Parents in the United States are facing challenges accessing their teenage children’s electronic health records online. Military parents in particular are restricted from viewing detailed information about their 13- to 17-year-olds in the Military Health System (MHS) Genesis portal, and their adolescent children are not allowed to have a user login until they turn 18. While some state officials are addressing this issue, military parents must advocate for themselves to Congress to regain their parental rights.
Tricare, the military insurance provider, recently issued a press release explaining Department of Defense policies that limit parents from accessing adolescent records in the MHS Genesis portal. Many military parents are concerned about the confidentiality of their children’s medical information and the influence of activist doctors within the military health care system.
Efforts in Congress to prohibit coverage for transgender procedures for minor military children were removed from the fiscal 2024 National Defense Authorization Act. Meanwhile, military bases and school-based clinics are providing confidential care for adolescents, including services related to transgender issues and gender identity affirmation.
The MHS treats thousands of confused dependents, offering services like diagnosis, puberty suppression, hormone treatment, and counseling for gender dysphoria. Despite concerns raised by some studies, military doctors are primarily following a gender affirmation approach to care.
As the debate around transgender medicine continues, some doctors are questioning the long-term benefits of medical interventions for gender dysphoria in adolescents. While organizations like WPATH have been criticized for lacking evidence-based practices, the legal consequences of such treatments are being brought to the forefront by detransitioners like Chloe Cole.
Parents are being urged to advocate for legislation that clarifies their right to guide their children’s medical care. The issue of parental access to medical records is seen as potentially harmful to children and families, and military parents are encouraged to push for policies that uphold their parental rights.
