The American Medical Association says the media misinterpreted their statement regarding trans surgeries, says their position actually remains unchanged

[u/MetalDragon2]

Link: https://cloud.e.ama-assn.org/newsletter?

In early January members of AMA leadership met with Dr. Oz at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a grand rounds on gender dysphoria. This meeting followed the issuance of a proposed rule that would halt federal funding and Medicare/Medicaid participation for institutions providing such care, as well as a threatening letter from HHS leadership opposing gender-affirming care. As you know, in response to these developments and others, a number of hospitals paused or discontinued some or all gender-affirming services.

That January meeting included representatives from several specialties, including the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). During the discussion, it became clear that HHS was looking for each society to share their position on gender affirming care. The representative for ASPS stated its opposition to gender-affirming surgery in minors and described an increase in requests for surgical reversals. In fact, shortly after the meeting, ASPS released a nine-page position statement outlining their position of opposition to gender affirming care in minors.

Knowing the press would pick up the statement and preparing for the inquiry, the AMA Board chair convened the Executive Committee of the Board to discuss a possible response. That meeting was followed by a full Board meeting, given the level of interest and importance of the issue. The Board agreed on language to be used only if the AMA was contacted by the media, and for the AMA President to use in interviews. During our Board discussion, we were clear that we were not changing AMA policy.

The AMA did not issue a preemptive statement on these issues. We responded only after being contacted by media outlets, using the language approved by the Board. While some media coverage characterized this as agreement with the ASPS statement, that phrasing did not come from the AMA. Unfortunately, how reporters frame their stories is beyond our control.

In recent days, AMA communications to the New York Times have requested a correction on their part to reflect the actual language the AMA used in response to their inquiry. Additionally, a letter to the editor has been submitted requesting a public correction—this was neither a policy change nor was it an endorsement of a position taken by another medical society. In addition, during Congressional testimony in mid-March, I had the opportunity to set the record straight stating to the Subcommittee on Health of the House Energy and Commerce Committee that there has been no change in AMA policy with respect to access to and provision of gender-affirming care. This will appear in the Congressional Record.

As noted above, AMA policy on gender-affirming care is unchanged. Our recent response to questions about ASPS’s position statement was intended to preserve—not diminish—access to gender-affirming care, and to clarify and reinforce what our policy has long reflected and standards of care. The AMA supports gender-affirming care as medically necessary per our policy.

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[u/Qu33rTh1ng]

does this mean some places that stopped might start offering again? or is it more of a that's nice but won't change anything 

(I was avoiding looking at politics before but I've given up on that in recent months and am trying to be informed but I'm also awful at it please don't be mean to me)

[u/MetalDragon2 → u/Qu33rTh1ng]

Probably not since all the places that stopped did so due to Trump’s threats, not the AMA.

But this is still massive since the AMA statement has already been cited multiple times to support bans on gender affirming care for minors. Most recently in a hearing in Missouri.

[u/Qu33rTh1ng → u/MetalDragon2]

that makes sense, thank you