Republicans want to jail pharmacists as two new bills targeting gender-affirming care advance - LGBTQ Nation

"Two bills in Florida advanced out of committee last week that would give the state attorney general more power to investigate and press felony charges against health care professionals who provide gender-affirming care in the state, including against therapists who discuss gender issues with minor patients and pharmacists who fill prescriptions that may be used as gender-affirming care."

"Last week, the Criminal Justice Subcommittee passed H.B. 743 in a 12-5 vote, Florida Politics reports. The bill would allow state Attorney General James Uthmeier to sue health care practitioners for up to $100,000 per violation for providing gender-affirming care to minors. Mainstream medical organizations support gender-affirming care for trans kids because it has been shown to be life-saving and safe."

"S.B. 1010 would make it a felony for doctors, school counselors, or psychologists to advise minors on gender-affirming care or "aid or abet" another health care professional in helping minors get gender-affirming care. The bill gained near-unanimous support from the state senate's Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs, according to the Florida Phoenix. If that version of the bill passes, medical professionals could get a $100,000 fine per violation and up to five years in prison."

Two Florida bills would broaden state authority to investigate and criminally penalize health care professionals involved in gender-affirming care for minors. H.B. 743 passed a Criminal Justice Subcommittee vote and would let the state attorney general sue practitioners for up to $100,000 per violation for providing gender-affirming care to minors. S.B. 1010 would criminalize doctors, school counselors, and psychologists who advise minors or "aid or abet" others in obtaining gender-affirming care, carrying fines and up to five years in prison. The measures target therapists, pharmacists, and other clinicians, while mainstream medical groups describe gender-affirming care for trans youth as life-saving and safe. Florida previously banned gender-affirming care for minors in 2023.

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