Fact Checked: New Problematic "Finnish Study" Actually Shows Trans Care Saves Lives

[LostOne4Ever]

Fact Checked: New Problematic "Finnish Study" Actually Shows Trans Care Saves Lives
A new study from Dr. Kaltiala in Finland is being used to claim that trans care is not lifesaving. Experts say this is false, and the study itself shows trans care likely saves lives.

ERIN REED
FEB 25, 2024


A new study in Finland, which is garnering attention among anti-trans activists, is being used to claim that gender-affirming care "is not lifesaving." Journalist Benjamin Ryan explicitly stated this claim when discussing his article published in The New York Post. However, leading researchers, including Dr. Meredithe McNamara from the Yale University School of Medicine and epidemiologist Gideon Meyerowitz-Katz, argue that the study's methodology fails to support this conclusion. They point out critical flaws, such as the study controlling for the variable it aims to measure and relying on outdated data from a time before "gender dysphoria" was even recognized as a diagnosis. Moreover, a detailed examination of the study reveals that, despite these issues, gender-affirming care likely reduces the risk of suicide—those who do not receive care face a risk three times higher than controls. Surprisingly, the study's authors do not address this finding.

The new study examines Finnish health data from 1996 to 2022, exploring the connection between gender-affirming care and suicide. Numerous studies have demonstrated that gender-affirming care significantly reduces suicidality, with some showing a decrease in suicidality by up to 73%. However, this study introduces an additional factor: visits to psychiatric specialists. It concludes that, after adjusting for psychiatric specialist visits, the suicide rates among those who undergo medical gender reassignment "did not statistically significantly differ from that of controls." Therefore, the study asserts that the data "does not support the claims that [medical gender reassignment] is necessary to prevent suicide."

Shortly after publication, nearly every organization opposed to gender affirming care publicized the findings widely. Genspect, an organization which has engaged in online teasing of transgender youth, stated the study put the “suicide myth” to rest. Transgender Trend used the study to claim that “medical transition is ineffective in preventing suicide.” Leor Sapir of the Manhattan Institute used the study to claim “the suicide narrative is baseless.” Meanwhile, journalist Benjamin Ryan published a story in the New York Post and claimed the study showed “gender-transition treatment is not life saving.”

A closer examination of the study reveals that it does not support such conclusions. Now, in a thorough and comprehensive fact-check, leading experts refute these assertions by highlighting critical flaws that directly oppose these claims. Ultimately, despite these shortcomings, the study actually suggests that gender-affirming care is lifesaving. This is despite statistical missteps and issues with data sources which, whether intentionally or not, obscure the conclusion supported by the extensive body of research indicating that gender-affirming care saves lives and decreases suicidality.

[…]

More at link:

https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/fact-checked-new-problematic-finnish?utm_campaign=email-post&r=26hpd7&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

[stopdiggin]

1. thanks. the community needs to armed with this type of solid information. -(nt)-

[SarahD]

2. It's the process, not just the end result, that reduces suicide.

By "controlling" for mental health visits during the transition process, the study attempts to separate the final stage of the journey from the extensive counseling that usually makes up a significant part of the transition process. They ignore everything that precedes the physical operation, so the study is useless. Of course, the whole thrust of the right wing argument is that the medical establishment rounds up troubled young people and disfigures their genitals. This study provides some opportunity to claim that a big dose of Jesus will solve gender dysphagia issues.