One of America's top surgeons cautioned against administering gender-affirming care for minors on Monday, telling Fox News the long-term effects are still unknown.
"The real issue here is, as physicians, we're driven by evidence, and our care also involves compassion and interaction with patients. But we have to really look to the evidence when we're thinking about what the appropriate care is for patients, and this is a newly-developing field. For adolescents right now, the evidence, there's just not enough of it yet," Dr. Steven Williams, president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, explained on "Fox & Friends First," Monday.
Gender-affirming care can involve hormonal or surgical treatments that help the patient's physical appearance or hormonal makeup more closely align with the gender identity they choose.
Dr. Williams broke ranks on the issue as proponents insist that allowing a child to continue through their natural puberty without the influence of blockers or other gender-affirming care treatments is detrimental to their mental well-being.
