If you work in pediatric gender medicine and have concerns about the safety of practice, you are not alone. Contact the LGBT Courage Coalition for guidance and support (including finding legal counsel and connecting you with media contacts).
In this episode, Stella & Sasha sit down with Vanessa Sivadge, a former pediatric nurse at Texas Children's Hospital, who courageously exposed the illegal use of federally funded insurance programs to cover sex hormones and transgender treatments for minors. Initially coming forward anonymously as a whistleblower, Vanessa believed her concerns would incite meaningful change, only to face repercussions from the government. After disclosing the hospital’s concealed practices, she was met with an unexpected visit from FBI agents—an act she interprets as intimidation.
Vanessa recounts her journey, reflecting on her decision to publicly come forward in June 2024. She shares how she faced almost immediate backlash, being placed under investigation, put on leave, and ultimately terminated, prompting her to pursue legal action for wrongful termination.
This conversation examines the evolving 'groupthink' culture within hospitals, exacerbated by the pandemic, which has discouraged open dialogue and questioning among medical professionals. Vanessa’s story underscores the complexities of healthcare practices, specifically surrounding gender-affirming care, the ethical implications of medical documentation, and the critical importance of safeguarding patient welfare. It also emphasizes the value of whistleblowers as empowering and necessary for fostering accountability and promoting a culture of transparency. Drawing from her experiences, Vanessa offers up three essential strategies for individuals contemplating speaking out about their concerns.
Resources & Links
Legal Defense Fund for Nurse Whistleblower (Vanessa’s GiveSendGo)
What Happened to ‘Do No Harm’? A Nurse’s Firsthand Look at the Transgender Craze, by Vanessa Sivadge (The Washington Stand)
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission : Religious Discrimination
"They're Wanting to Play God": A new whistleblower describes the horrors of “gender-affirming care” at Texas Children’s Hospital, Christopher Rufo
The Murky Business of Transgender Medicine: Did Texas Children’s Hospital commit fraud to pay for child sex-change procedures?, Christopher Rufo (City Journal)
‘Retaliation’: Nurse Who Blew the Whistle on Child Sex-Change Program Says Texas Children’s Fired Her (The Daily Signal)
Whistleblowers Often Sacrifice Everything for the Truth, by Vanessa Sivadge (Real Clear Politics)
186 - Courage is Contagious, with Whistleblower Vanessa Sivadge