FTC Files Complaint Against WPATH Over Youth Gender Treatment Guidelines

"The conflicts of interest that are within the standards of care are significant, and again, not brought to light, and this is part of that deception, and the concern that WPATH has sort of stated that the science is there behind pediatric medical transition when it is not," Miceli said.

He added that WPATH "stacked the deck with folks who had a financial invested interest in promoting pediatric medical transition," resulting in guidelines that push hormones, puberty blockers, and surgeries. The complaint alleges WPATH promoted the procedures as "lifesaving" despite insufficient evidence they reduce suicide risk.

', and we hear that line repeated, which again is not supported by evidence by any means whatsoever," Miceli said. "The benefits that WPATH is claiming are there actually aren't. " The complaint alleges some minors who underwent the procedures experienced lasting complications including chronic pain, sexual dysfunction, urinary incontinence, fertility concerns, nerve damage, and ongoing psychological distress.

WPATH rejected the allegations on Wednesday, calling the lawsuit politically motivated and legally flawed. "This is the second time this year the Trump Administration has abused the authority of its agencies to interfere with Americans' rights to seek and obtain the healthcare that should be decided between a patient and their physician," the organization said.

WPATH also stated it has spent more than 50 years developing guidelines informed by established scientific standards, expert consensus, and patient-centered values.

Miceli said the lawsuit should prompt other medical organizations to review the evidence. "We need the American Medical Association, the Endocrine Society, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Psychiatric Association—the list goes on—we need them to look at the evidence as well, and they need to do that immediately," he said.