Many have heard in the past few weeks that Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) is pausing pediatric sex reassignment surgeries for an indefinite period of time. But why? And what are the implications for the broader trend of juvenile gender transition surgeries?
The Story of VUMC
After disquieting videos came to light, including a 2018 video of VUMC assistant professor Dr. Shayne Taylor talking about the profitability of “top surgeries” and hormones for the hospital in Nashville, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and senior Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) called for an investigation of the Pediatric Transgender Clinic at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital, which is part of VUMC.According to its web page, the clinic “offers evidence-based, personalized gender-affirming care for transgender and gender-diverse children and adolescents.”
