Today, the American College of Pediatricians (ACPeds) met with officials from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to let them know that the gender identity rule under Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act that is anticipated to be published this month is dangerous for kids.
Under the new regulation, sex discrimination in health programs and activities funded by HHS would be redefined to include sexual orientation and gender identity. The anticipated rule would require that health care professionals perform sex reassignment surgeries on both adults and children, even if it goes against doctors’ ethical and medical judgments.
Dr. Quentin Van Meter, a Board-Certified Pediatric Endocrinologist of 44 years and President of ACPeds, spoke at the meeting with HHS and released the following statement:
“The American College of Pediatricians is very concerned about the effect of this anticipated rule on the rights of pediatricians to practice medicine in a way that is in the best interest of children. Children are in no place to make body-altering and life-altering decisions. We strongly oppose these anticipated rule changes because they will corrupt the practice of medicine and cause irreparable harm to kids.”
ACPeds was one of many organizations to sign on to a letter that was sent to HHS on March 11 requesting that HHS meet about this anticipated rule.
