Alaska Politicizes Transgender Care, Putting Patients and Their Doctors at Risk

An Anchorage podiatrist is leading the charge to prevent Alaskan doctors from providing gender-affirming care for patients under the age of 18.For Matt Heilala, DPM (Doctor of Podiatric Medicine), a member of the state’s medical licensing board and one of eight Republicans running for governor, any medical professional who tries to “treat gender dysphoria or facilitate gender transition” in a minor should face charges of unprofessional conduct.

Heilala’s fellow board members share his position. In a statement sent to the state attorney general for review, the board proposed that anyone providing such care would be “grossly negligent and therefore subject to disciplinary sanctions.” After the review, the public will have 30 days to comment on the proposal before the board issues its final decision.

Alaskan doctors who work with underage patients experiencing gender dysphoria will need to tread carefully once the board approves the rule — as they seem inclined to do. As ever, they will prioritize the well-being of their patients and follow medical best practices, but they will also need to act within the boundaries set by the state’s medical licensing board. The Professional License Defense Team at the LLF National Law Firm can help. Call us at 888-535-3686 or send us a message online.

Politicizing Medical Care

Although another member of the board — David Wilson, a cargo pilot — insists the proposed rule isn’t politically motivated, it certainly does capture the conservative zeitgeist nationwide. Texas Governor Greg Abbott, for instance, himself no stranger to political ambition, has pushed for policies that could land the parents of transgender kids in jail for child abuse.

And it certainly is not motivated by science, which understands gender as a spectrum rather than a binary, or the medical community, which recognizes extreme gender dysphoria as a potentially life-threatening condition. Gender-affirming care can include hormone therapies, counseling, puberty blocking medication, and, in some cases, surgery.

Opponents of the proposed change note that none of the doctors who sit on the Alaska licensing board is involved in providing transgender care.

The LLF National Law Firm Team Can Help

The Professional License Defense Team at LLF National Law Firm helps doctors and other medical professionals nationwide navigate the rules and procedures of state licensing boards. For Alaska doctors facing new restrictions on treatment options for transgender minors or minors experiencing any kind of gender dysphoria, the medical landscape is becoming a minefield.

Our team stands ready to:

• Advise you on your legal risks

  We’ll examine your treatment plans in light of the medical board’s rules on transgender care, consider the role of applicable federal and state anti-discrimination laws (Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, for example), and help you arrive at a clear understanding of where you might be at risk.

•  Help you defend your medical license

  If the Alaska state medical board accuses you of “unprofessional conduct,” we’ll guide you through the investigation process, ensure the board follows due process and respects your rights every step of the way (including the appeals process, if it comes to that), and see that your case is presented clearly and compellingly. 

Contact our offices today and tell us about your case. Call 888-535-3686, or send us a message online.