Key facts
- The FTC and four states sued the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH).
- The lawsuit alleges WPATH made deceptive claims about gender-affirming care for minors and that its members profited from these claims.
- WPATH asserts its guidelines are tailored to individual patients and based on scientific standards.
- The FTC has also investigated the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Endocrine Society regarding their gender-affirming care guidelines.
- WPATH views the lawsuit as retaliation and an attack on medical independence.
The Federal Trade Commission, along with four states, has filed a lawsuit against the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), a leading professional organization focused on transgender healthcare. The suit alleges that WPATH made deceptive claims regarding gender-affirming care for minors and that its members profited from these claims.
FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson stated that the agency will not permit parents and children to be deceived by medical organizations prioritizing profit over health and safety. WPATH, in response, asserted that its guidelines emphasize care tailored to individual patients rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. The organization also noted that a federal court had previously ruled against the FTC's investigation into WPATH, which the group had challenged on First Amendment grounds. WPATH expressed confidence in prevailing again, viewing the lawsuit as retaliation and an attack on the independence of medical organizations.
The FTC has also initiated investigations into the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Endocrine Society concerning their guidelines on gender-affirming care, with both organizations also having filed lawsuits.