(Molly Bruns, Headline USA) The director of a pediatric gender clinic based in Portland, Oregon, received thousands of dollars from Endo Pharmaceuticals, a company that produces puberty blockers.
According to the Daily Wire, Kara Connelly of Doernbecher Children’s Hospital has received at least $3,114 from the pharmaceutical giant for consulting, travel expenses and food and beverages in 2018, the year in which the data was most recently available.
Connelly’s consulting services were related to Supprelin LA, an off-label puberty blocker with several severe side effects, which is manufactured by Endo Pharmaceuticals. Supprelin LA reportedly may cause brain swelling and permanent vision loss in patients who consume the drug, which has a list price of $37,000.
According to ProPublica, doctors who received payments from companies were more likely to prescribe the drugs to their patients.
“On average, across all drugs, providers who received payments specifically tied to a drug prescribed it 58% more than providers who did not receive payments,” the report read.
Oregon Health and Science University released a statement defending Connelly’s actions, claiming she did not cross any ethical lines.
“As part of its mission to ensure the health and well-being of all patients, Oregon Health & Science University collaborates with a variety of external entities,” said spokesman Franny White. “External collaboration is done in accordance with OHSU’s strict ethical guidelines as well as federal and state regulations. OHSU pediatrician Kara Connelly, M.D., briefly served as a consultant for Endo Pharmaceuticals in 2018, and has not done so since that time.”
White continued, proclaiming that OHSU was proud to offer “gender affirming care” while following “evidence-based medical standards.”
Connelly is one of many “gender affirming” doctors taking money from pharmaceutical companies under the table.
Jeremi Carswell, director of the transgender health department at Boston Children’s Hospital, received similar funding from Endo Pharmaceuticals for Supprelin LA.
Carswell also received a stipend for an article she wrote discussing the risk of suicidal ideation among trans youth, where she advocated for the use of drugs such as Supprelin LA to suppress puberty symptoms in an attempt to prevent suicidal thoughts.
