Amid growing controversy and pushback over surgical and hormonal interventions for gender-confused minors, the pro-LGBT data analysis company Definitive Healthcare has removed from its site a study showing that gender dysphoria diagnoses between 2018 and 2022 increased in 49 of the 50 states.
The number of mutilating transgender surgeries in the U.S. also increased over the same four-year period, spiking 44% between 2020 and 2021.
"This essentially points out the effect of the internet and sort of the grooming … online of very vulnerable children to decide that changing their gender identity, and trying to do so medically and eventually surgically, will help them relieve their discomfort and their dismay of how they feel about themselves," responds Dr. Quentin Van Meter, a pediatric endocrinologist and a former president of the American College of Pediatricians.
He says the middle school years are when that surfaces, as children compare themselves to more beautiful and successful students.
But in addition to asserting a false reality that one's sex can be changed, LifeSiteNews points out that transgender surgeries and drugs have been linked to permanent physical and psychological damage, including cardiovascular diseases, loss of bone density, cancer, strokes and blood clots, infertility, and suicidality.
In South Dakota, a law banning surgical and hormonal interventions for gender-confused minors took effect last Summer. According to Definitive Healthcare's data, "gender dysphoria diagnosis volumes rose in every state except for South Dakota, which saw a 23% decline in diagnoses during that period."
Still, Dr. Van Meter thinks state medical boards that are not politically bent toward wokeness are more effective than legislation.
"Legislation should be the last resort," he submits. "But unfortunately, it is in some cases the only resort at a state level to establish what is essentially malpractice and to develop standards of care like the state of Florida did."
In its April 2022 document, the Florida Department of Health cites "currently available evidence" as the basis for its guidance on treating gender dysphoria for children and adolescents.
