Florida Rule Prohibiting Puberty Blockers, Cross-Sex Surgeries for Minors Passes

Published Oct. 28, 2022, 1:45 p.m. ET | Updated Oct. 28, 2022

Florida Board of Medicine.
Florida Board of Medicine.

ORLANDO (FLV) – A joint legislative committee approved a rule that would prohibit minors from receiving puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgery to treat gender dysphoria.

The Florida Board of Medicine and the Florida Board of Osteopathic Medicine Joint Rules/Legislative Committee approved the rule during a meeting Friday. In the meeting, board members said the rule would move forward to the Board of Medicine and Board of Osteopathic Medicine for final approval.

The prospective rule applies to those under the age of 18. However, minors currently undergoing treatment with puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones would be allowed to continue if they were part of an IRB approved clinical trial at a university affiliated center, according to board members at the meeting.

The five-hour meeting began Friday with experts speaking in support and against those treatments for minors. Those against the treatments discussed the poor quality of research and studies while those supporting the treatments said the research backs up these treatments for gender dysphoria.

Dr. Michael Laidlaw outlined to board members how cross-sex hormones can lead to an increased risk of death due to cardiovascular disease, sexual dysfunction and infertility. He said a female who takes high doses of testosterone are at risk of high red blood cell counts, higher risk of breast cancer, and possible severe liver dysfunction.

“Some of these other problems will be permanent, like being on puberty blockers for a couple of years will cause permanent loss of bone density,” Laidlaw said. “There’s brain development, which occurs under the influence of sex hormones, which will be altered permanently and other such effects.”

Dr. Kristen Dayton is a board certified pediatrician whose clinical and research interests included transgender care. Dayton said she cared for more than 200 patients and said her recommendations are based on evidence-based standards. She said children and adolescents with gender dysphoria experience bullying, discrimination, and harassment that leads to increased risk for experiencing depression.

“There is no one-size-fits-all model of care,” Dayton said. “The guidelines and standards for gender affirming care are set based on scientific data and evidence and medical treatments necessary to treat the conditions of gender dysphoria.”

During the public comment period, several people shared their de-transitioning experiences and noted the irreversible effects of the treatments they received to transition.

“After nearly four years of being on testosterone, I decided to de-transition and accept my womanhood. My mental health improved exponentially,” one pregnant woman testified. “Three years later my menstrual cycle has still been irregular. I still have to shave my face daily and I struggle with hormonal acne.”

Other speakers included parents who supported their children identifying as transgender because of the risk of suicide.

“What you’re talking about is waiting till age 19,” one parent told board members. “Well, they won’t be here. This group commits suicide. They will not be here, so we need the medication, please.”

Florida Board of Medicine Member Nicholas Romanello proposed the rule, citing that the risks of the therapies outweigh the benefits. Three board members voted against the rule.

“I believe that based upon the testimony that we’ve heard this morning and the materials in the portal, that the risk of puberty suppressing therapies, cross-hormonal therapy and surgery, those risks outweigh the possible benefits and that there is a lack of consistent, reliable, scientific peer reviewed evidence concerning the efficacy and safety of such treatment,” Romanello said.

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