Alaska’s Medical Board Moves to Ban Gender-Affirming Care for Trans Minors
https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/alaskas-medical-board-moves-to-ban
>An Alaskan podiatrist is leading the State Medical Board’s efforts to take away life-saving health care from transgender youth.
>The Board unanimously approved a proposal last week spearheaded by Dr. Matt Heilala, of Anchorage, to move towards eradicating gender-affirming health care for trans minors by reclassifying such treatments—such as puberty blockers, hormone treatments and surgeries—as “unprofessional conduct.” If finalized, this would also give the board broad discretion over the enforcement and “sanctions” doled out, such as fines or loss of licensure. No such restrictions are proposed for the care of cisgender people.
>The rule must still undergo a legal review followed by a 30-day public comment period, after which a final vote would determine whether the provision will be enacted.
>“I think it will be pretty impactful,” Heilala told the Anchorage Daily News ahead of the vote. Heilala, a podiatrist, does not appear to have any clinical expertise in treating gender dysphoria. It is unclear whether the other five board members do, either. When Erin in the Morning requested information about whether any of the Board members—a general surgeon, a neurosurgeon, a cardiologist, a primary care physician, and a commercial pilot—had any experience serving trans patients, or had any professional training on gender dysphoria at all, a spokesperson declined to disclose due to “concerns with HIPAA.”
>An Alaskan podiatrist is leading the State Medical Board’s efforts to take away life-saving health care from transgender youth.
>The Board unanimously approved a proposal last week spearheaded by Dr. Matt Heilala, of Anchorage, to move towards eradicating gender-affirming health care for trans minors by reclassifying such treatments—such as puberty blockers, hormone treatments and surgeries—as “unprofessional conduct.” If finalized, this would also give the board broad discretion over the enforcement and “sanctions” doled out, such as fines or loss of licensure. No such restrictions are proposed for the care of cisgender people.
>The rule must still undergo a legal review followed by a 30-day public comment period, after which a final vote would determine whether the provision will be enacted.
>“I think it will be pretty impactful,” Heilala told the Anchorage Daily News ahead of the vote. Heilala, a podiatrist, does not appear to have any clinical expertise in treating gender dysphoria. It is unclear whether the other five board members do, either. When Erin in the Morning requested information about whether any of the Board members—a general surgeon, a neurosurgeon, a cardiologist, a primary care physician, and a commercial pilot—had any experience serving trans patients, or had any professional training on gender dysphoria at all, a spokesperson declined to disclose due to “concerns with HIPAA.”
