A 20-year-old UCLA student, Kaya Clementine Breen, has filed a lawsuit against prominent California healthcare providers, alleging that she was “fast-tracked” into a gender transition as a minor without adequate mental health evaluation or proper informed consent. The legal action targets Dr. Johanna Olson-Kennedy, a high-profile specialist in transgender youth care, Dr. Scott Mosser, and institutions including Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) and St. Francis Memorial Hospital.
Allegations of Negligence and Harm
Breen claims that her gender transition began when she was just 12 years old, following a diagnosis of gender dysphoria made within minutes of her first consultation with Dr. Olson-Kennedy at CHLA’s Center for Transyouth Health and Development. The lawsuit alleges that Breen was prescribed puberty blockers during this initial visit, followed by testosterone at age 13, and a double mastectomy at age 14. These interventions, Breen asserts, were conducted without sufficient exploration of her mental health struggles or past trauma.
The lawsuit highlights Breen’s history of anxiety, depression, and undiagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), stemming from childhood sexual abuse. It claims that these issues were overlooked by her medical providers in favor of pursuing gender-affirming treatments. Breen argues that her parents were pressured into consenting to these irreversible procedures under the premise that failing to act could result in her suicide—a claim she disputes as misleading.
Irreversible Consequences
Breen has since detransitioned and ceased testosterone treatments but alleges that the medical interventions have caused permanent physical and psychological harm. According to the lawsuit, she now faces infertility, physical changes she cannot reverse, and lingering mental health challenges. She describes the treatments as a “failed medical experiment” and accuses the doctors of breaching the standard of care.
Broader Implications
This case comes amid growing debates over the ethics of gender-affirming care for minors in the United States. While advocates argue that such care is essential for the well-being of transgender youth, critics raise concerns about the long-term consequences of medical interventions performed on children and adolescents.
Dr. Olson-Kennedy, a leading figure in transgender healthcare and medical director at CHLA’s Center for Transyouth Health and Development—the largest transgender youth clinic in the U.S.—has previously faced scrutiny over her approach to treatment. The lawsuit also names Dr. Scott Mosser, who allegedly approved Breen’s double mastectomy after a brief consultation without meeting her beforehand.
Legal and Ethical Questions
Breen’s lawsuit seeks unspecified monetary damages for what she describes as life-altering harm caused by negligent medical practices. It raises critical questions about informed consent, the adequacy of psychological evaluations before initiating gender transitions, and the role of healthcare providers in addressing underlying mental health conditions.
The defendants have not commented on the pending litigation but maintain that their practices align with established standards of care for transgender youth. The case underscores ongoing tensions between providing access to gender-affirming care and ensuring that such interventions are conducted responsibly and ethically.
