I rise today to say as clearly as I possibly can: Politicians have no role in the medical exam rooms. As a physician who spent 20 years caring for patients, I know responsible care requires building trust and understanding between a patient, their parent, and their physician. I never consulted a politician, and no doctor ever should. At a time when our country is facing a critical physician shortage, Republicans are threatening them with going to prison simply for providing evidence-based care. This legislation fundamentally breaks a critical trust between patients, their parents, and their physicians, pulling them into a dangerous political crusade that targets our vulnerable transgender youth. I offered two amendments: One to ensure no doctor can be imprisoned for providing evidence-based care and one to provide parents with protection when supporting their children's health. Republicans refused a vote on both. We should be empowering doctors to take care of their patients, not locking them up. I will be relentless to keep politicians out of the exam room.
Editor's note · Context
Addressing the role of politicians in medical care and legislation affecting transgender youth.
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