Oppose HB2085: Protect Medical Autonomy for Gender Dysphoria Treatment

I urge you to oppose House Bill 2085, scheduled for consideration in the House Health and Human Services Committee this Thursday. This legislation would prohibit medical personnel from prescribing puberty-blocking hormones to anyone under 18 for the treatment of gender dysphoria, inserting political interference into the patient-provider relationship. Puberty-blocking hormones serve a critical medical purpose by providing adolescents and their families time to explore gender identity, access psychosocial supports, develop coping skills, and establish appropriate treatment goals. These medications are not permanent interventions but rather create space for thoughtful decision-making during a developmentally complex period. Medical professionals with specialized training in adolescent health and gender dysphoria are best positioned to determine appropriate treatment plans, not legislators. HB2085, sponsored by Representative Lisa Fink and five other Republican colleagues, targets the very healthcare providers and community support systems that families rely on during challenging times. By amending Arizona Revised Statutes Title 32, Article 3230, this bill would criminalize evidence-based medical care and force families to either forgo treatment or seek care out of state, creating additional financial and emotional burdens. The bill represents government overreach into private medical decisions that should remain between patients, families, and their doctors. Medical professionals already follow established protocols and ethical guidelines when treating minors with gender dysphoria. These decisions involve comprehensive evaluations, mental health assessments, and ongoing monitoring. Politicians lack the clinical expertise to override these individualized treatment plans. I ask that you vote against HB2085 in committee this Thursday. Arizona families deserve access to the full range of medical care recommended by their healthcare providers without legislative interference. Protecting the doctor-patient relationship and ensuring that medical decisions remain grounded in clinical expertise rather than political ideology should be our priority.