H.R.653 - Protect Minors from Medical Malpractice Act of 2025 (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R.653, the "Protect Minors from Medical Malpractice Act of 2025," aims to protect children from medical malpractice related to gender transition procedures. It establishes a private right of action for individuals who undergo such procedures as minors and experience harm. The bill also protects medical providers' freedom of conscience and prohibits federal funding to states that require medical practitioners to perform gender transition procedures on minors.
Expected Effects
If enacted, this bill would allow individuals who underwent gender transition procedures as minors to sue medical practitioners for damages. It could also lead to states reconsidering policies mandating such procedures, given the potential loss of federal funding. The bill could significantly reduce the availability of gender-affirming care for minors.
Potential Benefits
- May protect children from potentially harmful medical procedures.
- Provides legal recourse for individuals who regret gender transition procedures performed as minors.
- Preserves the freedom of conscience for medical providers who object to performing gender transition procedures.
- Could lead to more cautious and thorough evaluations before gender transition procedures are performed on minors.
- Addresses concerns about the long-term effects of gender transition procedures on minors.
Most Benefited Areas:
Potential Disadvantages
- May limit access to necessary medical care for transgender and gender-diverse youth.
- Could lead to discrimination against transgender individuals.
- May infringe on the rights of parents to make medical decisions for their children.
- Could create a chilling effect on medical practitioners providing gender-affirming care.
- The definition of "gender-transition procedure" may be overly broad and could encompass legitimate medical treatments.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill's constitutionality is debatable. While it aims to protect minors, it could potentially infringe upon individual liberties and equal protection under the law, raising concerns under the 14th Amendment. The bill also touches upon the Commerce Clause (Article I, Section 8) by regulating medical procedures that may involve interstate commerce. The potential impact on parental rights and the right to make medical decisions also raises constitutional questions.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).