Shortly after releasing the updated version of its Standards of Care, the World Professional Association for Transgender Health issued a correction without any explanation. The updated Standards of Care were initially published on Sept. 6, and the correction was published roughly a week later. What’s going on?
Well, WPATH’s guidelines are considered the leading document in transgender healthcare. They inform practitioners working with gender dysphoric patients, including adults, adolescents, and children, in the United States and globally. For the first time, the latest edition includes a chapter dedicated to adolescents presenting with gender issues, separate from the chapter dedicated to children. This was due, in part, to the sharp increase in referrals of adolescents to gender clinics and the “unique developmental and gender-affirming care issues” of this population.
