In a February 25 press release, the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS), a national organization of physicians in all specialties founded in 1943, issued the following statement:
” ‘Gender-affirming care’ in minors is medically and ethically contraindicated because of a lack of informed consent. There are inherently unknown and unknowable long-term risks, and the consequences of removing normal, healthy organs are irreversible.”
In the announcement the APPS officials also noted:
“Physicians and medical professionals should refuse to be mandated or coerced to participate in procedures to which they have ethical or scientific objections or which they believe would
harm a patient.”
“The construct of gender fluidity in the current cultural discourse is controversial.”
“There has been an explosive increase in persons who identify with the construct of gender
different from sex, at an age where identity is easily malleable and brain development is not fully concluded.”
“Conflicting motivations have led to a growing industry dedicated to providing “gender- affirming” procedures that are generally irreversible and have a high probability of causing sterilization. These procedures include puberty “blockers,” sex hormones, and surgery, such as castration, penectomy, and mastectomy. They commit a patient to a lifelong need for medical, surgical, and psychological care.”