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Maggie's avatar

Hot take: I don't think we should let the general public weigh in on the medical treatment of any condition affecting 0.021% of kids

If my kid had a cancer or orthopedic condition or neurodevelopmental disorder that rare, I'd skip the local pediatrician, throw him in the car, and drive off to John Hopkins. I really wouldn't care what my neighbors thought, or my congressman thought, or a poll thought about it.

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Eastern Promises's avatar

The reason why this is even an issue is because of trans-female athletes participating in women's sports. Honestly, of the people I know who are generally fair-minded on most LGBTQ issues, that one issue pisses them off. Its really a no brainer: non-fully transitioned trans women should not be able to participate in women's sports. IOW, if you still have a dick, you cannot play. Its a matter of fairness.

The Dems, as usual, cannot help but step on every rake in the political yard.

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Anne B's avatar

I had the same reaction. Medical care shouldn't be up for public debate. Abortion opened the door to politicizing medical care. I absolutely hate this. You'd think doctors would be more upset about all this interference in their professional expertise.

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Bruce Brittain's avatar

Today's "Morning Shots" is heavy on poll data. As an old school and recovering market researcher, let me point out that with the near elimination of land lines, the ability to obtain a true random sample of Americans is impossible. Applying various weightings to correct for the biases caused by who tends to cooperate in phone-based polls is a dark and often inaccurate magic.

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KMD's avatar

And we don't even answer our land line anymore unless caller ID says its someone we know. Otherwise, it's almost 100% spam.

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Kim M Murphy's avatar

Thank you. My Poli Sci degree is forty years old and even I remember what crap your results are if your sample is skewed.

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Meghan R's avatar

There is a much larger issue here around parent (specifically mom) shaming that happens. It’s everything from what milestones your kid hits when to how you fold their clothes. In the end, you should do what’s best for your kids and not what everyone else things you should or shouldn’t do.

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Kate Fall's avatar

The whole idea of polling my dumb-ass neighbors about which medical treatments people should receive makes my skin crawl with horror.

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TomD's avatar

Right. The premise is that gender dysphora and intersex are afflictions which can be treated. We hide the ball about that, not wanting to make those affected feel bad about themselves.

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E2's avatar

Gender dysphoria is an affliction which can be treated. The best proven treatment is transition.

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TomD's avatar

I get that.

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CW Stanford's avatar

There is a legitimate public interest in these issues. If a parent were to withhold medical care believing a vegetarian diet will cure cancer, is that their exclusive right? Hence laws govern child protection even when you do not respect your neighbors. I am not saying what the appropriate public policies are here, but policy needs to be worked out from dialog with all stakeholders.

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Anne B's avatar

There's a difference between child neglect/abuse and medical care. Except in Texas.

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Colleen Kochivar-Baker's avatar

Right on. It's especially frustrating when the dumb-ass neighbors think trans is a gonad issue and not a brain issue....and probably think gender affirming counseling is designed to make kids accept their genetic gender.

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Maggie's avatar

Right? People don't know what hormones are!

I met a man once who thought only women had thyroids. He was legit shocked when I told him I was feeling for his thyroid.

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Mike Lew's avatar

People like this will then tell you with a straight face that they "did their own research."

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Jeri in Tx's avatar

In Michael Scott's voice (The Office)" That's what she said!".

What my younger sister, a trump supporter, anti-vaxx, Covid long haul survivor says when confronted with actual research.

I cannot break through a wall of obstinance that was way more durable than the physical wall the orange one built.

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steve robertshaw's avatar

If it's any consolation, I think there are very few families in America that don't have impenetratably brainwashed members.

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JF's avatar

Just last week I told my doctor that I no longer use that phrase because it’s so tainted by the stupid. I now say “I’ve been reading . . .”

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Bridget Collins's avatar

"From what I've read. . ."

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Mary's avatar

Well, I do plenty of research/reading. I do not assume that any doctor’s word is gospel. After 4 years of ineffective treatment, I correctly diagnosed my own rare neurological condition and sought appropriate care. I needed antiepileptic drugs and brain surgery (not painkillers and antihistamines, as had been previously prescribed). But I am not an idiot. I know when I’m right and when I could be wrong. And I’m smart enough to know not to delve beyond my league.

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Alister Sutherland's avatar

I had a very similar experience. It becomes more pronounced when the condition - such as mine and yours (though they are different, they are both neurological) - are rare and not well documented. In my case, it was only recently discovered through genetic research. There are hardly any medical professionals who know anything at all about it.

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Tom Burst's avatar

Good for you, but I would bet there are thousands of instances of just the opposite for each one like you. There will always be that very rare case that most physicians have not yet heard of much less seen.

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May 8, 2023
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Dan-o's avatar

But they obviously do, so maybe putting ones pants on one leg at a time is a genetic disposition, like a pigeon's head bobbing when it walks. It doesn't require conscious thought..

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