US hospital ends trans youth care due to ‘escalating legal risks’
The Children’s National Hospital in DC has halted trans youth care. (Getty)
The Children's National Hospital in DC has halted trans youth care. (Getty)
A children’s hospital in Washington DC has become the latest in the US to close its doors to young patients seeking trans healthcare.
After 20 years of offering care, Children’s National Hospital announced plans to drop provisions for transgender patients under the age of 18 because of “escalating legal and regulatory risks”. A spokesperson said prescriptions for gender-affirming medication would be discontinued by 30 August.
Mental-health and non-medical intervention services for LGBTQ+ patients would remain available, while trans patients will still be treated for “other medical needs”, the spokesperson added.
“We know this change will have a significant impact on affected patients, families and staff. Our care teams are working directly with families of current patients to support them.”
Patients affected by the change, and those requiring further assistance, have been asked to contact the hospital directly.
Hospitals in several states have made similar decisions in the face of political pressure from the Trump administration.
In June, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles blamed “legal and financial risks” for the closure of its trans healthcare programme. Officials said they had found “no viable alternative” that would allow practitioners to continue providing specialist care.
Twenty-seven states have passed bans on gender-affirming care for transgender youngsters, although courts have blocked legislation in Arkansas and Montana. The US Justice Department recently announced it had subpoenaed about 20 doctors, and medical facilities, who had provided gender-affirming care.
Several hospitals in states that permit trans healthcare, including California and Virginia, have been forced to close their doors regardless of state legislation.
The Human Rights Campaign has estimated that right now, at least 40 per cent of transgender teens, aged between 13 and 17, live in states where gender-affirming care has been outlawed. Oklahoma, Texas and South Carolina have considered banning care for trans people up to the age 26.
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