Doctors and courts are reevaluating sex reassignment procedures for children

Thousands of underage girls in the United States have undergone sex reassignment surgery in recent years.

According to data published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, reported by The Economist, between 2016 and 2020, doctors performed 3,215 mastectomies, 405 genital surgeries, and 350 other gender-related procedures on people aged 12 to 18.

However, the actual number may be higher. Proponents of these procedures argue that they can alleviate psychological distress, while critics point to a lack of evidence of their benefits.

The case of Fox Varian from New York, who underwent a double mastectomy in 2019 at the age of 16, attracted attention. However, according to court documents, her mental state did not improve, and she later decided to undergo detransitioning.

In 2023, she filed a lawsuit against her psychologist and surgeon for medical malpractice. On January 30, a jury awarded her $2 million in damages.

Another warning came in early February when the American Society of Plastic Surgeons stated that the quality of evidence on these procedures in minors is limited. Subsequently, the American Medical Association stated that surgical procedures in minors should generally be postponed until adulthood. Similar doubts have been expressed by some European institutions.

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