LITTLE ROCK, Ark.—Two doctors testified on Oct. 17 in support of child transgender procedures as part of the opening day of the nation’s first federal court challenge of a statewide ban on the controversial treatments.
Transgender-identifying teens who were born female often seem “’over-the-moon’ happy” after mastectomies, as they see their bodies better “aligned” with a masculine gender identity, said Dr. Deanna Adkins, a North Carolina pediatric endocrinologist who has recommended these “top surgeries” for some of her patients.
In contrast, Adkins has also seen what can happen when gender-distressed youths do not get the interventions they’re seeking.
Adkins’ voice cracked as she said, “I lost a patient to suicide because (the patient) did not make it to their second visit.” That’s when the patient would have begun “gender-affirming” care, Adkins said. Such treatments can include puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and surgeries….