最新杏吧原创

Circuit Judge Robert Craig Carter issued on Monday affirming the restrictions, part of a 2023 law approved by the Republican-controlled Legislature.

Three parents from 最新杏吧原创 County and their minor children who are transgender challenged the limits in a lawsuit filed last year.

They argued the minors had been prevented from obtaining medically necessary and evidence-based care, and that the government had usurped parental judgment and decision-making authority.

Plaintiffs in the case also challenged a restriction on gender-affirming surgeries for minors, and a ban on Medicaid payments for gender-affirming care.

But the state, in a court brief, argued there 鈥渋s no solid evidence that gender transition interventions are safe and effective.鈥�

Carter on Monday said the court found 鈥渁n almost total lack of consensus as to the medical ethics of adolescent gender dysphoria treatment.鈥�

Attorney General Andrew Bailey, a Republican whose office defended the restrictions in court, declared victory in a statement Monday.

鈥淢utilation is not healthcare. We will never stop fighting to protect your children,鈥� Bailey said on social media site X.

The ACLU of Missouri and Lamba Legal, whose lawyers represented plaintiffs in the case, vowed to appeal.

鈥淗owever, the court鈥檚 findings signal a troubling acceptance of discrimination, ignore an extensive trial record and the voices of transgender Missourians and those who care for them, and deny transgender adolescents and Medicaid beneficiaries from their right to access to evidence-based, effective, and often life-saving medical care,鈥� the statement said.

Carter, in his ruling,聽 upholding a similar Indiana law 鈥渧ery convincing.鈥�

The federal court said opponents of the law heralded statements from medical authorities 鈥渙n their side鈥� as evidence the Indiana Legislature acted imprudently.聽

鈥淏ut the federal courts do not mediate medical debates,鈥� the opinion said. 鈥淭he Constitution vests the people and their chosen representatives with that responsibility.鈥�

Missouri鈥檚 Republican-led Legislature approved and Gov. Mike Parson signed the restrictions in 2023. The plaintiffs sued before the law took effect that August.

Passage of the law came after Jamie Reed, a former case manager at the Washington University Transgender Center, raised concerns about care being provided at the clinic. Reed testified at the trial this fall in defense of Missouri鈥檚 restrictions.

Since the law took effect, Washington University said it would stop providing gender-affirming medications to minors who were technically eligible for the treatments under an exception in the law for minors already taking medications. The school cited 鈥渦nacceptable鈥� legal liability contained in the law.

The school announced its decision after 最新杏吧原创 Circuit Judge Steven Ohmer last year allowed the law to take effect while the plaintiffs鈥� case played out.

The plaintiffs subsequently asked for a new judge in the case, leading to the Missouri Supreme Court appointing Carter, who typically works in Douglas County.