On 12 June 2023, I emailed the president of the American Medical Association, Dr Jack Resneck, regarding recent California legislation:
“I notice that the AMA has been unusually quiet about 2 California bills that have important ramifications for patients, parents, and physicians:
CA Bill AB957- gender affirming care
CA Bill AB2098 - informed consent
AB2098 is still being contested in the courts, I believe. With AMA's multiple public statements regarding government overreach in health care regarding reproductive rights, it appears unusual that the AMA hasn't weighed in one way or the other on either bill. They have substantial impact on US healthcare.”
To his credit, Dr Resneck, whose one-year tenure as AMA president ended 14 June 2023, responded to my email on 10 July 2023:
“The first bill you referenced, Assembly Bill 957, concerns family court consideration of a parent’s affirmation of the child’s gender identity in child custody determinations. Though we understand that a parent’s support for a child’s gender identity is an important determinant of child wellbeing, we have not taken a position on the legislation. However, we are in touch with the California Medical Association and are monitoring the bill.
We agree with you that the second bill you referenced, Assembly Bill 2098, has important ramifications for physicians. The bill, which was enacted last year, expands the California medical board’s authority to discipline physicians who disseminate misinformation or disinformation about the COVID-19 virus. As you noted, the law has been challenged in court and is currently enjoined pending the outcome of litigation. The AMA’s Litigation Center is monitoring the litigation, as it has not yet reached the appellate level.
California Bill AB957 – the law has passed the California House and is now being debated in the Senate. It includes language that would add a parent’s denial of their child’s gender expression to the list of offenses deemed child abuse and therefore included in child custody considerations.
“This bill, for purposes of this provision, would include a parent’s affirmation of the child’s gender identity or gender expression as part of the health, safety, and welfare of the child.”
This Bill is concerning to many for several reasons. First, it removes parental input into a child’s decision to pursue genital mutilation and intense chemical makeovers. Second, it puts providers in the precarious position of being forced to report parents that suppress their six-year old’s desire to change their gender based upon prodding from teachers, friends, or other unacceptable influencers. Remember, physicians that fail to report child abuse face professional and criminal sanctions. The AMA seems to care little for parents’ rights and for the untenable position California physicians may find themselves in if this law passes.
The science is far from settled on transgenderism and the long-term effects of its treatments. The incidence has skyrocketed from approximately .01% to upwards of 5% of minors, most likely due to societal and social media influencing. Sweden is halting most gender affirmation treatments for minors and instead advocating behavioral health interventions until the patient reaches the age of majority and can make a more informed and educated decision. More countries are following suit.
The AMA seems unconcerned that there is a high likelihood that a staggering number of children wanting to change their gender may not have gender dysphoria and actually are just anxious kids listening and mimicking others. The also seem to be consciously ignoring the lack of data on long term safety and the fact that countries with far more experience in gender affirming care are rethinking their previously aggressive stances.
California Bill AB2098 – this was signed into law in September 2022 but is currently in a legal injunction pending legal challenges. This law forbids physicians from providing informed consent or anything negative or ‘misinformation’ about the covid vaccine. As a law, it provides professional and legal consequences for offending physicians.
“(2) “Disinformation” means misinformation that the licensee deliberately disseminated with malicious intent or an intent to mislead.
(3) “Disseminate” means the conveyance of information from the licensee to a patient under the licensee’s care in the form of treatment or advice.
(4) “Misinformation” means false information that is contradicted by contemporary scientific consensus contrary to the standard of care.”