIBLE CONSUMER VIOLATIONS OVER GENDER
CARE POLICIES

by Christina Lords, Iowa Capital Dispatch
September 25, 2024

<h1>Iowa AG accuses pediatrics academy of possible consumer violations over
gender care policies</h1> <p>by Christina Lords, <a
href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com">Iowa Capital Dispatch</a> <br />September
25, 2024</p> <p>Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird — along with attorneys general
and other officials from 20 U.S. states – has accused the American Academy of
Pediatrics of possible “violations of state consumer protection statutes” over
its standards and recommendations for gender dysphoria care for children.</p>
<p>Bird joined a letter sent Tuesday by Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador.
The attorneys general requested information detailing the academy’s evidence for
its current recommendations for puberty blockers for gender dysphoria-diagnosed
youth.</p> <p>“Most concerning, AAP claims that the use of puberty blockers on
children is safe and reversible,” <a
href="https://www.ag.idaho.gov/newsroom/attorney-general-labrador-challenges-american-academy-of-pediatrics-to-disclose-gender-dysphoria-guidance-and-methodology/">Labrador’s
office said in a press release</a>. “This assertion is not grounded in evidence
and therefore may run afoul of consumer protection laws in most states.”</p>
<p>Children with gender dysphoria “need and deserve love, support, and medical
care rooted in biological reality,” Labrador said in the release.</p> <p>“It is
shameful the most basic tenet of medicine – do no harm – has been abandoned by
professional associations when politically pressured,” Labrador said.  “These
organizations are sacrificing the health and well-being of children with
medically unproven treatments that leave a wake of permanent damage.”</p> <p>The
American Academy of Pediatrics, an organization made up of 67,000 primary care
pediatricians, voted in August to reaffirm its 2018 policy statement on
gender-affirming care and authorized development of an expanded set of guidance
for pediatricians.</p> <p>The organization could not immediately be reached for
comment. But at the organization’s August 2024 leadership conference in Itasca,
Illinois, American Academy of Pediatrics CEO and Executive Vice President Mark
Del Monte emphasized that the organization is confident that the principles
presented in the original policy statement, “<a
href="https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/142/4/e20182162/37381/Ensuring-Comprehensive-Care-and-Support-for?autologincheck=redirected">Ensuring
Comprehensive Care and Support for Transgender and Gender-Diverse Children and
Adolescents</a>,” remain in the best interest of children, according to an <a
href="https://publications.aap.org/aapnews/news/25340/AAP-reaffirms-gender-affirming-care-policy">Aug.
4 press release</a> from the academy.</p> <p>The decision to authorize a
systematic review reflects the academy’s board’s concerns about restrictions to
access to health care with bans on gender-affirming care in more than 20 states,
according to the Aug. 4 release.</p> <p>In Iowa, the Legislature passed <a
href="https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=90&ba=SF538">Senate
File 538</a>, a law prohibit transgender minors from obtaining gender-related
medical care such as puberty blockers, hormone replacement therapy or any
surgical interventions. It was <a
href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/briefs/governor-signs-transgender-medical-care-bathroom-use-bills-into-law/">signed
into law</a> by Gov. Kim Reynolds in March 2023.</p> <h4>What is in the American
Academy of Pediatrics guidelines for gender-affirming care?</h4> <p>As outlined
in its policy statement, the academy encourages pediatricians to use a
gender-affirmative care model when treating young patients. The model encourages
pediatricians to recognize that:</p> transgender identities and diverse gender
expressions do not constitute a mental disorder; variations in gender identity
and expression are normal aspects of human diversity, and binary definitions of
gender do not always reflect emerging gender identities; gender identity evolves
as an interplay of biology, development, socialization, and culture; and if a
mental health issue exists, it most often stems from stigma and negative
experiences rather than being intrinsic to the child. <p>“Many medical
interventions can be offered to youth who identify as (transgender and gender
diverse) and their families,” the academy notes in its policy statement. “The
decision of whether and when to initiate gender-affirmative treatment is
personal and involves careful consideration of risks, benefits, and other
factors unique to each patient and family.”</p> <p>However, Labrador said
treatments that suppress hormones or use puberty blockers may have adverse
health effects to the patient, including interfering with neurocognitive
development, compromising bone density and interfering with normal puberty
experiences. He said the treatments may cause “harm particularly egregious” to
children who “grow out” of the condition by the time they are adults.</p>
<p>Planned Parenthood Great Northwest, Hawai`i, Alaska, Indiana, Kentucky Chief
Medical Officer Deborah Nucatola said in an emailed statement that her
organization condemns the letter sent by Labrador and that it undermines “the
evidence-based practices of gender-affirming care.”</p> <p>“The use of puberty
blockers for youth, endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, is safe,
reversible, and critical for supporting the physical and mental health of
transgender individuals,” Nucatola said in the statement. “This care is not only
widely accepted by every leading medical organizations but is also essential for
ensuring that young people can make informed decisions about their bodies and
futures. We need to prioritize compassionate, science-driven care over political
rhetoric, ensuring that all individuals receive the respect and support they
deserve.”</p> <p>The American Academy of Pediatrics in its policy statement says
that research shows that children who assert their transgender identity before
puberty and who “know their gender as clearly and as consistently” as their
cisgender peers benefit from the same level of social acceptance as those
peers.</p> <p>“More robust and current research suggests that, rather than
focusing on who a child will become, valuing them for who they are, even at a
young age, fosters secure attachment and resilience, not only for the child but
also for the whole family,” the academy wrote in its policy statement.</p>
<p>But Labrador and the other state officials say they want more information on
how the academy has come to those conclusions, especially when it comes to
puberty blockers.</p> <p>“The letter requests detailed information from the AAP
regarding its communications and practices related to youth gender dysphoria and
substantiation of the academy’s claims regarding the safety and reversibility of
puberty blockers,” the attorney general’s press release says.</p> <p>Other
states joining Idaho and Iowa in sending the letter to the academy include
officials from Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana,
Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina,
South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia.</p> <a
href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2024-09-24-AAPs-Compliance-with-State-Consumer-Protection-Laws.pdf">2024-09-24-AAPs-Compliance-with-State-Consumer-Protection-Laws</a>
<div class="snrsInfobox"> <div class="snrsInfoboxContainer"> <div
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originally published by <a href="https://idahocapitalsun.com">Idaho Capital
Sun</a>, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by
grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Idaho Capital Sun
maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Christina Lords for questions:
<a href="mailto:info@idahocapitalsun.com">info@idahocapitalsun.com</a>. Follow
Idaho Capital Sun on <a href="https://facebook.com/idahocapitalsun">Facebook</a>
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States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of
donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Iowa Capital Dispatch maintains editorial
independence. Contact Editor Kathie Obradovich for questions: <a
href="mailto:info@iowacapitaldispatch.com">info@iowacapitaldispatch.com</a>.
Follow Iowa Capital Dispatch on <a
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