Florida Board of Osteopathic Medicine

The families of four children in St. Johns, Alachua, Duval and Orange counties say the rules implemented by the state's medical boards singles out minors and blocks them from obtaining medically necessary care.

Florida doctors could lose their medical licenses if they order puberty blockers, hormone therapy or surgery for minors diagnosed with gender dysphoria, under a Florida Board of Medicine rule that took effect.

Florida's medical boards moved forward with rules that would prevent doctors from providing such treatments to children. The bills would go further by placing a prohibition in state law.

Florida's medical boards refused to scrap a transgender treatment ban for minors, and the osteopathic panel removed an exception for clinical research trials at the request of the health department.

State medical boards will host a joint public hearing on Feb. 10 in Tallahassee. Teens and their families seeking transgender care say they are confused and anxious about proposed restrictions.

There are procedural steps two state medical boards have to complete before the rules are finalized. But there have already been reports of disruptions to care, and some families say the stress is traumatizing.

The board originally listed an incorrect email address where people can submit comment. The public now has until Dec. 28 to share feedback about the proposal, which would restrict access to gender-affirming care for youths.

The rules prohibit doctors from prescribing puberty-blocking, hormone and hormone “antagonist” treatments for patients under 18. The rules would not apply to children already receiving treatments.

Members of the Florida Board of Medicine and Board of Osteopathic Medicine voted on a draft rule that would ban doctors from providing gender-affirming treatments to people younger than 18.

Trans patients say social support and hormone treatments are improving their overall well-being. And contrary to what some state officials claim, doctors insist they are not performing surgeries on young kids.