Washington State University (WSU) has suspended a course studying alternatives to gender transition medicine for children after its accreditation body launched an investigation following an outcry from transgender activists.
The course, “International Perspectives on Evidence-Based Treatment for Youth with Gender Dysphoria,” is part of a series of continuing medical education (CME) courses designed to enable physicians to remain current in the ever-changing field of medicine after graduation. The course aimed to explore alternative treatments for “gender-questioning youth” other than hormonal interventions, using data from countries that have banned chemical therapy due to safety concerns.
The Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine (SEGM) spent more than a year developing the course, which WSU accredited after a detailed review process, but its removal at the insistence of angry activists was more than swift.
Less than an hour after transgender activism blog Erin In The Morning filed a complaint with the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) and published harsh post In response to attacks on the university for its decision to accredit a course created by the Anti-Transgender Hate Caucus, ACCME launched a formal investigation.
VSU notified SEGM said that due to the investigation, course materials have been suspended and students will no longer have access to the modules, but the school did not clarify whether this action was precautionary or specifically requested by the accreditation board. Although ACCME request process does not require explicit course suspension during the investigation, SEGM's statement noted that WSU “has been asked to suspend student access to CME modules during the ACCME investigation.”
An ACCME spokesperson, who uses they/them pronouns, declined to comment.
“It is deeply concerning that a number of educational courses developed from peer-reviewed, evidence-based presentations have been suspended under pressure from activists,” a SEGM spokesperson told DCNF. “These CME modules have been created to help clinicians understand Europe's evolving approach to youth gender medicine and the growing emphasis on assurance and long-term results.”
A Washington State University sign is seen on January 3, 2023 in Pullman, Washington. (Photo by David Ryder/Getty Images)
Pam Scott, WSU vice president of systems communications and strategy, told DCNF that while university accreditation of a course “does not constitute an endorsement by the university or co-sponsorship of the group delivering the course,” it does certify that “the courses meet ACCME requirements for scholarly balance and educational integrity.”
“We work with ACCME to confirm that all accredited materials meet ACCME standards,” Scott told DCNF. “While this process continues, course materials are on hold. We remain committed to providing high-quality, evidence-based continuing medical education courses.”
The course was developed with the understanding that “recent research has led to significant changes in the international consensus on the safe and effective care of young people with gender dysphoria” in many countries such as the UK. complete suspension use of hormone blockers in children with gender confusion.
Several ACCME-accredited CME providers offer “gender affirming” courses, such as the Harvard course Advancing Excellence in Transgender Health: A Core Course for the Whole Health Team and the University of Utah Mountain West Care Transformation Conference. ACCME also accredits the group. QueerCME.
CME credits necessary for doctors by most state medical commissions. Even DC requires CME credits for LGBTQ cultural competency.
“We are disappointed and frankly baffled by the decision to suspend these courses at the request of activists, after they had already undergone almost a year of rigorous accreditation review. Allowing ideology or activism to trump scientific evidence and professional judgment undermines both patient care and trust in our healthcare institutions,” a SEGM spokesperson said. “We remain hopeful that the ACCME review will be fair, transparent, and based on its own established standards. America's physicians deserve access to accurate, balanced information about the evidence guiding international approaches to youth gender dysphoria.”
WSU Dr. and Associate Professor of Pediatrics Erica Lee recently wrote open letter to the university president, urging him to “stand firm” and defend the course. (RELATED: High School Tells Parents to Keep Silence About Survey That Asked Children About Suicide and Gender Identity)
“In the United States, there is a major gap in clinical knowledge regarding how best to care for children and adolescents who report gender-related disorders,” Lee said. “To treat these patients responsibly, this gap must be filled. SEGM, as an organization committed to scientific rigor and the principles of evidence-based medicine, has been a leader in attempting to do just that.”
Lee warned that transgender activists calling for the course's closure “will not be satisfied with the temporary suspension of several CME modules.”
“They will persist until WSU is forced to publicly come clean: an admission of ‘negligence’ and ‘harm,’ and an official denunciation of SEGM as a ‘hate group’ as penance,” Lee wrote. “The truth is there was no negligence, no harm and no hatred.”
President Donald Trump in January signed executive order prohibiting federal funding for gender reassignment of children, and since then Supreme Court gave states the ability to prohibit such procedures. More than 25 states have released restrictions on chemical interventions for children, but the US still lags behind many countries which completely banned hormone blockers for minors.
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