The Benefits Of Watchful Waiting
I was hoping to have more news, but the court proceedings are dragging along and much hinges on the court appointed child psychologist. Its a waiting game right now – which is a bit ironic, because Jeff is fighting for just that… The right to watchfully wait and allow James to be a child instead of imposing a transition upon him while he is so young. I read a brilliant article in the National Review about why pediatrician groups are conforming to transgender orthodoxy and how their dismissal of any alternative perspectives and research may be irreparably harming children.
Upon the wake of the American Academy of Pediatrics releasing its official policy statement on how to ensure “comprehensive care and support for transgender and gender diverse children and adolescents”, the article questions, “1. To what extent did activists and interested third parties influence this policy? 2. To what extent was the AAP able to hear from all stakeholders? (Especially parents unable to speak up publicly due to concern for their relationship with their child, and professionals who fear animosity from an activist community.) And, related, 3. Is this official policy likely to be helpful or harmful to children?” Jeff falls into the category of a parent unable to speak up publicly for himself because he has been enjoined from doing so. That adds another element altogether!
Dr. Susan Bradley, a child psychologist with 40 years of clinical experience and research, who founded the Toronto Gender Identity Clinic at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, was quoted as saying,
“I’m deeply concerned that AAP’s guidance has gotten so far ahead of the current knowledge base about gender dysphoric children, according to the best research we have that spans decades of clinical practice. We know from multiple studies that around 80 percent of gender dysphoric children will desist from their cross-sex identification in childhood to identify with their natal sex. Most of these will grow up to be gay or lesbian; a substantial minority have also been diagnosed with autism.
Yet the AAP guidance incorrectly dismisses these studies as flawed and outdated. There is no professional consensus on medical treatment of gender-dysphoric children and young adolescents. While some preliminary studies of puberty suppression followed by cross-sex hormones and surgery have shown benefit to gender dysphoric youth, these have had small sample sizes and have only followed patients for a short period of time.
We do not know the long-term effects of medical transition in young people; these effects are mostly irreversible and include sterility and sometimes impaired sexual function. Watchful waiting, which was the treatment of choice for many years, has been dismissed as false and harmful with no evidence for this assertion.“
I urge you all to read this article in its entirety – LINK HERE. NATIONAL REVIEW ARTICLE
I have also added the link to the article under the resources tab along with other articles and information if you haven’t had a chance to check it out.
Thank you again to all who love and support these sweet kids. I will continue to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves in love and with effort to be wise and kind in relation to all those involved.
Sarah