Senator Josh Hawley has called for an investigation into the protocols of Washington University in St. Louis and BJC Healthcare regarding the transitioning of minors. The demand comes after a former case manager alleged that puberty blockers were given to children without proper assessment or parental notification. However, the Transgender Center at the university has announced that it will no longer provide minors with puberty blockers for the purpose of transitioning, in compliance with a recent state law that prohibits gender-changing treatments for minors. Senator Hawley has welcomed the decision but is still seeking answers about the alleged practices at the university and why officials won’t cooperate with investigators.
In his letter to the university, Hawley asked for an explanation of any discrepancies in The New York Times’ report on the clinic. He also highlighted that the center had started experimental treatments on hundreds of minors without appropriate safeguards and cited the case of a patient with severe psychiatric issues who was given testosterone without consulting a doctor. The university has not responded to the request for comment on whether it will comply with Hawley’s demands.
The internal assessment conducted by the clinic earlier this year concluded that allegations of substandard care were unsubstantiated. However, the former case manager claimed that puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones were provided to children without proper parental consent or accurate assessment of the child’s needs. The center was also accused of understaffing and rushing hormone treatments without adequately addressing underlying mental health issues. According to the case manager, some patients detransitioned without their parents or children being informed. The university decided to close its gender-transition procedures due to the liability risk posed by the new state law. The Transgender Center will continue to offer education and mental health support, while an investigation into the allegations remains ongoing.