(The Center Square) – Medical group Do No Harm debunked a May report released by the Utah Department of Health and Human Services on the subject of gender-affirming care in minors, stating that it is not the “systematic medical evidence review” that Utah’s law requires.
Do No Harm medical director Dr. Kurt Miceli told The Center Square: “The Utah Department of Health and Human Services’ report on the use of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones in children is both unreliable and dishonest.”
“It amounts to little more than a compilation of guidelines and studies, absent critical analysis, riddled with omissions, and lacking scientific rigor,” Miceli said.
“It is certainly not the systematic medical evidence review required by Utah’s law,” Miceli said.
Miceli said that Do No Harm’s report entitled “Debunking the Utah Department of Health and Human Services’ Defense of Pediatric Medical Transition” equips lawmakers “with evidence-based arguments to counter any shoddy policy proposals that may rely on Utah’s Report as their foundation.”
As stated by Do No Harm’s report, the Utah Report – formally named “Gender-Affirming Medical Treatments for Pediatric Patients with Gender Dysphoria” – “lacks the scrutiny necessary to produce quality research.”
“Unlike true systematic reviews, it does not assess the reliability of studies and whether the research can provide guidance for weighing the risks and benefits of medical intervention for children with gender dysphoria,” Do No Harm’s report said.
Additionally, the Utah Report “emphasizes the volume of evidence over its quality, relies uncritically on guidelines from self-proclaimed experts, neglects significant life-altering adverse effects, and includes input from advisors, some of whom demonstrate bias in favor of ‘gender-affirming care’ for minors,” Do No Harm’s report said.
When reached, the Utah Department of Health and Human Services referred The Center Square to the University of Utah, which conducted the study.
University of Utah College of Pharmacy Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacotherapy Joanne LaFleur has not yet responded to The Center Square’s request for comment.
Do No Harm’s Kurt Miceli told The Center Square that “unless Utah’s Report is completely rejected, malicious actors will weaponize its misinformation to push medical interventions on Utah kids that can have irreversible harm.”
“We urge state lawmakers to protect children and uphold evidence-based medical practices. Lawmakers’ attention is best directed to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ report, ‘Treatment for Pediatric Gender Dysphoria: Review of Evidence and Best Practices,’” Miceli said.
This report from HHS “provides a scientifically sound analysis revealing the low quality of evidence supporting these medications while also recognizing their significant harms,” Miceli said.
The Utah Report was the Utah HHS’ response to the state’s S.B. 16 Transgender Medical Treatments and Procedures Amendments, according to Do No Harm
Do No Harm’s report stated that because of the Utah Report’s shortcomings, “Utah legislators should not rely on either the Utah Report or its accompanying Amendments as a credible source for evaluating the safety and efficacy of pediatric gender medicine. Utah would be much better served by a thorough review of HHS’s report on this subject matter.”
