WA state children’s hospital pulls back on child sex changes, opts for ‘holistic approach’: memo

The hospital, located in one of the most progressive places in America, will be implementing its new minor sex change policies at the beginning of September, according to an internal memo sent to board members obtained by unDivided.

This comes in response to MultiCare therapist whistleblower Tamara Pietzke's report in the Free Press, in which she documented several cases where she was ordered under hospital policy to refer minors for sex change treatments without assessing the root cause of why an adolescent might be experiencing gender dysphoria, such as behavioral issues, societal influences, depression, and abuse.

Pietzke refused the orders and quit her job, then was subsequently fired in February from another job after blowing the whistle on the hospital's policies.

The hospital's July 17 letter to board members, titled "Updates to Mary Bridges Children's gender health services," stated that the hospital no longer believes fast-tracking gender-affirming care for minors before properly assessing a child's gender dysphoria is in the best interest of the child.

"As a result of our review - and based on the best clinical evidence available today - we will enhance our holistic approach to gender-affirming health care for adolescents. Based on the most up-to-date science, we believe this enhanced approach will provide the best and safest course of treatment for our young patients," the memo stated, according to unDivided.

In return, the hospital will rely on "experts in behavioral health, endocrinology, adolescent medicine, and social work" while evaluating the child to determine the best course of care. Additionally, the hospital said it would "work collaboratively with families to support their needs."

Pietzke detailed several struggles minors faced in the Free Press report after evaluating them for gender dysphoria. One such case included a teen whose mother engaged in bestiality and tried to kill her sister. The teen would dress as a "furry" at school and told Pietzke that she would "age regress," which included her sucking her thumb in front of the TV for hours while watching the Teletubbies.

"Here we are trying to get a letter for this child to start testosterone and there's all these other things at play," Pietzke told unDivided. "I wanted to process all the different things that were going on - trouble making friends, trauma history - there was just so much there. So much to unpack."

Pietzke said the directive from higher-ups ordered her to "just sign off on whatever was asked." Although skeptical, she welcomed the policy changes and said the memo was "encouraging."