The Alaska Medical Board on Friday unanimously advanced draft language that would treat any chemical or surgical intervention to “treat gender dysphoria or facilitate gender transition” in minors as unprofessional conduct. While 27 state legislatures have already enacted legislative protections against gender transition procedures for minors, this is the first serious attempt in The Last Frontier.
“Protecting youth means acting with compassion, but also with caution. I think that our first duty is to do no harm, and irreversible choices should wait until they can be made with an adult’s understanding,” declared medical board member and neurosurgeon David Paulson. He added, “we must recognize our duty to protect them from medical and surgical interventions that risk permanently altering their bodies or futures before they’re fully capable of mature consent.”
The draft language was proposed by board member Dr. Matt Heilala, whom the board assigned to draft the statement at its June meeting. “Board members are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Legislature,” according to the Alaska Commerce Department. Heilala was one of five doctors on ...
