Ladapo: “Fear” To Speak Against Gender-Affirming Care is Not Part of Scientific Method
May 12, 2022 Updated 9:40 A.M. ET
TALLAHASSEE (FLV) – Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo called out one of the country’s top health officials for reportedly saying there is “no argument” about gender-affirming care among medical professionals who specialize in children and adolescents.
Assistant Secretary of Health Rachel Levine told NPR that the consensus among pediatricians supports the use of “gender-affirming” care including hormone treatments and surgeries.
Medical professionals told Fox News that their colleagues are reluctant to speak against transgender ideology for fear of professional retaliation in the medical field.
“Fear is not part of the scientific method,” Ladapo said. “No doctor or scientist should fear speaking out against dubious ideas, especially when those ideas are not backed by high quality evidence.”
The federal government created a fact sheet encouraging gender-affirming care for young people.
“Research demonstrates that gender-affirming care improves the mental health and overall well-being of gender diverse children and adolescents,” the sheet said.
In response, the Florida Department of Health published a fact sheet to deter families from giving their children gender-affirming care to treat gender dysphoria.
Florida’s fact sheet said social gender transition should not be an option for children and anyone under 18 should not be prescribed puberty blockers or hormone therapy. The sheet also said gender reassignment surgery should not be a treatment option for children or adolescents.
The sheet cited one review that claimed “hormonal treatments for transgender adolescents can achieve their intended physical effects, but evidence regarding their psychosocial and cognitive impact is generally lacking.”
“Florida will continue to lead with data and common sense,” Ladapo said on Twitter.
Republican Florida State Rep. Randy Fine plans to sponsor legislation making gender-reassignment surgery “felony child abuse.” Florida Democrats defended the operation as “life–saving care.”
