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Vanderbilt Medical Center Ends Gender-Affirming Surgeries for Adults

The hospital cites staffing constraints, leaving patients uncertain about already scheduled procedures.

Overview

  • Vanderbilt University Medical Center said it will cease gender-affirming plastic surgeries for adults, citing operational limitations and a lack of surgical coverage.
  • The health system said it continues nonsurgical gender-affirming care for people 19 and older and does not provide such care to those under 19.
  • The timeline for ending surgeries and the status of patients with scheduled procedures remain unclear, with the hospital saying it is contacting patients about the changes.
  • Some patients and a Nashville council member reported removals from surgery lists, while one outlet reported previously scheduled surgeries would proceed.
  • Vanderbilt had been the only Tennessee hospital offering adult gender-affirming surgery, following earlier actions that included pausing pediatric surgeries in 2022 and turning over patient records to the state in 2023 before a settlement last year.