The British Medical Journal did a takedown of all 3 sets of recommendations ("Gender dysphoria in young people is rising—and so is professional disagreement" by Block, 2023--https://www.bmj.com/content/380/bmj.p382)
which was even an Editor's choice/cover story ("Caring for young people with gender dysphoria" https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.p553).
The former is peer reviewed...more and more light is being shone on "US exceptionalism" regarding evidence.
I hope those who say they care about these young people will actually start acting in a way that helps them. I do believe these young people are under attack--but certainly not by those asking for them to get decent (evidence based, informed!) care....
There's a stupendously large "elephant on the table" in this discussion which I've never seen adequately addressed.
Short:
The Endocrine Society, the American Association of Pediatrics, and WPATH do not seem to be qualified in any way to speak on child psychiatric well-being. Any citation can be dismissed instantly on the basis that they are no more qualified to speak than the American Dental Association or The American Podiatric Medical Association. They don't represent Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists.
Long
Consider endocrinology, pediatrics, podiatry and dentistry for a moment. Are any of the four qualified to make psychiatric assessments, make treatment decisions relating to psychiatric disturbances, or in any way to perform medicine related to psychiatric issues?
No.
Unless their ranks are board-certified in a given state to practice psychiatry, I would consider it to be medical malpractice. Would you go to a Podiatrist or Endocrinologist for psychiatrical counseling?
Of course not.
The fact that the Endocrine Society or the American Association of Pediatrics makes a statement on the psychiatric well-being of children is no more relevant than the American Podiatric Medical Association, or the American Dental Association making a statement about child psychiatric wellness. We would laugh if they did, but we don't laugh at the Endocrine Society or the AAP, but their statements are similarly as ludicrous.
A pediatrician, endocrinologist, dentist, or podiatrist are no more qualified to make psychiatric assessments, to make treatment decisions relating to psychiatric disturbances, or in any way to perform medicine related to psychiatric issues than any other non-psychiatric speciality.
The qualified specialists in this domain are child and adolescent psychiatrists. I've not heard hard statements from those groups ever.
Likewise, unless I'm mistaken, WPATH is not qualified to make statements on child psychiatry. At a glance, I saw no named child and adolescent psychiatrists in the ranks of WPATH on their public website.
So while the Endocrine Society and American Association of Pediatrics have made statements about the psychiatric well-being of such children, it is of no import whatsoever to these debates, and citation of such simply disqualifies the discussion from proceeding on any rational basis.
I don't know why this isn't brought up by the storied "Wall Street Journal". Would they also publish statements from the American Podiatric Medical Association or the ADA? Who runs their medical editorial team?
That's why you shouldn't read popular press for medical news. They are not designed to cover it rationally, and they often make stupid mistakes.
Thanks for the catch Katie G, also corrected Dr. Johanna Olsen's name to Dr. Johanna Olsen-Kennedy.
The British Medical Journal did a takedown of all 3 sets of recommendations ("Gender dysphoria in young people is rising—and so is professional disagreement" by Block, 2023--https://www.bmj.com/content/380/bmj.p382)
which was even an Editor's choice/cover story ("Caring for young people with gender dysphoria" https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.p553).
The former is peer reviewed...more and more light is being shone on "US exceptionalism" regarding evidence.
I hope those who say they care about these young people will actually start acting in a way that helps them. I do believe these young people are under attack--but certainly not by those asking for them to get decent (evidence based, informed!) care....
Thank you for your voice!
Great article. Congratulations to the letter writing parents, professionals, and WSJ.
There's a stupendously large "elephant on the table" in this discussion which I've never seen adequately addressed.
Short:
The Endocrine Society, the American Association of Pediatrics, and WPATH do not seem to be qualified in any way to speak on child psychiatric well-being. Any citation can be dismissed instantly on the basis that they are no more qualified to speak than the American Dental Association or The American Podiatric Medical Association. They don't represent Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists.
Long
Consider endocrinology, pediatrics, podiatry and dentistry for a moment. Are any of the four qualified to make psychiatric assessments, make treatment decisions relating to psychiatric disturbances, or in any way to perform medicine related to psychiatric issues?
No.
Unless their ranks are board-certified in a given state to practice psychiatry, I would consider it to be medical malpractice. Would you go to a Podiatrist or Endocrinologist for psychiatrical counseling?
Of course not.
The fact that the Endocrine Society or the American Association of Pediatrics makes a statement on the psychiatric well-being of children is no more relevant than the American Podiatric Medical Association, or the American Dental Association making a statement about child psychiatric wellness. We would laugh if they did, but we don't laugh at the Endocrine Society or the AAP, but their statements are similarly as ludicrous.
A pediatrician, endocrinologist, dentist, or podiatrist are no more qualified to make psychiatric assessments, to make treatment decisions relating to psychiatric disturbances, or in any way to perform medicine related to psychiatric issues than any other non-psychiatric speciality.
The qualified specialists in this domain are child and adolescent psychiatrists. I've not heard hard statements from those groups ever.
Likewise, unless I'm mistaken, WPATH is not qualified to make statements on child psychiatry. At a glance, I saw no named child and adolescent psychiatrists in the ranks of WPATH on their public website.
So while the Endocrine Society and American Association of Pediatrics have made statements about the psychiatric well-being of such children, it is of no import whatsoever to these debates, and citation of such simply disqualifies the discussion from proceeding on any rational basis.
I don't know why this isn't brought up by the storied "Wall Street Journal". Would they also publish statements from the American Podiatric Medical Association or the ADA? Who runs their medical editorial team?
That's why you shouldn't read popular press for medical news. They are not designed to cover it rationally, and they often make stupid mistakes.
Typo on date in paragraph 3: 2023, not 2021