Two university-affiliated hospitals in Missouri, the Washington University Transgender Center and the University of Missouri Health Care, have ceased providing gender-affirming care for transgender children, even to current patients, in response to a new state law (SB 49) that restricts such care for minors.
The law, which went into effect on August 28, prohibits medical professionals from performing gender transition surgeries or prescribing cross-sex hormones or puberty blockers for individuals under 18.
While the law doesn’t apply to minors already receiving treatment before August 28, the hospitals cited potential legal liabilities for continuing care.
This move has sparked criticism from LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, who argue that these hospitals are prioritizing politics over patient care, potentially leaving vulnerable youth without necessary support.
