Three individuals who have since detransitioned allege that they were pressured by doctors and hospitals to undergo gender transition treatments, including medical interventions while they were minors, according to a new report commissioned by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The report, titled "Wolves in White Coats: How Doctors and Hospitals Pushed and Profited from the Fraud of 'Gender Medicine,'" features the stories of Clementine Breen, Soren Aldaco, and Luke Healy. It suggests that financial incentives may have encouraged healthcare providers to offer gender transition treatments and identifies insurance billing practices that warrant further investigation.
Breen, who was 12 years old at the time, was reportedly told by doctors at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles that the child was "100% trans" and at a high risk of suicide without medical intervention. According to the HHS report, Breen began puberty blockers at age 12, started testosterone at 13, and underwent a double mastectomy at 14. Breen's mental health later deteriorated, and by age 18, after therapy, Breen concluded the distress was linked to earlier trauma. Breen reported experiencing physical consequences from the treatments, including pain and irregular menstrual cycles, and required estrogen. When seeking breast reconstruction later, Breen stated doctors questioned the teen's mental stability, and some stopped responding. Breen expressed concern in the report about a child's ability to consent to procedures affecting fertility or the ability to breastfeed.
Aldaco's gender-related distress emerged during adolescence, and online communities framed gender transition as the solution. After consulting with a doctor, Aldaco was prescribed testosterone, with specialists treating the teenager for gender dysphoria. The report states that providers did not explore alternative treatment options outside of what it describes as a "sex rejection" model. Aldaco underwent a double mastectomy before beginning testosterone and subsequently suffered severe complications and pain. The report notes that providers did not initiate a reassessment of Aldaco's treatment plan despite these negative developments, and the support system after treatment was insufficient compared to the coordinated pathway into medicalization.
Healy was 10 years old when first learning about online communities discussing transgender identities and began to identify as a girl within three years. While Healy's parents refused to consent to puberty blockers or hormones while Healy was a minor, citing it as "one of the bravest things they ever did," institutional figures reportedly treated Healy's identity as settled and moved quickly to affirm it. At 18, Healy began pursuing transition treatments, including estrogen and consultations for surgery. However, Healy realized these treatments were not alleviating psychological stress, describing the model as built around escalation rather than resolution. Healy also reported feeling pressured into procedures, with one doctor quoting a high cost for facial feminization surgery and another speaking in a manner Healy perceived as sales-like when encouraging a tracheal shave. Healy ultimately shifted focus to battling substance abuse problems developed during the process, recognizing a destructive pattern similar to addiction in gender ideology.