BREAKING: HHS to fix controversial transgender mandate New rule would align with science, protect patients, and respect medical doctors' judgment
Media Contact
Ryan Colby 202-349-7219 media@becketlaw.org
Additional Information
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Health and Human Services Department (HHS) proposed a new regulation today that protects patients, aligns with current medical research, and complies with rulings from two federal courts. A prior rule, issued in 2016, had required doctors to perform gender transition procedures on any patient, including a child, even if the doctor believed the procedure would be harmful. That rule was struck down in two different federal courts after it was challenged by nine states, several religious organizations, and an association of over 19,000 healthcare professionals. Today, HHS proposed bringing its regulations into compliance with those decisions and ensuring that the personal decision to undergo gender transition procedures is kept between patients and their doctors, free from government interference.
The following statement can be attributed to Lori Windham, senior counsel at Becket:
“The transgender mandate allowed the government to insert itself into the private, irreversible, and sensitive medical decisions. No wonder two courts ordered the government to change its ways. Now patients can be reassured knowing their doctors are free to follow their best medical judgment as well as the most accepted medical research, including research relied on by HHS medical experts themselves. This new rule follows medical consensus and common sense.”
Becket attorneys will hold a press call at 11:45 a.m. EST today at 646-876-9923 (pin: 930-944-5568) or join https://zoom.us/my/comms.line.external to discuss the new rule. Email questions in advance to: media@becketlaw.org.
More information can be found at www.transgendermandate.org.
For more information or to arrange an interview with a Becket attorney, please contact Ryan Colby at media@becketlaw.org or 202-349-7219. Interviews can be arranged in English, Chinese, French, German, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.