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Senate Judiciary Committee advances SB 199, a private malpractice cause for gender‑related care for minors
Summary
The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced SB 199 after two hours of testimony. The bill would create a private civil cause of action and extend statutes of limitation for certain gender‑related medical treatments for minors; medical experts and advocates sharply disputed the need and likely effects.
Little Rock — The Senate Judiciary Committee voted by voice to advance Senate Bill 199 after more than two hours of testimony from physicians, researchers, advocates and parents about whether the measure would protect children or unduly restrict medical practice.
Senator Stubblefield, sponsor of SB 199, told the committee the bill creates a private malpractice cause of action so children ‘‘who have undergone physical, medical gender treatments as minors should be able to sue doctors and hospitals that perform the treatment.’’ He framed the measure as a child‑protection and accountability tool and described what he called irreversible harms from some interventions.
Opponents — including clinicians who treat gender‑dysphoric youth and civil‑liberties advocates — disputed the premise that the bill is needed. Dr. Janet Cathy, an OB‑GYN who…
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