“A federal court ruled Friday that doctors and hospitals cannot be forced to perform gender mutilating surgeries, echoing a similar recent court ruling in a striking win for religious freedom. The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Catholic groups’ free exercise of religion in refusing to perform or insure so-called ‘gender transition’ procedures, citing a prior district court ruling in the same case which found that ‘intrusion upon the Catholic Plaintiffs’ exercise of religion is sufficient to show irreparable harm.’ Becket Law Senior Counsel Luke Goodrich remarked Friday, ‘Today’s ruling protects patients, aligns with current medical research, and ensures doctors aren’t forced to violate their religious beliefs and medical judgment. This is a victory for common-sense, conscience, and sound medical judgment. Gender-transition procedures not only go against many healthcare professionals’ religious beliefs but can be deeply harmful to patients.’ Indeed, many medical experts are decrying gender ‘transition’ mutilation surgeries and cross-sex hormones as unsafe and even as ‘child abuse.’ For example, the Florida Department of Health has noted there is ‘a lack of conclusive evidence’ for ‘gender transitioning’ and ‘the potential for long-term, irreversible effects,’ and noted that systematic reviews on hormonal interventions ‘show a trend of low-quality evidence, small sample sizes, and medium to high risk of bias.’ Detransitioners are also increasingly speaking out about their deep regrets over their attempts to ‘switch’ their sex and its physically and psychologically harmful consequences.”
LifeSiteNews, Dec. 10, 2022
