In this episode, hear a personal first-hand whistleblower account of the harmful practices taking place inside an American gender clinic. Jamie Reed, a former Case Manager at the Washington University School of Medicine Pediatric Transgender Center at St Louis Children’s Hospital reflects on her experiences inside the clinic that ultimately lead to her profound decision to file for whistleblower protection from the Missouri Attorney General’s office to publicly express her concerns with the judgment and care provided for the patients at the gender clinic.
Jamie, who herself identifies in the LGBTQIA community and is also a proud parent of five children, has a Bachelor’s Degree in Cultural Anthropology and a Master’s of Science in Clinical Research Management. In her conversation with Sasha & Stella, along with her attorney, Vernadette Broyles, not only does Jamie describe the experiences that led to the ultimate formal filing of her concerns, but both Jamie and Vernadette speak to the protections available to other clinicians and workers in this field that feel too intimidated to speak out about their observations and concerns.
Vernadette Ramirez Broyles is the President and General Counsel of Child Parental Rights Campaign, Inc., a not-for-profit public interest law firm that engages in litigation and advocacy across the country to protect children’s health and defend parental rights from the impacts of gender identity ideology. Ms. Broyles received her law degree from Harvard Law School and received her undergraduate degree in Biology from Yale University.
Links:
Affidavit of Jamie Reed
https://ago.mo.gov/docs/default-source/press-releases/2-07-2023-reed-affidavit---signed.pdf
Child & Parental Rights Campaign, Inc.
https://childparentrights.org/
Other Recent Features of Jamie Reed’s Story:
Appearance on the Transparency Podcast
Appearance on the Triggernometry Podcast
Interview with The Free Press
Free Press Article: https://www.thefp.com/p/i-thought-i-was-saving-trans-kids
Article by Jesse Singal https://jessesingal.substack.com/p/gender-clinic-whistleblower-jamie
WPATH SOC8: https://www.wpath.org/soc8
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Extended Notes:
Jamie Reed is a courageous whistleblower.
She assumed that following the guidelines would protect patients who did not meet the criteria for medical transition.
When parents brought their children to the Transgender Center they believed the child would be given a scientific assessment, then make the determination.
There was no set process for gaining consent at the Transgender Center.
Some young people mistakenly believe that if they get hormones their mental health will be resolved.
The Transgender Clinic lied to the Missouri state legislature about underage medical surgeries.
An individual who went to the Transgender Clinic said they believed they were given a letter of support because they looked the part.
Jamie believes social contagion plays a role in young people’s decision to identify differently.
When Jamie raised red flags the medical staff gave her voice no meaning.
During patients’ follow-up visits, they would say that their mental health was getting worse.
There is reason to believe that other clinics are practicing in the same way.
Jamie worked for years to make the multidisciplinary model work before contacting the Missouri Attorney General.
Jamie shares the resources that were available via the internet, media, and standard of care documents before she decided to come forward legally.
In clinics, from mental health providers to endocrinologists, no one wants to claim responsibility for their actions.
Quotes:
“I think the parents really do believe that they are bringing their children to a medical center where a team of medical professionals is going to do an assessment and then make this determination. I think it's challenging for parents to have been through that to recognize that the assessment for everyone is essentially, always, well if you want the medicine we will give you the medicine. That is not how a true scientific assessment is supposed to work.” — Jamie Reed [11:26]
“I just kept feeling like every ethical line I drew was just walked on, and walked on, and walked on. There were conversations I had with these doctors when I said we are hurting people. We are hurting people. And what's kind of sickening is that it wasn't necessarily that the response was — no we're not hurting them. It was — Well, what do you want me to do about it?” — Jamie Reed [47:38]
“A co-worker was directly told that they were no longer allowed to use the phrase ‘I have concerns about this patient.’ When you work in medicine, in any kind of medicine, and to be told you are not allowed to say you have concerns about a patient is the exact opposite of what administrators should be telling medical professionals.” — Jamie Reed [56:32]
112 — Jamie Reed: “Every Ethical Line I Drew Was Walked On… We Are Hurting People”