UChicago Medicine stops subjecting children to so-called ‘gender-affirming care’
Caroline MolloyUniversity of Chicago (UChicago) Medicine has become the latest Illinois hospital to put an end to the practice of subjecting children to experimental drugs and surgeries in the name of treating gender dysphoria.
In a statement released Friday, the hospital said it had “reached the difficult decision that in response to continued federal actions, it will discontinue all gender-affirming pediatric care effective immediately.”
“We reached this conclusion in light of emerging federal actions which would place at risk our ability to care for all Medicare or Medicaid patients,” the hospital continued. “These patients make up the majority of those we serve. As the largest Medicaid provider in Illinois, this step is necessary to ensure UChicago Medicine can continue serving our broader community and delivering on our mission.”
In January, President Donald Trump issued an executive order titled “Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation,” in which he threatened to block federal funding to hospitals that subjected children to the often irreversible consequences of the drugs and surgeries.
In 2022, when gender ideology was enthusiastically promoted by the Biden administration, an article published on the hospital’s website touted UChicago Medicine’s designation – for the seventh consecutive year – as a Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader.
“UCM earned the maximum score in each section in the foundation’s index,” the article boasted.
The statement by UChicago Medicine comes on the heels of a similar announcement by Rush University System for Health, which said it had “paused” offering hormonal drugs to minors, effective July 1.
“This decision was made in collaboration with our clinical leaders,” spokesperson Tobin Klinger told the Chicago Tribune in a July 15 article about the end of these medical interventions on children.
“Rush continues to be a strong advocate for the LGBTQ+ community,” Klinger added.
The Tribune noted that the spokesman said the hospital will continue to offer counseling and social services to patients with gender dysphoria, regardless of their age, and it will still “provide the full range of gender care to adult patients based on medical need.”
