TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – During a hearing Thursday in a suit against the state of Florida over its law that bans gender-affirming healthcare for minors, U.S. District Court Judge Robert Hinkle flatly stated that Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis repeatedly spread false information claiming that doctors were mutilating children’s genitals as the reason to enact the law.

The Associated Press reported Judge Hinkle told Mohammad Jazil, a lawyer for the state, the law was sold as defending children from mutilation when it is actually about preventing trans children from getting health care.

“When I’m analyzing the governor’s motivation, what should I make of these statements?” Hinkle asked. “This seems to be more than just hyperbole.”

  • @LEDZeppelin
    link
    -210 months ago

    If doctors were ethical, we wouldn’t have red states running rabid on women’s rights to their own bodies.

    Not one medical organization has threatened to stop serving everyone until deep red states like Texas, Oklahoma, Idaho etc. leave women’s healthcare out of right wing politics.

    • @captainlezbian
      link
      2710 months ago

      But some red states have begun losing entire obstetrics departments. It’s becoming a real crisis.

      There are serious ethical questions of “do we let people die because their representatives hurt people in ways that don’t affect this directly?” Where gynecologists are fleeing people are dying, maternal mortality is up among other issues.

    • Decoy321
      link
      1010 months ago

      This is absolutely untrue victim blaming. Please stop.

      • @LEDZeppelin
        link
        -210 months ago

        Please don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying every doctor is unethical. That’s why I specifically mentioned medical professional organizations - you know, who are supposed to be the voice of medical professionals. If you are aware of such a dialogue going on within a medical professional organization where doctors are revolting against this unethical right wing attacks on women’s rights, please do share.

        I really hope the ethical doctors collectively form a strong force to back up women’s voice in this fight. So far I am very sad that we haven’t heard any.