ST. LOUIS 鈥 Leaders at Washington University have largely been silent amid investigations of its pediatric transgender clinic, but the university鈥檚 social justice policy institute this week weighed in on the controversy, releasing a statement that sharply attacks the credibility of a former clinic employee who raised concerns about the quality of care provided to children.
Jamie Reed, a former case manager at the Washington University Transgender Center at 狐狸视频 Children鈥檚 Hospital, last month alleged, among other things, that puberty blockers and hormone therapies were too freely given to children and teens, some of whom suffered with mental illness or other issues. Parents, she said in and also a sworn affidavit provided to Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, were not told about the medications鈥 risks, lied to and coerced into continuing treatment.
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But, by the questions Reed鈥檚 qualifications and asserts her article is filled with fallacies that are often misused to spread subjective opinions about gender-affirming care.
鈥淭he rhetoric follows many common tropes peddled by those who oppose the social affirmation and medical treatment of transgender adolescents and adults,鈥 Jeremy Goldbach and Shannon Dunlap write. 鈥淏y centering the perspective of only one individual, the article leaves medical and mental health professionals, academics, and most importantly, trans adolescents and their families voiceless while purporting to advocate for them.鈥
, an expert in LGBTQ mental health, is the Masters & Johnson Distinguished Professor of Sexual Health and Education at Washington University鈥檚 Brown School. Dunlap is a researcher at UCLA and clinician who has worked with transgender adolescents and their families for more than 10 years.
Their response to Reed appeared on the Clark-Fox Policy Institute鈥檚 website and was distributed in an email newsletter to subscribers.
Goldbach and , director of the Clark-Fox Policy Institute, stressed the statement should not be viewed as reflecting the position or views of Washington University.
鈥淢y goal is always to ensure there is a balanced discussion of affirming care that includes empirical research and clinical expertise. As a faculty member with extensive experience in this area, I have the autonomy to disseminate my writing through the channels available to me,鈥 Goldbach said.
鈥淭he Clark-Fox Policy Institute is dedicated to the dissemination of evidence-informed policy aimed at improving the lives of children and their caretakers. Whenever possible, we capitalize on the research of Brown School scholars,鈥 Parker said. 鈥淎lthough the statement is his own and does not necessarily reflect the views of Washington University, Professor Goldbach鈥檚 expertise on this matter is critically important as he brings empirical data to this discussion. We are proud to provide a platform for his scholarship.鈥
Reed鈥檚 attorney, Ernie Trakas with the Child and Parental Rights Campaign, called the researchers鈥 dismissiveness of Reed鈥檚 claims and defense of the transgender clinic 鈥渁 sophomoric, duplicitous apology worthy of condemnation鈥 that will be exposed once investigations are complete.
鈥淢ore troubling is Washington University鈥檚 support of their diatribe. This too will have consequences,鈥 Trakas, a member of the 狐狸视频 County Council, said.
to Reed鈥檚 allegations has so far been limited to a joint statement by Chancellor Andrew Martin and BJC HealthCare CEO Richard Liekweg, who said they were 鈥渃oncerned鈥 by Reed鈥檚 allegations, were continuing an 鈥渋nternal review of practices鈥 at the WU center and pledged 鈥渁dditional oversight.鈥
Asked about Goldbach and Dunlap鈥檚 statement, a Washington University spokeswoman said faculty are free to comment on matters, but don鈥檛 speak for the university.
鈥淭he op-ed you reference was written by a faculty member as an individual and based on his scholarly expertise,鈥 Julie Flory, vice chancellor for marketing and communications, said in a statement Thursday. 鈥淲e fully support academic freedom and our faculty are welcome to share their personal opinions as they see fit, in whatever format they choose. They do not speak for the university.鈥
Goldbach and Dunlap, among other criticisms, challenge Reed鈥檚 claim that the clinic is pushing youths toward transitioning, resulting in a recent increase in patients reporting gender dysphoria. Reed said therapists were provided pre-written approval templates to sign off on.
The researchers wrote that such templates are routine in a variety of specialty care setting to ensure that the information is clear, appropriate and complete.
鈥淭here is no evidence for the 鈥榝loodgates鈥 being opened,鈥 the report stated, 鈥淚nstead, research suggests that many trans youth continue to face significant barriers to accessing gender-affirming care,鈥 such as lack of health insurance coverage, high cost of care, limited availability of knowledgeable providers and fear of retaliation.
The authors also challenge Reed鈥檚 allegation that no reliable studies show treating gender dysphoria improves patients鈥 mental health.
The researchers say numerous studies show that access to gender-affirming care reduces behavioral health problems among transgender youths, including that found youths who receive the care report 60% lower odds of moderate or severe depression and 74% lower odds of suicidal ideation or intent.
Their sharpest attack is on Reed鈥檚 credibility, arguing that as a case manager responsible for patient intake, she lacked the expertise to comment on clinical decisions made by doctors, nurses, social workers and others with clinical training in transgender adolescent health.
鈥淲ould you rely on the person checking you in at an emergency room for their medical advice? To triage for urgency, of course. But to determine the course of treatment? We think not,鈥 their report stated.
Trakas said Goldbach and Dunlap鈥檚 statement 鈥減urposefully misrepresents and demeans Ms. Reed鈥檚 credentials, experience, and critical role as part of 鈥榯he multi-disciplinary team鈥欌 at the WU center.
While it鈥檚 fine to debate the appropriateness of medical treatment for minors experiencing gender dysphoria, Trakas said Goldbach and Dunlap instead produced an 鈥渁d hominem鈥 attack on Reed.
Debate about gender-affirming care for children comes as lawmakers in Republican-led states, including Missouri, push legislation to ban such treatment for patients younger than 18.
So far this year, governors in South Dakota, Utah and Mississippi have signed bills into law banning the provision of gender-affirming care to transgender minors.