I agree with President-elect Trump’s plan to end hormone and surgical treatment for children diagnosed with gender dysphoria. There has been a disturbing trend in our society of the increased diagnosis of gender dysphoria from 2017 (28,847) to 2021 (42,167) — a tripling from 2017 (Komodo Health Inc.).

Medical treatment involving hormone therapy and/or surgery may begin as early as age 10. The success in alleviating depression and/or suicide by chemical and surgical intervention is not proven. Twenty-five states have banned gender-affirming care for transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) minors. Some children have committed suicide after receiving such “care.”

The dysphoria caused by a physical condition such as a cleft palate can be alleviated by surgery. However, the dysphoria caused by a mental condition should instead be treated with therapy. This trend to ignore therapy in place of surgery and hormones for this mental condition of children results in lucrative profits for doctors, hospitals and pharmaceutical companies at the expense of the health and welfare of children.

I believe the underlying cause of this trend is based on the devaluation of traditional, conservative, social and moral values of Western civilization taught by liberal faculty in our educational institutions. This can be corrected by insisting on a balance between liberal and conservative faculty in all schools.

Dr. Joel I. Last

Greensburg

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