Second Major U.S. Lawsuit Against Medically Transitioning Children Filed by Detransitioner

Written by Joanna Button

What happened? Last week, 18-year-old detransitioner Layla Jane became the second person to file a lawsuit against medical institutions and practitioners for facilitating her sex change as a minor. The first such lawsuit, filed by Chloe Cole in February of this year, garnered significant media attention and is still ongoing.

Her transition: Layla Jane (Kayla Lovdahl in the lawsuit) claims she had mental health issues starting at a young age that went unaddressed. She started identifying as a boy at the age of 11, began puberty blockers and hormone therapy at 12, and had a double mastectomy when she was only 13. After turning 17, she began detransitioning and going to psychotherapy for her ongoing mental health problems.

Lawsuit: The nonprofit organization Center for American Liberty is representing both Cole and Jane. Both young women are suing Permanente Medical Group, Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, and the individual clinicians who facilitated their sex changes. Jane’s lawsuit accuses doctors of rushing her transition without properly evaluating her mental health first and failing to provide informed consent by disclosing the risks associated with the procedures.

Studies: The lawsuit cites studies showing most childhood gender dysphoria cases resolve themselves by adulthood and highlighting patients' psychological distress following sex-change procedures. It also mentions that European medical reviews have concluded the risks of such procedures outweigh the benefits and that more research on their long-term effects is necessary.

What now? The number of trans-identifying children and gender dysphoria diagnoses in minors has risen drastically in recent years. The number of detransitioners is rising too—supporting the theory that the rise in trans kids is partly due to social pressure—although exact numbers are unknown because detransitions often go unreported. Despite this, progressives are pushing for “gender-affirming care,” or sex changes for minors. Legal action from detransitioners could discourage medical institutions from promoting such procedures.