Gender-affirming care ends Friday at Nationwide Children's Hospital
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Starting Friday, Nationwide Children's Hospital patients can no longer receive gender-affirming prescriptions like hormones and puberty blockers.
Why it matters: Gender-affirming health care is supported by major medical organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, which concur it's safe and potentially lifesaving.
The big picture: A growing number of states have restricted access to gender-affirming care in recent years — including Ohio.
- A state ban took effect over a year ago, though a legal debate over its constitutionality is making its way through the courts.
- Nationwide Children's Hospital joins several other hospital systems across the U.S. in limiting care this year amid pressure from the federal government.
Catch up quick: The local hospital announced its decision earlier this month, "in order to proactively plan and support our providers and patients in a rapidly changing regulatory environment," according to a statement.
- "The hospital will be working with affected patients to end their prescriptions, always with patient safety as a top priority," it continues.
- Patients can still receive "behavioral health services, and any other needed healthcare."
By the numbers: The statement didn't say how many patients would be affected by the change, and hospital spokesperson Katelyn Scott declined further comment.
- An estimated 3% of Ohio youth are transgender.
Between the lines: Ohio's ban allows for children already receiving gender-affirming care to continue if their doctor deems it "medically harmful" to stop.
- But prescriptions are ending for all Nationwide Children's Hospital patients — including those over 18, according to news reports.
What they're saying: The 2024 ban's primary sponsor, Rep. Gary Click (R-Vickery), commended Nationwide Children's Hospital for "going above and beyond the requirements."
The other side: TransOhio executive director Dara Adkison tells Axios their group is "not surprised," but "furious" at the decision and calls it "non-legally mandated discrimination."
- Adkison has told affected families they are "not alone" and to reach out for support.
- "No kid anywhere deserves to be stigmatized and/or targeted, and trans youth are just kids."
What we're watching: Opponents' challenge of the state ban is being heard by the Ohio Supreme Court.