Bristol, Tenn.—June 18, 2025—Christian Medical & Dental Associations (CMDA), which is the nation’s largest faith-based professional healthcare association, praised today’s U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in the U.S. v. Skrmetti case. This landmark decision upholds Tennessee’s Senate Bill 1, which protects minors from harmful and life-altering drugs and surgeries.

“This decision reflects a crucial stance in protecting the physical, psychological and spiritual well-being of children,” said CMDA Chief Executive Officer Mike Chupp, MD, FACS. “At the heart of our faith and professional ethics lies a deep commitment to compassionate care, which is grounded in the best medical evidence available and respects the inherent dignity and sacredness of every individual. We commend the Supreme Court for affirming the authority of states to safeguard today’s vulnerable children from irreversible medical interventions that could impact their development and identity.”

CMDA submitted an amicus brief in support of this case, arguing that sound medical ethics demand an end to the use of puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and sex reassignment surgeries in children and adolescents suffering with gender dysphoria. Substantial evidence chronicled in reports like the Cass Review from the United Kingdom and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Treatment for Pediatric Gender Dysphoria indicate these “ideological” treatments are both flawed and dangerous.

“The science is clear on this issue, and the courts have allowed reason to prevail. The treatments promoted by several major medical organizations are doing irreversible harm to children and adolescents,” said CMDA Director of State Public Policy J.C. Bicek. “I applaud the court for hearing and allowing for the protection of children from the harms of ideological gender medicine.”

CMDA is steadfastly committed to advocating for the rights of vulnerable patients on both state and federal levels, and that includes advocating for state legislatures to adopt policies like Tennessee’s Senate Bill 1 that prioritize the best interests of children. “We encourage continued dialogue and support for legislative measures that promote ethical standards in pediatric healthcare, rooted in the belief that all life is a gift to be cherished and protected,” said Dr. Chupp.

“Today’s victory ensures we can continue our work to ensure these vulnerable patients—children across the country—are protected from the methods of so-called ‘gender affirming care’ in all 50 states,” said Bicek.

In 2024, CMDA signed the “Doctors Protecting Children Declaration,” a joint statement that details the dangers of current protocols for the care of children and adolescents in the United States with gender dysphoria and how these protocols violate the basic tenets of medical ethics. CMDA’s Ethics Statement on Transgender Identification also provides more details about the harms of life-altering drugs and surgeries for minors. For more information about CMDA, visit cmda.org.

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