U.S. Catholic bishops are urging the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to scrutinize “false or unsupported claims” in advertisements that promote hormone therapy drugs and surgeries to Americans, and particularly to children.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) submitted a public comment to the FTC on Sept. 26. The FTC requested public comments in July after launching a formal inquiry into consumers possibly being exposed to false claims.
William Quinn, USCCB general counsel, and Daniel Balserak, assistant general counsel, wrote that “weak and increasingly questioned scientific evidence” used to support the use of hormone therapy drugs underscores the need for FTC scrutiny of promotional claims.
In one example, the USCCB noted that Planned Parenthood has publicly promoted such medical interventions as a “lifesaving service” on its website, advertisements, on social media, and in its Promotorx Program.
While the American Medical Association has said transgender minors should be allowed to “explore their gender identity” to improve physical and mental health, a Finnish study last year found no mental health benefits for minors receiving such interventions. An American doctor last year withheld the results of a government-funded study after it found no mental health benefits to puberty blockers, The New York Times reported.
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