Ohio's #transgender youth ban passed committee.
It mandates "gender exploratory therapy," (conversion therapy) and bans medical care.
The new bill demands that to even receive MENTAL healthcare, a therapist must "screen" for causes of being trans. Here are the proposed "causes":
- ADHD
- Autism
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Physical, Mental, and Emotional Abuse
- Trauma
- "Any other mental condition"
#lgbtq
https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/ohio-trans-ban-progresses-nonexistent
@Graci The American Psychological Assn and the American Psychiatric Assn have both denounced "conversion therapy" as harmful and unethical.
None of this BS here is evidence-based. As a mental health professional, I would lose my license for engaging in this due to the evidence it is harmful, the recommendations that gender affirming case is helpful, and my ethical obligation to do no harm.
#mentalhealth
https://www.psychiatry.org/getattachment/3d23f2f4-1497-4537-b4de-fe32fe8761bf/Position-Conversion-Therapy.pdf
#health
#politics
Exactly.
It shouldn't be possible to make laws that are in clear opposition to established medical best practice.
@tyghebright @Graci I'm in the process of writing a letter to editors of APA & AMA publications.
These laws aren't science-driven or in best interests of patients.
In some cases, they'd actually require state med boards to take away licenses of those who violate them.
Because one purpose of licensing is to protect public from harmful, unscientific or incompetent care, that means these laws would require Boards to condone quackery- which defeats purpose of licensing.
#healthcare
#politics
I'd be willing to bet most of these laws contradict laws that are already in place about healthcare and practitioner licensing.
Professional organizations really do need to step up. Here in Texas, they haven't done enough to protect their members, much less to protect patients.
I know a couple of local doctors who provided pediatric care to trans kids have left the Texas.
They were afraid that even if they stopped treating trans kids, they'd be charged with abuse. And they tried for months to find ways to continue treating their patients, off the books, but were getting death threats.
@tyghebright
💔 that's an unacceptable status quo. How terrible for both physicians and patients.
Some orgs came out w policy statements but like you say, it needs to go further in terms of things like advocacy & litigation support for those caught in the type of situation you describe. Broad public health interventions to educate public also important so people feel informed & empowered abt what's going on.
#healthcare
#ethics
@tyghebright @Graci I bet you're right Tyghe. It's probably going to come down to knock-down drag-out messy battle.
Tim Snyder in book On Tyranny, talks abt movement twd autocracy & importance of professional medical, legal, etc organizations stepping fwd to resist actions that threaten rights. Been such an all-out assault on evidence-based trans medical/mental health care, abortion care & pub health measures such as those related to covid mitigation measures.
Done rant...
#health
#politics