Podcast Summary
US vs UK gender-affirming care for youth: The lack of evidence-based approach in US gender-affirming care for youth is a cause for concern due to potential harm, lack of data, and circular referencing among US-based medical organizations.
There's a growing concern over the lack of evidence-based approach in the US regarding gender-affirming care for youth, in contrast to the progress being made in the UK. Many experts believe that this issue is particularly alarming due to the potential harm it causes to children, including the possibility of detransition and the lack of available data on the number of youth receiving such treatments in the US. The exponential increase in referrals to gender clinics in the UK and the availability of data on this issue have led to a recognition of the problem, but in the US, the lack of a national health service and the circular referencing among US-based medical organizations endorsing the gender affirming model of care without sound evidence is a cause for concern. This situation is reminiscent of a Haitian cartel, where organizations are referencing each other for validation rather than relying on sound evidence. If you value honesty, integrity, and diversity in media, consider supporting Trigonometry for ad-free and extended interviews, plus exclusive content.
Evidence-based gender-affirming care: Systematic evidence reviews challenge the 'evidence-based' label of gender-affirming care guidelines and raise concerns about financial incentives, potential harm, and lack of long-term safety and efficacy data.
The label of "evidence-based" in the context of gender-affirming care for youth is misleading. Systematic evidence reviews, which represent the most robust form of evidence in medicine, have not been aligning with the guidelines set forth by organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Researcher Professor Gordon Goya, a pioneer in evidence-based medicine, has concluded that these guidelines are untrustworthy and not evidence-based. Additionally, there are concerns about financial incentives and potential harm to certain populations, including autistic children and those who later desist from identifying as trans. Long-term data on the safety and efficacy of medications used in gender-affirming care is lacking, and there is a history of high desistance rates among children who did not socially or medically transition. It is crucial for organizations and healthcare providers to align their practices with the most current and reliable evidence.
Unproven therapeutic techniques, risks: Unproven therapeutic techniques, like recovered memory movement and gender-affirming model of care, can lead to devastating consequences and potential lawsuits. Protect personal data to safeguard privacy and financial security using ExpressVPN.
The use of unproven therapeutic techniques, like those involved in the recovered memory movement and the current gender-affirming model of care for gender dysphoria, can lead to devastating consequences for individuals and families. These practices, which lack empirical evidence, can result in lawsuits and rollbacks when their harmful effects become more widely recognized. The recovered memory movement, which claimed people possessed repressed memories of significant trauma, led to the implantation of false memories and ruined many lives. Similarly, the current gender-affirming model of care, which is based on unfounded scientific claims about innate gender identity, risks causing harm to vulnerable individuals. As we've seen in the UK, societal and legal backlash can follow when the full extent of this harm becomes clear. Protecting personal data, particularly when using public Wi-Fi networks, is essential to safeguarding privacy and financial security. ExpressVPN is a simple and effective solution for securing online data, ensuring that sensitive information remains private and secure.
Gender Affirming Care Polarization: The promotion of gender affirming care in a polarized environment, disguised as a social justice issue, raises concerns about potential harms and dismissal of valid criticisms. Evidence-based medicine is crucial for ensuring the best possible care for vulnerable individuals.
The current narrative surrounding gender affirming care is being promoted by various organizations, institutions, and the media, creating a highly polarized environment where concerns about potential harms are dismissed. This situation is similar to past medical scandals, such as the opioid crisis, where false claims led to widespread use of questionable medical interventions. However, this scandal is unique due to its disguise within a social justice framework, making it difficult for some to question its validity. Speaker Christina shares her personal connection to the issue, having experienced similar struggles during her teenage years and recognizing the alarming rise of psychiatric issues and suicidality among today's rapid-onset or late-onset transgender population. The importance of evidence-based medicine in all areas of healthcare, including gender medicine, should not be controversial, yet it is becoming increasingly so. It is crucial to address these concerns and ensure that vulnerable individuals receive the best possible care.
Trans identity affirmation: Growing concern over immediate affirmation of trans identities without proper exploration of underlying causes, particularly in young people, as it can lead to unnecessary medical interventions. Considering a range of factors before affirming a trans identity is important.
There is growing concern over the immediate affirmation of trans identities without proper exploration of underlying causes, particularly in young people. This approach, known as the gender affirming model of care, is controversial as it relies solely on the patient's self-diagnosis and can lead to unnecessary medical interventions. The speaker also discussed the challenges in diagnosing autism in girls, who often go undetected due to societal expectations, diagnostic tools designed for boys, and their ability to camouflage symptoms. The speaker's personal experience and research suggest that autism, especially during puberty, can contribute to feelings of discomfort and a desire to transition, highlighting the importance of considering a range of factors before affirming a trans identity.
Autism, Gender Identity, and Mental Health: Autistic girls may face unique challenges with social norms and identity issues, and some may explore trans identities as an explanation for their differences. However, the increasing conflation of gender nonconformity and trans identity can be confusing for autistic individuals, leading to potential misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment.
The complex intersection of autism, gender identity, and mental health is a topic of growing concern. Autistic girls, in particular, may struggle with social norms and identity issues, leading some to explore trans identities as an explanation for their differences. However, the increasing conflation of gender nonconformity and trans identity by medical and scientific organizations can be confusing for these individuals, especially those with autistic traits and rigid thinking patterns. Despite growing awareness and research on autism, misdiagnosis remains a common issue. Furthermore, some autism organizations' endorsement of gender-affirming care raises concerns about the potential misidentification and inappropriate treatment of autistic individuals. It's crucial to ensure that proper evaluations and evidence-based interventions are in place to support the unique needs of this population.
Gender transition studies: High-quality, long-term studies on the effects of gender transition, particularly for adolescents, are lacking. Many studies with poor quality and high loss to follow-up are cited in the media. Regret typically occurs after several years, and individuals are not often told that gender dysphoria is a psychiatric condition with a high rate of desistance.
There is a significant lack of high-quality, long-term studies on the effects of gender transition, particularly for adolescents under the gender-affirming model of care. Many studies cited in the media are of poor quality, with high loss to follow-up and methodological flaws. Detransition data shows that regret typically occurs after four to eight years. Many individuals are not told that gender dysphoria is a psychiatric condition with a high rate of desistance. This information imbalance, coupled with the stigma surrounding psychiatric disorders, may contribute to the situation where people are not receiving accurate information about their condition from their doctors. It's crucial to ensure that individuals making life-altering decisions receive complete and accurate information to make informed choices.
Biological basis for gender identity: Despite gender identity being considered immutable in civil rights, there's no empirical evidence supporting a biological basis for it. Transgender individuals should be accepted as a lifestyle choice, and the conversation should focus on evidence and arguments.
While gender identity is considered an immutable trait in American civil rights jurisprudence, there is no empirical evidence supporting a biological basis for it. Transgender people should be accepted as a lifestyle choice, and adults should have the freedom to make that choice for themselves. However, it's important to avoid dehumanizing language and to recognize that transgender individuals are dealing with fundamental human needs of identity and belonging. The conversation around this issue should be focused on evidence and arguments, rather than attacking individuals or eradicating transgenderism. The success in pushing back against this issue in the UK can be attributed to its lack of alignment with left or right ideologies, and the involvement of prominent figures from both sides in the debate.
Journalism vs Activism: The blurred line between journalism and activism can lead to a lack of objectivity and misinformation, emphasizing the importance of calm, fact-based analysis and evidence-based reporting for productive conversations and accurate information.
The line between journalism and activism has become blurred, leading to a lack of objectivity and misinformation being spread, particularly on contentious issues like social justice movements and gender-affirming care. The speaker, a former social justice advocate turned journalist, expressed concern about the role of mainstream media in perpetuating narratives without fact-checking or providing balanced perspectives. She emphasized the importance of calm, fact-based analysis and evidence-based reporting to foster productive conversations and promote accurate information. The speaker also suggested that there should be more discussion on the parallels between transactivism and the neurodiversity movement, as both have positive aspects but also face challenges.
Retroactive justice for perpetrators: Belief in accountability and justice for past actions, intention to participate in pursuing it, and invitation to deeper engagement through exclusive member feed
Learning from this conversation with Christina is that while the topic of retroactive justice for perpetrators of a movement is complex and nuanced, Christina expressed her belief in the importance of accountability and justice for past actions. She also shared her intention to be an active participant in pursuing such justice, if necessary. Additionally, the podcast hosts invited listeners to join their exclusive member feed for ad-free and extended interviews, providing an opportunity for deeper engagement with the topics discussed on the show. Overall, this conversation highlighted the importance of accountability and justice, and the potential impact of active participation in pursuing it.