Doctors Protecting Children Declaration: Call to End Harmful Procedures

The Coalition of doctors protecting children urges US medical organizations to stop promoting harmful gender transition procedures for children and adolescents.

### Doctors Protecting Children Declaration: Uniting Against Harmful Gender-Affirming Protocols
* 👩 Dr. Jill Simons, representing the Coalition of co-signers, expresses concerns about the **physical and mental health effects** of current gender-affirming protocols for children and adolescents in the U.S.
* 🔬 The declaration, authored by the American College of Pediatricians, asserts that medical decision-making should be based on an individual's **biological sex** and respect **biological reality**.
* 📜 The Coalition calls on major U.S. medical organizations to follow the **evidence-based approach** and immediately stop promoting **social affirmation, puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgeries** for gender-dysphoric youth.
* 🚫 Dr. Andre Van Maul highlights that the natural course of gender dysphoria often resolves without affirmation and emphasizes the need for **watchful waiting and mental health evaluation** as the standard of care.
* 💊 Dr. Benio emphasizes the importance of psychological evaluation and treatment, as gender confusion is viewed as a psychological issue, and **criticizes gender-affirming therapies for causing harm**.
* 👩 Dr. Erica Learon, representing the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, stresses the need to provide care **rooted in science and medical ethics** to prevent **harm to children**.
* 👶 Dr. David Olen, a pediatrician, urges all healthcare professionals to **read the Declaration, make an informed decision, and take action to protect children**.
* ⚖ Lewis Brown, an attorney from the Catholic Healthcare Leadership Alliance, emphasizes that every child deserves **ethical medical care that upholds their dignity and true identity**.

thank you for coming today for the launch of the doctor protecting children declaration. my name is Dr. Jill Simons. I'm a board-certified pediatrician and the executive director for the American College of Pediatricians. today, I'm here alongside my colleagues representing the Coalition of co-signers of the doctors protecting children declaration. our Coalition consists of Physicians together with nurses, Behavioral Health clinicians, other health professionals, scientists, researchers, and public health and policy professionals. and we have serious concerns about the physical and mental health effects of the current protocols promoted for the care of Children and adolescents in the United States who Express discomfort with their biological sex. this declaration was authored by the American College of Pediatricians, but really it was developed from the expertise of hundreds of doctors, researchers, and other healthcare workers and leaders who for years have been sounding the alarm on the harmful protocols that continue to be promoted by the medical organizations in the United States despite recent Revelations from the leak wpath files and the recent release of the final report from the

cast review these medical organizations have not changed course so we are calling on these medical organizations of the United States, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Endocrine Society, the Pediatric Endocrine Society, the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association, and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, to follow the science and their European colleagues and immediately stop the promotion of social affirmation, puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgeries for children and adolescents who experience distress over their biological sex. In our declaration, we affirm that sex is a dimorphic innate trait defined in relation to an organism's biological role in reproduction - male and female. This genetic signature is present in every nucleated somatic cell in the body and is not altered by drugs or surgical interventions. Consideration of these innate differences is critical to the practice of good medicine and to the development of sound policy for children and adults alike. Medical decision-making should be based upon an individual's biological sex. It should respect biological reality and the dignity of

the person. By compassionately addressing the whole person, we are here defying the claims made by these medical organizations in the US that those of us who are concerned are a minority and that their protocols are consensus. They are not consensus, and we are speaking in a loud, unified voice. Enough! We also encourage the physicians who are members of these professional organizations to contact their leadership and urge them to adhere to the evidence-based research now available. This declaration is live on the website doctorsprotectingchildren.org. Please read it. You can see the impressive coalition of co-signers already on there, and you can sign. I'm now going to turn it over to each of my colleagues standing here with me to introduce themselves and say a few words about the declaration. Note that these courageous leaders represent thousands of doctors and healthcare workers within their organization. Thank you, Dr. Van Maul. Good morning. I'm Dr. Andre Van Maul. I'm a board-certified family physician. I'm here today representing the Christian Medical and Dental Associations, American College of

Pediatricians and the American Academy of Medical ethics. Briefly, gender dysphoria is a diagnosis, whereas transgenderism is an ideology. The natural course of gender dysphoria is desistence by adulthood, conservatively in 85% of the cases, unless it is affirmed. Gender dysphoria carries with it the overwhelming probability of underlying mental health issues, adverse family dynamics, adverse childhood experiences, and autism spectrum disorder that usually predate the gender dysphoria itself. The probability of both desistence and underlying mental health and other issues is why watchful waiting, coupled with mental health evaluation and counseling for both patient and family, was once and is increasingly again recognized as the standard of care for minors with under dysphoria. Systematic literature reviews done in the United Kingdom, Sweden, Finland, and Germany show that so-called gender affirming health care is out of step with the evidence base for gender dysphoric youth transition. Affirmation is not proven to be safe or effective long-term. It does not reduce suicides.

does not repair mental health issues or trauma. Minors cannot give truly informed consent. Children have developing and immature brains. Their minds change often. They are prone to risk-taking. They are vulnerable to peer pressure and they don't grasp long-term consequences. Refusing to provide gender transition procedures or so-called gender affirming Health Care is non-discriminatory and is appropriate both professionally and scientifically. Withholding unproven interventions is non-discriminatory and gender affirming Health Care has neither been shown to be safe nor effective nor of more help than harm. Physicians take an oath to do no harm and gender affirming Healthcare is documented to lead to harm. There are good mental health alternatives to gender affirming healthcare which address underlying issues rather than dodging them. Finally, there is always a more honest way to deal with gender confusion than the chemical sterilization and surgical mutilation of healthy young bodies. I thank you for your kind attention. Hello, my name is Dr. Benio. I'm a board-certified psychiatrist.

represent uh Honey Lake Clinic, a residential treatment facility. American Academy uh American Academy of Medical ethics, and uh American Association of Christian counselors, and the Christian Medical and Dental Association. The great philosopher Voltaire warned, When people believe absurdities, they will commit atrocities. Directing adolescent programs is one of my specialties. We always knew gender confusion, dysphoria, dissonance, and evasion was a manifestation of deeper psychological struggles. These struggles usually emanate from dysfunctional or misinterpreted relational dynamics with parents, siblings, and peers, from being victims of abuse or early sexualization as minors, or having compromised social skills as in autism or developmental disorders. For many, these struggles resolved when puberty hit, but for those that didn't or other cases where significant disruption, distress, or obsession occurred, the standard of care was psychological or psychiatric evaluation to diagnose the underlying psychiatric issues, followed by individual and usually family therapy, often for at least 9 to 18 months. This treatment was delivered by trained, licensed psychotherapists.

psychiatrists, as we have expertise in helping patients remedy the internal unconscious struggles which precipitate their gender confusion. Psychiatric evaluation and care is paramount and necessary because gender confusion is not a biological issue; it is a psychological one. After implementing Gat, various countries have ized Gat. Not only ignores the underlying psychological issues, but it also inflicts a host of new ones. Sadly, these problems are compounded by the psychological and physical damage that psych, that social, chemical, and surgical transitioning causes. England, Finland, Denmark, Sweden are reversing their Gat positions and advocating for the more successful standard of care, which is psychiatric evaluation and treatment. As a healthcare professional, I'm saddened by the ongoing suffering caused by G. I desire for all children to find healing. Please join us in stopping the belief in absurd Gat policies and malpractice, and let's get back to gender confusion treatment standards based on sound science, common sense, and the truth so we can protect kids from atrocities inflicted on their mind, body, and spirit. Good morning, I'm Dr. Erica Learon.

I'm a board-certified family physician, and I'm the president-elect of the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons. We were founded in 1943 as a physician organization that represents independent physicians, and we have members in virtually every state and almost every medical specialty. We are devoted to the practice of medicine in the tradition of Hippocrates. Unfortunately, the protocols currently being pushed on children and adolescents violate the fundamental precepts of regimen for the good of the patient and ultimately to do no harm. It is my honor to be here today to express the utmost support from the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons to this Coalition in its declaration to protect children. It's past time for our profession to end harm being done and instead provide care to children that is both rooted in science and principles of medical ethics that put patients, not political ideology, first. Thank you for the opportunity to be here today to stand with my colleagues and support this crucial mission. Thank you. My name is Dr. David Olen.

private P practice pediatrician in High Point, North Carolina. I'm also a member of the board of the American College of Pediatricians. I'm here to enthusiastically support this declaration today, and I urge all of my colleagues, regardless of your medical specialty, everywhere, to read the Declaration, read the references, and then to make a careful decision and sign on. The time to act is now. Thank you. Mario Dickerson, executive director of the Catholic Medical Association. We represent thousands of Physicians, nurses, and health Care Professionals across the country. We're proud to be a part of this collaborative effort and stand here with our colleagues. Thank you. Good morning. My name is Nicole Hayes, and I serve as director of state public policy with the Christian Medical and Dental Associations, one of the co-signing organizations in support of this wonderful declaration. As the Christian Medical and Dental Associations, we affirm the biblical and biological understanding of humankind as having been created and distinctly made as male and female. We are pleased to sign on to the doctor's

protecting children declaration as ethical health care professionals, and others who are committed to providing and ensuring compassionate, evidence-based care, which is central to how we care for our patients. Medical decision-making should respect biological reality and the dignity of the person by compassionately addressing the whole person. Anything less is disastrous for patients and for the health care profession, and will not promote human flourishing. We urge the practice of evidence-based care for children and adolescents struggling with gender dysphoria. This does not require courage inasmuch as that only requires acknowledging truth and a desire to help and not harm. Thank you. Great to be with you all. My name is Lewis Brown. I'm an attorney and serve as a board member and vice president of public policy for the Catholic Healthcare Leadership Alliance. The Catholic Healthcare Leadership Alliance is pleased to support the doctors protecting children declaration because every child deserves ethical medical care that protects each child's life, health, and dignity. Medical and scientific research clearly demonstrate that so-called gender affirming

procedures are seriously harmful to a child's physical, mental, and emotional health and well-being. Children dealing with gender confusion or gender dysphoria are owed love, compassion, and Medical Care based on the truth and goodness of their Humanity in body, mind, and soul. To protect the health and dignity of millions of Children, Medical associations, health Care Professionals, health care entities, and government health care programs at the state and federal level must stop promoting and providing unethical and harmful gender, so-called gender affirming procedures to advance a civilization of love and Justice. Our American Healthcare System is ethically obligated to provide children with medical care that is healing, medically and scientifically credible, and that leads to True human flourishing. Justice demands that our nation's Health Care System provide care that upholds the beauty and truth of every child's dignity and true identity. Thank you, thank you all of you, thank you. It's an honor to Stand Here representing this Coalition, and as you've heard, we've spoken loud and clear, uh, that we are

going to protect children and our colleagues are supporting us and we you to read the Declaration urge the medical organizations of the United States uh to to read this declaration uh and to stop these harmful procedures we do have some time for uh to entertain a few questions if there are any hi my name is Josiah Sullivan um here with Meg kiligan representing family research Council my question for you today as Physicians as doctors in a time where there's so much misinformation out there what was the Catalyst that made you want to stand up for children it's a very good question because all of us up here have been sounding this alarm for years uh and um meeting resistance and being pushed to the side all of us I think I can speak for all of us were um a bit surprised when in the last few months um with the release of the W path files the release of the um final report from the cast review uh that just very clearly laid out the evidence um that these procedures are harmful and not helpful uh and what's

truly going on. I think all of us hope that our colleagues, um, those who maybe aren't paying attention to this discussion, um, would take notice and speak up. Uh, we also hope that the organizations, um, would themselves put a stop to this, uh, and they have not. In fact, they've, they've doubled down and said that they're going to continue, um, with what they're doing. So, that to us was what mobilized us to want to take action, um, and say enough because, um, we are numerous and we are leaders in healthcare, uh, and if, if not us, then who? And we are here to do our job, to take care of children and protect them. Well, thank you very much, all of you and those of you, um, listening to us, uh, online, um, we thank you and the Coalition of doctors protecting children thanks you. Uh, please check out the website and, um, sign the Declaration. Thank you. [Applause]

Doctors Protecting Children Declaration Press Conference- June 6, 2024

American College of Pediatricians

The Doctors Protecting Children Declaration

A coalition of medical professionals, led by Dr.

Jill Simons, is calling for US medical organizations to stop promoting certain protocols for children expressing discomfort with their biological sex.

The declaration emphasizes the importance of basing medical decisions on biological sex and is backed by a large number of co-signers.

The coalition urges physicians to support and adhere to the evidence-based research and encourages others to sign the declaration on doctorsprotectingchildren.

The Controversy Surrounding Gender Dysphoria and Transitioning for Minors

Gender dysphoria is seen as a diagnosis, while transgenderism is considered an ideology.

The natural course of gender dysphoria tends to resolve by adulthood in 85% of cases without affirmation, often co-occurring with underlying mental health issues and adverse experiences.

The current standard of care for minors with gender dysphoria involves watchful waiting, mental health evaluation, and counseling, with a focus on addressing underlying issues.

The Call to End Gender Affirmation Treatment for Children

Leading medical professionals and organizations are advocating for the end of gender affirmation treatment for children, emphasizing the importance of psychiatric evaluation and care for gender confusion.

The current protocols are criticized for ignoring underlying psychological issues and causing additional harm through social, chemical, and surgical transitioning.

The coalition, including the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, the American College of Pediatricians, and the Catholic Medical Association, is urging colleagues to support the declaration and prioritize science and medical ethics in caring for children.

The Importance of Ethical Medical Care for Children with Gender Dysphoria

The Catholic Healthcare Leadership Alliance supports the doctors protecting children declaration, advocating for ethical medical care for children with gender dysphoria.

They emphasize the harmful effects of gender-affirming procedures on the physical and mental health of children, calling for care based on truth and compassion.

The alliance urges medical associations and government healthcare programs to stop promoting unethical procedures and to provide care that upholds the dignity and true identity of every child.

Call to End Harmful Medical Procedures on Children

A group of doctors is urging US medical organizations to stop harmful procedures on children, citing clear evidence of the procedures' harm and lack of effectiveness.

The doctors were motivated to take action after facing resistance and seeing the medical organizations double down on their commitment to the procedures, despite the evidence against them.

The group emphasizes the importance of protecting children and calls on their colleagues to speak up on this issue.