最新杏吧原创

ST. LOUIS 鈥� Washington University says accusations about its youth transgender clinic by an ex-employee are unsubstantiated and that its internal review found the clinic is not violating any policies.

鈥淭he review affirmed that physicians and staff at the Center follow appropriate policies and procedures and treat patients according to the accepted standards of care,鈥� the university , accompanying a summary of its findings.

The former employee is Jamie Reed, who worked as a case manager at the Washington University Transgender Center at 最新杏吧原创 Children鈥檚 Hospital for more than four years before leaving last November. She alleged in February that doctors introduced medical interventions without informed parental consent; that puberty blockers and hormones were prescribed without adequately addressing mental health issues; and that the center regularly referred patients younger than 18 for surgery.

Reed outlined her claims in a published online by the Free Press on Feb. 9. Her , which included additional accusations, was released that day by Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, who is leading a state investigation.

In the wake of the whistleblower report, two dozen parents recounted their experiences to the Post-Dispatch, contradicting many of the claims, which included that children were rushed to treatment and possible side effects weren鈥檛 explained.

In its summary report, Washington University said Chancellor Andrew Martin initiated a review following the publication of Reed鈥檚 article, collaborating with Children鈥檚 Hospital to establish an oversight committee. It did not specify how many people served on the committee or their positions.

The report concluded that no patients at the Transgender Center, which opened in 2017, have experienced adverse reactions to medicalization, and that mental health care has been prioritized. But it acknowledged that, although its process of documenting parental consent adheres to university and state requirements, a 鈥渕ore detailed and formalized approach鈥� was needed, including mandating earlier evidence of custody agreements. It also disclosed that changes to its procedures regarding surgeries had already been made.

Side effects and surgeries

A total of 1,165 patients have been treated at the transgender center since June 2018, the year Reed was hired.

In her affidavit, Reed described hormone treatment for gender-questioning adolescents at the clinic as inevitable, characterizing it as 鈥渢he prevailing narrative of immediate cross-sex hormones for all by the prescribing physicians.鈥�

The university鈥檚 review found that fewer than half of its adolescent patients, 531, received cross hormones, which allow them to develop secondary sex characteristics of the gender with which they identify, such as breasts and wider hips for girls and deeper voices and broader shoulders for boys.

An additional 67 patients were prescribed puberty blockers, which pause the physical changes of puberty, but not cross-sex hormones. The rest, 567, were not prescribed puberty blockers or hormones.

Reed did not respond to a request for comment on Friday.

Reed also noted in her affidavit the potential side effects of medicalization and described a patient who experienced liver damage after taking Bicalutamide, which suppresses male hormones. She told of patients who were in severe mental health distress, and she claimed that the Transgender Center 鈥渄oes not provide mental health care or refer children for mental health care.鈥�

Washington University鈥檚 summary of conclusions noted that 鈥渘o patients who had adverse physical reactions prescribed by Center providers鈥� and that 鈥渕ost鈥� patients receive continuing mental health care 鈥� but didn鈥檛 specify how many patients did not. Staff at the center includes a psychiatrist and a psychologist. A list of therapists who specialize in gender issues is supplied to families.

Patients are required to have a letter of support from a licensed mental health provider before beginning medical interventions. Depression, self-harm and suicidal ideation among transgender youths occur more frequently than within the general population.

The WU review also noted that prior to 2019, if requested, minors could be referred for gender-affirming surgery. A policy barring such referrals was enacted in late 2018, the report said.

Six surgeries have been performed by Washington University physicians since 2018, but they were not from transgender center referrals, the university said. All six surgeries were chest surgeries for adolescents transitioning to male.

The university has since changed its policy on gender-confirmation surgery for minors, and its physicians 鈥渘o longer perform gender-affirming surgeries on patients under the age of 18.鈥� The report did not specify when the change to policy was made.

The transgender center follows guidelines set forth by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, an international organization of physicians and researchers that has established standards of care since 1979.

The university has not revealed details regarding emergency regulations announced by the attorney general a month ago. The rules, which apply to Missourians of all ages, include a therapy requirement that creates an 18-month waiting period for care.

Both the Missouri Senate and the House have advanced legislation in recent weeks that would tightly restrict or prohibit gender-affirming care for minors.

Response

Jennifer Goldring, whose 16-year-old son receives care at the center, said she鈥檚 not surprised the university found no violation of policies by the center.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 how we feel our care is. They鈥檙e very careful, and they were always very attentive to all the aspects of my child,鈥� said Goldring, a 最新杏吧原创 County resident. 鈥淥verall, we鈥檙e still pretty stressed out by the political climate here and by all the shenanigans the attorney general is doing, and of course what our Legislature is doing. But that鈥檚 a relief.鈥�

The family is planning to leave Missouri by the end of 2024 to live in a state with protections for trans people.

Ernie Trakas, an attorney for Reed and a member of the 最新杏吧原创 County Council, claimed that much of the university鈥檚 investigation was a 鈥渢acit acknowledgment鈥� of Reed鈥檚 accusations. He said the school鈥檚 determination that the center needs evidence of custody agreements proves that parents had not been properly informed of their child鈥檚 care when there were disagreements about the child鈥檚 need for gender-affirming care.

Becky Hormuth, of Wentzville, whose 16-year-old son is a patient, said she thought, 鈥淭old you so,鈥� when she found out about the university鈥檚 conclusions. But she said the next step is focusing on the attorney general鈥檚 regulations.

鈥淗e鈥檚 just hurting our children and our families, and he needs to stop this immediately,鈥� Hormuth said.

Tim Dierker, of 最新杏吧原创, whose 12-year-old daughter is a patient at the center, said he鈥檚 not surprised by the findings either. But he still fears attacks from the attorney general and Legislature.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 think this will stop anyone from pursuing their agenda,鈥� Dierker said. 鈥淏ut I hope Washington University will continue to fight for their patients.鈥�