Nationwide Children’s hospital Halts Gender-Affirming Care Following Supreme Court Ruling
COLUMBUS, OH - Nationwide Children’s Hospital has discontinued the provision of gender-affirming care for minors, following recent legal developments upholding restrictions on such treatments in Ohio. The hospital announced it will continue to support patients and families through behavioral health services and other necessary medical care.
The move comes after a series of court battles over House Bill 68, the 2023 ohio law banning gender-affirming care for individuals under 18. The law prohibits prescribing hormones, puberty blockers, or gender reassignment surgery to minors. It also prevents transgender girls and women from participating in female sports.
Initially blocked by an appeals court in March – which overruled a Franklin County judge’s decision allowing the law to take effect in 2024 – the ban was reinstated by the Ohio Supreme Court in April while the legal challenge continued. Attorney General Dave yost appealed the appeals court decision to the state’s highest court.Further bolstering support for the ban, the U.S. Supreme Court in june upheld a similar Tennessee law restricting gender-affirming care for minors. This ruling was viewed optimistically by Ohio Republicans, with Yost calling it “great news.”
The Ohio Supreme Court is currently scheduled to decide on the constitutionality of house Bill 68. Despite the ongoing legal proceedings, Nationwide Children’s Hospital has ceased offering the prohibited medical interventions.