Fox Cities News

State Senator Rob Hutton and Representative Amanda Nedweski have introduced a bill aimed at providing legal recourse for individuals harmed by gender transition procedures or treatments received as minors. The legislation, announced today, addresses concerns over the long-term effects of medical interventions such as puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and surgeries on minors facing mental health challenges.

The proposed bill would allow those who experience harm from these interventions to seek civil compensation until they reach age 33. This provision acknowledges that the full impact of such treatments may not be evident until adulthood.

“This bill is ultimately about protecting kids by ensuring accountability for life-altering decisions made by others,” said Hutton. He highlighted the unknowns surrounding the long-term effects of these interventions and emphasized the increasing number of young people undergoing such procedures. “Children who are harmed by an irreversible gender transition procedure should have the same right to seek justice when they reach adulthood as any other patient who suffered harm.”

The bill also addresses risks like reduced bone density, cardiovascular complications, and impaired fertility while acknowledging other unknowns due to a lack of definitive long-term research. It includes safeguards for medical providers adhering to stringent due diligence standards before performing procedures and exceptions for medically necessary cases.

“This bill is not a mandate or a sanction. It simply ensures that children who were administered irreversible treatments and suffered long-term adverse consequences have legal options available to them as adults,” stated Hutton.