Canadian physician Gordon Guyatt, who coined the term “evidence-based medicine,” is praised for his significant contributions to health-related research and the development of the GRADE tool. Recently, McMaster University, where he works, published a letter addressing concerns raised by 2SLGBTQIA+ communities about systematic reviews related to gender-affirming care. The letter, signed by Guyatt and colleagues, acknowledged “low certainty evidence” regarding the benefits of such interventions for trans youth, indicating that the actual medical outcomes may differ significantly from current claims.
Despite their findings, Guyatt and his team expressed concern that their research could be misused to deny care for trans youth. They distanced themselves from the Society for Evidence Based Gender Medicine (SEGM), following pressures from activists. They also personally donated to a gender advocacy group, Egale Canada, as a gesture of support.
The article argues that the authors’ focus on patient autonomy may overshadow the substantial ethical issues associated with minors providing informed consent for medical treatments, given that there are growing concerns about the negative outcomes of gender-affirming care, especially for youth. It criticizes the shift away from evidence-based principles in favor of appeasing activist pressures while raising alarm over the implications for medical ethics and patient safety.
