01/03/2024

OPPA applauds Gov. Mike DeWine for vetoing HB 68 on transgender medical care

The OPPA applauds Governor Mike DeWine for vetoing House Bill 68, legislation that would have restricted the medical care for transgender minors and would have banned transgender girls from female sports. Legislation that denies transgender youth access to gender-affirming care exposes vulnerable youth to marginalization, exacerbates existing health disparities, facilitates risky behaviors, and leads to preventable deaths. Transgender youth quite often have co-occuring anxiety and depression and they experience higher rates of suicide ideation.

The OPPA does not believe that anyone should be prevented from accessing gender-affirming treatments provided according to best practices defined by medical experts in the field. We stand with our medical colleagues in the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists (AACAP) who have official position statements on medical care for transgender youth. 

The transgender population endures unique health challenges that may be compounded by anti-transgender policies. The Ohio Psychiatric Physicians Association (OPPA) strongly opposes any efforts - legal, legislative, and otherwise - to block access to these critical mental health and medical interventions for this vulnerable population.

Further, the OPPA opposes legislation that infringes on the matter or breadth of information exchanged within the patient physician relationship because of the potential harm it can cause to the health of the individual, family, and community.