FTC Sues Transgender Health Group Over Clinical Guidelines

The Federal Trade Commission filed an enforcement action against the World Professional Association for Transgender Health on Wednesday. The suit alleges that WPATH's Standards of Care document allowed healthcare providers to make false or unsubstantiated claims to patients and parents about gender transition procedures for minors.

The complaint states the guidelines were written in part to secure insurance coverage for those procedures.

WPATH communications from 2022 showed drafters discussing how to structure the guidelines to guarantee insurance coverage, according to the FTC filing. The Standards of Care 8 removed age minimums for hormone therapies and certain surgeries and recommended treatment for children as young as eight who experienced intense gender dysphoria.

FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson said medical claims must be truthful and evidence-based. He added that parents need complete information when deciding on medical services for children. Joe Simonson, director of public affairs for the FTC, said the organization deceived parents and children about the medical basis for the services to ensure insurance coverage.

Several states joined the FTC lawsuit, including Nebraska, Iowa, Texas, and Alaska. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is developing more detailed billing codes for gender transition procedures and related complications. The lawsuit follows a roundtable the FTC held last year with detransitioners and their parents.

Senior administration officials said reports from those families were consistent regarding information provided by care teams.