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Virginia Democrat leaders have expressed concern that other states may seek to prosecute Virginia doctors who provide gender transition or abortion services to patients in other states.
On a strict party-line vote, Virginia democrat senators passed a bill to shield Virginia doctors who violate the law in other states.
Known as the Virginia Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Health Care Protection Act, Senate Bill 1098 passed 21-19 on February 3rd and was referred to the House Committee for Courts of Justice.
As other states have passed prohibitions on medical practices such as gender reassignment surgeries for minors, the bill’s main author Sen. Ghazala Hashmi expressed a need to shield Virginia health professionals who violate the laws of other states.
A New York doctor was recently indicted by a Louisiana grand jury for allegedly providing abortion pills that were forced on an unwilling minor child in Louisiana. New York Governor Kathy Hochul has refused to extradite Dr. Margaret Carpenter and signed a law similar to SB 1098. The illegal procedure was discovered when the unnamed minor experienced a medical emergency and had to be rushed to the hospital.
Even Louisiana Democrats have supported the prosecution, citing the state’s laws and children’s safety.
“You broke the law in the state of Louisiana and you ought to come down here and answer the charges,” said Louisiana District Attorney Tony Clayton, a Democrat. He found it “shocking” that New York would not extradite. The child in question was allegedly forced to unwillingly take abortion pills and then left alone during a medical crisis.
“The allegations in this case have nothing to do with reproductive health care, this is about coercion,” said Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill. “This is about forcing somebody to have an abortion who didn’t want one.”
Virginia Republicans have objected to SB 1098 and similar legislation, saying the laws thwart parental rights and provide doctors with avenues and incentives to thwart the laws in other states.
Virginia currently has some protection for doctors who perform abortions. SB 1098 would extend the protection to shield doctors who perform gender reassignment surgeries on minors.
Thousands of children have been prescribed hormone treatments throughout the United States with nearly 1000 mastectomies performed on teenagers from 2019-2021.
According to the White House and media, VCU Health and Children’s Hospital of Richmond have announced they have “suspended” gender transitioning treatments for minors. VCU has said they will explore “specific care options” to comply with federal regulations.
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