- Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey issued new regulations Thursday severely limiting gender-affirming care for both adults and youth. The order institutes a three-year waiting period for medical intervention and requires psychological or psychiatric assessment. The assessments must consist of at least 15 sessions over 18 months, at least 10 of which must be with the same therapist, to “explore the developmental influences on the patient’s current gender identity and to determine, among other things, whether the person has any mental health comorbidities.” Those who transition would be required to get medical follow-ups for 15 years. (Article here)
- The Justice Department said it would ask for emergency relief from the Supreme Court after a federal appeals court did not fully overturn a decision from a Texas district court judge that suspended the FDA’s approval of the abortion pill mifepristone, sending another crucial abortion case to the court less than one year after it overturned of Roe v. Wade. Meanwhile, Gov. Ron DeSantis quietly signed legislation Thursday that would ban most abortions after six weeks in Florida, a move that will weigh on his likely 2024 presidential bid. The Florida law bans abortions at six weeks but creates new exemptions for rape and incest up to 15 weeks of pregnancy. It does not change existing exemptions for life and the health of the mother up to 15 weeks. (Articles here and here)
April 14, 2023
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