Arkansas Senate approves limits on gender-affirming care for minors

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

A bill passed by the Arkansas Senate on Tuesday would open physicians up to litigation if they offer gender-affirming care to children.

Senate Bill 199 would give people who received gender-affirming care as a child, including hormones and puberty blockers, a 15-year window to sue their physician.

Its sponsor, Sen. Gary Stubblefield, R-Branch, said the law would protect young children from the effects of irreversible surgeries and hormone treatments. However, no gender-affirmation surgeries are performed on minors in the state of Arkansas, and young children are not eligible for gender-affirming medical treatments.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-02-21/arkansas-senate-approves-restrictions-on-gender-affirming-care-for-minors

Michael Hibblen/KUAR News

Lawmakers voted Tuesday to advance a bill that would allow transgender patients to sue their doctors.