FTC Sues WPATH Over Youth Gender-Affirming Care Claims

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and four states—Alaska, Iowa, Nebraska, and Texas—sued the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) on Wednesday. The lawsuit alleges that WPATH made deceptive claims about gender-affirming care for minors and profited from these statements.

According to The Guardian, the suit argues that WPATH's guidelines were not evidence-based and promoted treatments with insufficient scientific backing. The FTC also launched investigations into other medical organizations over their guidelines on gender-affirming care, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Endocrine Society.

WPATH has denied the allegations, stating that its guidelines call for individualized patient care rather than a 'one-size-fits-all' approach. The organization noted it had previously sued to block an FTC investigation, alleging violations of its First Amendment rights. A federal judge temporarily blocked this probe in May.

As reported by Reuters, the lawsuit comes amid broader national debate over puberty blockers, hormone therapies, and sex change surgeries for minors. Supporters argue these treatments can be medically necessary for some patients, while critics contend that long-term risks are not fully understood.

The complaint filed in a Texas federal court accuses WPATH of developing and promoting guidance that healthcare providers relied upon when recommending puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and sex-change procedures for minors. The case could determine whether the medical guidance that shaped transgender treatment for thousands of children was built on solid evidence or agenda-driven speculation.

FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson stated that the lawsuit is a consumer-protection case focused on whether families were properly informed about the risks and benefits of these treatments. 'Children, but especially their parents, must have complete and truthful information when making decisions to purchase medical services,' Ferguson said in a statement. The FTC has taken action against entities that make deceptive and unsubstantiated health-related claims for decades.

The lawsuit alleges that WPATH publicly described its Standards of Care as evidence-based and rooted in expert consensus while some of the organization's own leaders privately acknowledged limitations in the available evidence. The complaint cites a 2023 strategy memo from Standards of Care 8th edition lead author Dr. Eli Coleman stating that 'all of us are painfully aware that there are many gaps in research to back up our recommendations.' It also references comments from Dr. Amy Tishelman, lead author of the organization's chapter on children, who acknowledged in an NPR interview that there was no established 'research basis' for determining the best assessments or treatments for 'transgender youth.'

Federal regulators further allege WPATH removed age minimums from its 2022 Standards of Care for procedures including breast removal surgeries without scientific justification. According to the complaint, internal discussions revealed some WPATH leaders struggled to identify evidence-based reasons supporting the change.

The lawsuit argues that many of the clinicians and surgeons who helped draft WPATH's guidelines had financial and professional interests tied to the treatments being recommended. The complaint alleges that someminors who underwent medical transition experienced lasting complications, including chronic pain, sexual dysfunction, urinary incontinence, fertility concerns, nerve damage, and ongoing psychological distress.

WPATH rejected the allegations Wednesday, calling the lawsuit politically motivated and legally flawed. 'For more than 50 years, WPATH has been committed to developing guidelines informed by established scientific standards, expert consensus, and patient centered values,' the organization said in a statement.