The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said on July 28 that it has launched a public inquiry into whether consumers, particularly minors, have been harmed by false or unsubstantiated claims about “gender-affirming care,” and whether such practices may violate federal law.
The launch of the public inquiry follows a July 9 FTC workshop that featured testimony from doctors, ethicists, whistleblowers, detransitioners, and parents who alleged that some providers made unsupported claims about the safety or effectiveness of the treatments and failed to disclose material risks.
FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson said during the workshop that the agency was not looking to pass moral judgment but is instead focused on whether “fraudulent and deceptive” practices have occurred. He cited the agency’s mandate under Sections 5 and 12 of the FTC Act to challenge false or unsubstantiated health claims, including whether patients are being fully informed about the risks associated with such procedures….