FTC and Four States Sue WPATH Over Gender-Affirming Care Claims

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), along with four states, has filed a lawsuit against the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH). This action is part of ongoing efforts by President Donald Trump’s administration and others to restrict gender-affirming care for transgender minors.

The lawsuit claims that WPATH made misleading statements regarding gender-affirming care for minors. It suggests that members of the organization financially benefited from these claims. The states involved in the lawsuit are Alaska, Iowa, Nebraska, and Texas.

“Parents have a right to make informed decisions about their children’s health,” FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson stated on X. “The FTC will not allow parents and children to be deceived by medical organizations and providers who are prioritizing profit over children’s health and safety.”

WPATH responded by asserting that their guidelines emphasize individualized care rather than a uniform approach. This lawsuit arose after the FTC’s investigation into WPATH’s practices, which WPATH attempted to block, citing First Amendment violations. A federal judge temporarily halted the probe in May.

Investigations have also been launched by the FTC into the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Endocrine Society concerning their guidelines on gender-affirming care. Both organizations are challenging the investigations in court as well.

For over 50 years, WPATH has set widely acknowledged medical standards for gender-affirming care, grounded in scientific standards, expert agreement, and patient-focused values, according to its website.

In a statement, WPATH asserted, “WPATH is in a strong position to prove that the FTC is acting out of pure retaliation as part of the federal government’s relentless and targeted campaign to undermine gender-affirming care by attacking the First Amendment rights and the independence of professional medical organizations. We expect the same result when we oppose this latest attack on WPATH and its mission to promote evidence-informed care and guidance for doctors and their patients.”

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