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[00:00:00] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Since you bring [00:00:01] it up, why don't we just start there? [00:00:03] Dr. Verma, I wasn't sure I understood [00:00:05] your answer to Senator Moody a moment [00:00:07] ago. Do Do you think that men can get [00:00:08] pregnant? [00:00:11] >> I hesitated there because I wasn't sure [00:00:13] where the conversation was going or what [00:00:15] the goal was. I mean, I do take care of [00:00:18] patients with different identities. I [00:00:19] take care of many women. I take care of [00:00:21] people with different identities. Um, [00:00:23] and so that's where I paused, I think. [00:00:25] Um, yeah, I wasn't sure where you were [00:00:28] going with that. Well, the the goal is [00:00:30] the truth. So, can men get pregnant? [00:00:32] >> Again, the reason I paused there is I [00:00:35] I'm not really sure what the goal of the [00:00:37] question. [00:00:37] >> The goal is just to establish a [00:00:38] biological reality. You just said a [00:00:40] moment ago that science and evidence [00:00:42] should control, not politics. [00:00:45] >> So, let's just test that proposition. [00:00:46] Can men get pregnant? [00:00:48] >> I take care of people with many [00:00:50] identities, but um can men get pregnant? [00:00:52] >> Many women that can get pregnant. I do [00:00:55] take care of people that don't identify [00:00:57] as women that [00:00:58] >> can can men get pregnant. [00:01:01] >> Again, as I'm saying, [00:01:02] >> let me just let me just remind you what [00:01:03] you testified to a moment ago. Science [00:01:05] and evidence should control, not [00:01:07] politics. [00:01:08] >> So, should can men get pregnant? [00:01:11] >> You're a doctor. [00:01:12] >> Science and evidence should guide [00:01:14] medicine. I [00:01:15] >> do. Science and evidence tell us that [00:01:17] men can get pregnant, biological men, [00:01:19] can they get pregnant? [00:01:20] >> I also think yes no questions like this [00:01:22] are a political tool and I guess no [00:01:24] questions are about the truth, doctor. [00:01:26] Let's not make a mockery of this [00:01:27] proceeding. This is about science and [00:01:29] evidence. And I'm asking you, you know, [00:01:31] the United States Supreme Court just [00:01:32] heard arguments yesterday at great [00:01:34] length on this question. This is not a [00:01:37] hypothetical question. This is not [00:01:38] theoretical that affects real people in [00:01:40] their real lives. And you're here as an [00:01:42] expert called by the other side as an [00:01:44] expert. And you've been telling us that [00:01:47] you that you follow, right? You're a [00:01:49] doctor and you follow the science and [00:01:51] the evidence. So, I just want to know [00:01:53] based on the science, can men get [00:01:55] pregnant? [00:01:57] >> That's a yes or no question. It really [00:01:59] is. I think [00:02:00] >> I think you're trying to reduce the [00:02:02] complexity of a lot. [00:02:03] >> I'm not I'm trying to get It's not [00:02:05] complex. I'm trying to get to an answer [00:02:07] and I'm trying to test frankly your [00:02:08] veracity [00:02:10] as a medical professional and as a [00:02:12] scientist. Can men get pregnant? [00:02:15] >> I think you're also conflating male male [00:02:18] with [00:02:18] >> No, I'm not conflating male and female. [00:02:20] are two different things. There's [00:02:22] biological men and there's biological [00:02:24] women. And I want to know, can men get [00:02:27] pregnant? [00:02:28] >> What you were talking about is biolog [00:02:32] biological males. Um, [00:02:34] >> this isn't hard, doctor. Can men get [00:02:36] pregnant? Yes or no? [00:02:39] >> Megan, I would be more than happy to [00:02:41] have a conversation with you that is not [00:02:44] coming from a place of trying to be [00:02:46] polarized and pushing. [00:02:48] >> I'm not trying to be polarizing. I'm [00:02:49] trying to ask I I think it is [00:02:51] extraordinary that we are here in [00:02:53] hearing about science and about women [00:02:57] and for the record it's women who get [00:02:59] pregnant not men. [00:03:00] >> It also [00:03:01] >> we are here about the safety of women [00:03:03] and science [00:03:05] that shows that this abortion drug [00:03:09] causes adverse health events in 11% of [00:03:13] cases. That's 22 times greater than the [00:03:16] FDA label. Another fact you haven't [00:03:18] acknowledged. And yet you won't even [00:03:20] acknowledge the basic reality that [00:03:23] biological men don't get pregnant. [00:03:25] There's a difference between biological [00:03:27] men and biological women. I I just I [00:03:29] don't know how we can take you seriously [00:03:32] and your claims to be a a person of [00:03:34] science if you won't level with this on [00:03:37] this basic issue. I thought we were past [00:03:39] all of this. Frankly, I I I can't [00:03:40] believe we're still here talking about [00:03:43] this. I am a person of science and I'm [00:03:45] also someone here who's here to [00:03:47] represent the complex experiences of my [00:03:50] patients and I don't think polarized [00:03:52] languages language or questions serve [00:03:55] that goal. I don't think they serve the [00:03:57] American people. [00:03:58] >> It is not polarizing to say that there [00:04:00] is a scientific difference between men [00:04:02] and women. And I want this to be clear [00:04:03] and for the record. It is not polarizing [00:04:05] to say that women are a biological [00:04:08] reality and should be treated and [00:04:10] protected as such. That is not [00:04:12] polarizing. That is truth. It is also, [00:04:14] by the way, the United States [00:04:16] Constitution, which offers unique [00:04:18] protections to women in a variety of [00:04:20] circumstances as women. And your refusal [00:04:24] to recognize women as women and men as [00:04:26] men is deeply corrosive to science, to [00:04:30] public trust, and yes, to constitutional [00:04:32] protections for women as women. And I [00:04:35] just I I I think it's extraordinary that [00:04:38] you would sit here in advance a [00:04:40] political agenda that has been [00:04:41] thoroughly discredited and rejected by [00:04:43] the American people in this forum. And I [00:04:46] I'm glad we had this exchange because it [00:04:48] is exceptionally clarifying. It is also [00:04:50] in many ways quite depressing. I see [00:04:52] that my time is nearly expired. I just [00:04:53] want to thank the other witnesses for [00:04:55] being here. Thank you for protecting [00:04:56] women and children. Thank you for your [00:04:58] valiant efforts. Thank you for following [00:05:00] the science. And thank you, Mr. chairman [00:05:02] for this hearing.