Bill > HB1872

This bill establishes a new legal pathway for individuals to sue healthcare professionals if they suffer harm from certain medical procedures, specifically those intended to align a person's identity with a sex different from their birth sex or to treat discomfort related to such discordance, or if puberty blockers or hormones are prescribed. The core of the bill allows a civil lawsuit for damages, including attorney fees and court costs, if the consent for these procedures was obtained, in whole or in part, through coercion by the healthcare professional. Coercion is defined by existing state law, and a "healthcare professional" is broadly defined to include licensed individuals and facilities regulated by the state's health department or related agencies. A "medical procedure" under this bill includes surgical interventions and the prescription or administration of puberty blockers or hormones, but explicitly excludes therapies for congenital defects, precocious puberty, disease, or physical injury. The bill also defines "minor" as anyone under 18, "person" as an individual 18 or older, and "sex" as immutable biological characteristics. Importantly, the lawsuit must be filed within 30 years of a minor reaching adulthood or within 10 years of a minor's death, overriding some standard time limits for bringing legal actions. This legislation is intended to address situations where individuals may have felt pressured into medical interventions related to gender identity.