The parents of a transgender child in Huntersville say Atrium Health told them it will end gender-affirming care for youth by the end of this month. However, there has been no clarification from the health system on its exact policy plans.
North Carolina banned gender-affirming care for minors in 2023 but allows those who began treatment before the law passed to continue receiving care.
Josh and Amanda Dumas are the parents of a 14-year-old transgender boy. He was a patient at Atrium Health, receiving hormone blockers and testosterone until last week.
“I got the call on Tuesday from our doctor, who made a personal call to several of her patients to warn them and say, ‘Hey, by the end of July, I’m not going to be able to treat your kid,’” Amanda Dumas said.
The parents found a new doctor for their child to continue treatment but have yet to receive official communication from Atrium.
“Atrium hasn’t told us anything," Josh Dumas said. "Everything that we’ve learned has been word of mouth from other doctors, from other providers, from people in the community, other patients.”
This change would come as the Department of Justice says it will investigate doctors who provide gender-transition care to minors.
In a statement to WFAE, Atrium didn’t confirm or deny the change, saying, "While we do not typically respond to speculation or rumors, we want to share our continued commitment to providing care that is medically appropriate, legally compliant and rooted in compassion. As a nonprofit health system, we operate within a dynamic legal and regulatory landscape, and we remain focused on upholding the highest standards of care possible. If any changes to patient care become necessary, we are committed to communicating directly and transparently with those affected, ensuring that every step is guided by personalized support."
