Eighteen-year-old Chloe Cole has filed a lawsuit against Kaiser Permanente, accusing them of medical malpractice in her so-called “gender transition.” At age 13, Cole was put on puberty blockers and then testosterone. Within three years, she underwent a double mastectomy.  

Over the past decade, the medical community has treated cases of gender dysphoria differently than other mind/body disorders. Typically, such disorders are treated by helping the patient reconcile with his or her body. It is only in the case of gender dysphoria that doctors encourage and facilitate expensive chemical and surgical interventions in the name of “gender-affirming care.” Far from alleviating the dysphoria and related mental health problems, these interventions leave the root problems unaddressed. To follow this path with minors is an especially troubling form of social experimentation. 

Similar lawsuits have been instrumental for creating a course correction elsewhere. Hopefully, Chloe’s case will lead to doctors being held accountable for the harms they have caused and to a course correction here in America as well.