Among clinicians who provide gender-affirming care, the general consensus is that surgery — on breasts, facial features, or genitals — is mostly reserved for adults, though it should be available to minors on a case-by-case basis.
But when the American Medical Association told some media organizations last week that “surgical interventions in minors should be generally deferred to adulthood,” conservative commentators that want to end any pediatric gender-affirming medical care celebrated. Some media outlets and online commentators have also interpreted the comment as a backpedal on previous support.
