At a rally on the Michigan State University campus Friday, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El‑Sayed argued that the government should not interfere with pediatric gender treatments, saying “whole a–” doctors like himself should be free to determine patients’ care plans. El‑Sayed, a former Detroit Health Department official, told a crowd of students that the decision about treatment should rest solely between a patient – or the patient’s parents if the individual is under 18 – and their doctor.
Credentials under scrutiny
El‑Sayed has repeatedly highlighted his status as a “physician” during his campaign, noting that if elected he would be the first doctor to serve as a Democratic senator in five decades. However, Fox News Digital has documented that El‑Sayed has never held a medical license in either Michigan or New York. The lack of a license raises questions about his ability to practice medicine or to speak authoritatively on medical matters.
Trump administration’s recent actions
The Trump administration has taken decisive steps to restrict minors’ access to pediatric gender treatments, which include hormone therapy and surgeries. Earlier this week the Justice Department announced that Mount Sinai Hospital, along with Texas Children’s Hospital, the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, and Connecticut Children’s Hospital, agreed to halt such procedures for children after reaching an agreement with the administration.
In a related move, the administration’s Medicaid policy now ends funding for these treatments, labeling them “experimental” and emphasizing the need to protect children from irreversible medical decisions.
El‑Sayed’s policy stance
El‑Sayed reiterated his support for Medicare for All, arguing that while the government would fund health care, it should not dictate which treatments are provided. “I don’t think the government gets to have a say about what health care is provided in what circumstances and why,” he said. “The decision should be between the patient – or their parent if they’re under 18 – and their provider. That’s the most important thing.”
He also pointed to the Right to Try Act, a piece of legislation championed by conservatives that allows terminally ill patients to access experimental drugs not yet approved by the FDA. “Conservatives fought for the Right to Try legislation, which says the government can’t tell you you can’t have a certain medication,” El‑Sayed argued, suggesting that the same principle should apply to pediatric gender treatments.
Expert and legal challenges
Medical experts note that research on the long‑term efficacy of pediatric gender treatments remains limited. The World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), whose guidelines are used by major medical bodies, is currently facing a Federal Trade Commission lawsuit alleging that its guidelines mislead parents about the medical consensus, safety, and effectiveness of these procedures.
The FTC accuses WPATH of failing to disclose side effects such as incontinence, pelvic pain, mood disturbances, and other complications associated with cross‑sex hormones.
International context
Countries with socialized health systems have also moved to restrict these treatments for minors. In England, the National Health Service paused cross‑sex hormone prescriptions for 16‑ and 17‑year‑olds in March after concluding that the supporting research was “really weak.” A ban already exists for children under 16.
Campaign response
When asked about his medical credentials, El‑Sayed’s office did not immediately respond. The candidate’s emphasis on parental‑doctor decision‑making aligns with his broader platform of expanding government‑funded health care while limiting governmental control over individual medical choices.
As the Senate race in Michigan intensifies, voters will weigh El‑Sayed’s policy positions against the backdrop of a federal administration actively working to protect minors from what it deems experimental medical interventions.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
