Chapter 6: The Dutch Protocol in the United States
-the Dutch Protocol arrived in the US in 2007
-bringing the lie that suppressing puberty through medication which acts on the brain to prevent the release of estrogen and testosterone from the ovaries and testicles
-lie that when stopped puberty resumes where it left off
-the Dutch study was seriously flawed: one size fits all cross-hormone medications could not be replicated with the same positive outcomes, the opposite occurred that puberty suppression in patients didn’t do well but this news was never publicized
-2021, the results were that puberty suppression brought no measurable benefit to the psychological function in young people, but rather gender dysphoria did not improve
-in 2023, the Dutch Protocol debunked and called “runaway diffusion”
-Runaway Diffusion: affirmative treatment rapidly entered general clinical practices worldwide, without the necessary rigorous clinical research to confirm the hypothesized robust and lasting psychological benefits of the practice
-the Dutch Protocol did not take into consideration the effect of blockers on physical health, libido, and sexual development OR consequences on fertility
-in 2022, study revealed 60% were ashamed of their genitals
-44% females regretted loss of fertility
-35% males regretted loss of fertility
-over 70% experienced pain during sex
-⅔ had difficulty achieving orgasm
***the high price of denying biology
Malpractice:
-One hours is not sufficient time to full assess the mental health of children
-lies to parents and public that it makes individualized decisions
-lies to parents and public of the consequences and effects of treatments
-never offer ongoing therapy
-they have ruled that the public is not to be told the truth
-every child who meets four basic criteria:
1-age or puberty stage
2-therapist letter
3-parental consent
4-one hour visit with a doctor
-is now a good candidate for irreversible medical interventions
-lack of regard for the rights of parents
-designated themselves as the decision makers over the fate of children in their care
-if parents suggested therapy over puberty blockers they were told they were abusive, uneducated, and willing to harm their own children
-centers routinely issue puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones without parent consent
-suppressing puberty in gender-dysphoric young people is experimental
-anyone raising doubts were called transphobic
***cross-sex hormones immediately after puberty blockers leaves the patient permanently sterile
London Break-Down:
-S. Louis Clinic-placed young patients on the toward medical transition
-2019-Marcus Evans resigned due to disagreeing with fast tracking affirmation, drugs, and surgery without any solid psychological evaluation or providing confused kids therapy first
-Evans and other employees had grave concerns as the clinic bowed down to the tran activists
-UK court asked to assess the age of consent for this fast track approach
-testimony from young adults with regret testified the results of becoming medically sterilized, breast removal, and now will need to be medicated the rest of their lives as the damage is irreversible
-UK court determined that suppressing puberty in gender-dysphoria young people is experimental and the 1st step invariably leads to cross-sex hormones with irreversible consequences
-UK court ruled that persons under age 16 cannot comprehend and evaluate the profound and lifelong impacts to these interventions so unable to of the age of consent
Independent Study Found:
-Failure to gather evidence about comorbidities or long-term outcomes
-puberty blockers is not a “pause button” that allow children time to explore their identity, but rather lock them into a medicalized treatment plan
-there is too little evidence to make any recommendations on hormone treatments
-best way to support young people experiencing gender distress has not been determined
-treatment of GD or GIDS is based on poor evidence and it is a model of care left young people “at considerable risk’ for poor mental health
-2020, the US is challenged like the UK, but doubled down if anyone questioned transgender healthcare as transphobic and attacked into silence
-2023, Sweden restricted medical interventions of minors
–2023, New Zealand called for a psychotherapy-first approach over fast tracking gender affirming care