A former "gender care specialist" at Boston Children's Hospital has come forward with disturbing revelations about the hospital's practices regarding the treatment of minors experiencing gender dysphoria. Dr. Amy Tishelman, a clinical and research psychologist, has testified that the hospital drastically reduced the time allotted for psychologists to assess these vulnerable children before referring them for irreversible medical procedures, raising serious concerns about the hospital's commitment to ethical and responsible care.

Uncovering the Troubling Realities at Boston Children's Hospital's Gender Clinic

Reduced Assessment Time Raises Alarm

According to Dr. Tishelman's testimony, when she first started working at the gender clinic in 2013, psychologists were given 20 hours or more to assess children exhibiting feelings of dissociation from their biological sex and write a comprehensive report. However, over the years, the hospital steadily reduced this assessment time, eventually allotting only about two hours for the evaluation and 30 minutes for the report. Dr. Tishelman described this practice as "reckless," emphasizing that the decision to prescribe puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to minors is a weighty one that requires thorough and thoughtful consideration.

Concerns over Irreversible Interventions

Dr. Tishelman stressed the gravity of the decisions being made at the gender clinic, stating that the use of drugs to alter a child's puberty is "not like taking an aspirin" and that there are significant long-term and short-term implications to consider. She expressed her discomfort with the hospital's apparent rush to refer children for irreversible medical procedures, such as double mastectomies and castration, without adequate time for comprehensive psychological assessment.

Whistleblower Lawsuit Alleges Wrongful Termination

Dr. Tishelman's revelations come as part of a lawsuit she has filed against Boston Children's Hospital, accusing the institution of ageism, sexism, and retaliation. The hospital claims that she was terminated in 2021 for allegedly violating a patient privacy law, but Dr. Tishelman maintains that her dismissal was a result of her concerns about the hospital's practices and her refusal to comply with the rushed assessment process.

Taxpayer Funding and Lack of Transparency

The gender clinic at Boston Children's Hospital has received significant taxpayer funding, with the Executive Office of Health and Human Services of Massachusetts confirming that the hospital received over $1.4 million in 2022 for "gender transition services" performed on minors. This raises questions about the hospital's accountability and the need for greater transparency regarding the outcomes and long-term effects of these interventions.

Withholding of Crucial Research Findings

Dr. Tishelman's testimony also highlights the concerning trend of researchers and clinicians withholding the results of studies that may challenge the prevailing narrative around gender-affirming care. A recent study funded by the National Institutes of Health, which showed no positive mental health effects for gender-dysphoric children who used puberty blockers, was reportedly withheld by the lead researcher, Dr. Johanna Olson-Kennedy, who expressed concerns that the findings could be "weaponized" by opponents of these procedures.

The Urgent Need for Ethical and Responsible Care

The revelations from Dr. Tishelman's testimony underscore the critical need for a thorough re-evaluation of the practices and protocols at gender clinics like the one at Boston Children's Hospital. The rushed assessment process, the use of irreversible medical interventions on minors, and the apparent lack of transparency around research findings all raise serious ethical concerns that must be addressed to ensure the well-being and protection of vulnerable children.