Medical groups subpoenaed by House committee for ‘gender-affirming care’ for minors
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – A House committee voted to subpoena two medical groups that promote “gender-affirming care” for minors.
Chair of the Health and Human Services Committee Rep. Randy Fine, R-South Brevard County, signed subpoenas to the Florida Psychiatric Society and the Florida Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics Monday.
The subpoena requires the groups provide the records by May 4, a day before the Regular Session is scheduled to end.
Fine said the documents are “demanding production of all materials justifying their recommendation that castrating and mutilating children is ‘gender affirming care.'”
“Gender-affirming care” refers to gender dysphoria treatments including sex-reassignment surgeries, puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones.
The Health and Human Services Committee voted to allow Fine to subpoena the groups Monday.
“We have a situation here that affects the minors in this state, affects our children. A situation that in my opinion is child abuse. And when we have this type of situation, it’s our responsibility as human beings to leave no stone uncovered when we’re trying to find answers,” Rep. Adam Anderson, R-Palm Harbor, said in committee.
House Speaker Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast, authorized a House committee to investigate whether there was rigorous medical consideration in the endorsement of “gender-affirming care” standards for minors.
Renner said the committee is allowed to investigate “whether the integrity of the medical profession has been compromised by a radical gender ideology that stands to cause permanent physical and mental harm to children and adolescents.”
The move comes as Florida Republicans are passing legislation to ban certain gender dysphoria treatments including sex reassignment surgeries and medications for minors.
“What precedent are we setting by issuing the subpoena? Especially after we’ve already taken the steps of the bills that address this issue going through committee and then passing it on the House floor,” Rep. Ashley Gantt, D-Miami, said in committee.
Renner’s letter details how Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration adopted a rule excluding certain gender dysphoria treatments from Medicaid coverage.
A lawsuit has been filed against the rule, where he said the plaintiffs rely on standards of care and guidelines for “gender-affirming care.”
Renner claimed the state served subpoenas to entities that endorse “gender-affirming care” for minors to determine whether the medical consensus was a result of an “intellectually rigorous and open process.”
“Those entities-including WPATI-I, the Endocrine Society, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Psychiatric Association -responded by fighting vigorously to avoid any meaningful inquiry or disclosure,” Renner’s letter said.
