Kaiser Permanente will pause “gender affirming” surgeries for patients younger than 19 beginning August 29, a move the healthcare giant says follows months of pressure from the Trump administration. “After significant deliberation and consultation with internal and external experts, including our physicians, we’ve made the difficult decision to pause surgical treatment for patients under the age of 19 in our hospitals and surgical centers,” said a Kaiser Permanente statement.“We recognize that this is an extremely challenging and stressful time for our patients seeking care, as well as for our clinicians whose mission is to care for them. We will work closely with each patient to support their care journey.”.Christian artist Sean Feucht’s tour bus rammed near Montreal.The company added it will still offer other “gender affirming” services, such as puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones. Kaiser highlighted a series of federal actions initiated since January. President Donald Trump signed an executive order threatening to cut hospital funding for youth gender procedures, while the Department of Justice issued subpoenas, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services opened audits. .Kaiser said that the political climate made continuing paediatric “gender affirming” surgery “untenable.” Kaiser, which serves roughly 13 million members across eight states, said no jobs would be lost during the pause. Detransitioner Chloe Cole, who is suing Kaiser over surgery she received at 15, hailed the change as “a monumental step toward protecting vulnerable youth.” .OLDCORN: ‘Minor attracted person,’ the left’s next shiny toy after transgenderism.Cole argues she could not give informed consent when she agreed to permanent procedures. .“Kaiser Permanente’s decision is a monumental step toward protecting vulnerable youth,” said Mark Trammell, Center for American Liberty and Cole’s lawyer.“For too long, children have been subjected to life-altering surgical procedures at an age when they lack the capacity for informed consent. Our ongoing litigation with courageous detransitioners such as Chloe Cole, Luka Hein, and Clementine Breen has exposed the irreversible harm caused by these medical interventions.”.Kaiser is not alone. Denver Health in Colorado, VCU Health in Virginia, Children’s National Hospital in Washington, DC, and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles have each halted surgeries for minors this year as legal and political risks mount. A review by advocacy groups shows at least 25 states now restrict “gender affirming” care for teens, and more hospital boards are following suit. The decision also lands weeks after the US Supreme Court upheld a Tennessee law that limits “gender affirming” care for minors, creating legal uncertainty for providers across the US..HANNAFORD: It's worth looking at who gets unbanked and what they do to not deserve it.Kaiser says its pause will be reviewed next year. Until then, teens seeking surgery will have to wait or look elsewhere. Parents of trans youth say the uncertainty has already forced some families to consider moving across borders to secure treatment.
