Florida Board of Medicine

The bill now will go to the House, where it is expected to pass.

The House version of the proposal would extend the ban to children already receiving treatments. It would also stop insurance companies from covering gender-affirming surgeries for transgender adults.

Florida doctors could lose their medical licenses if they order puberty blockers, hormone therapy or surgery for minors diagnosed with gender dysphoria, under a Florida Board of Medicine rule that took effect.

The bill, among other things, would make it a felony for doctors or other health-care professionals to order puberty blockers, hormone treatment or surgery for transgender minors.

They are the latest in a series of moves by lawmakers and Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration aimed at transgender people.

Puberty blockers and hormone replacement therapy will be banned for minors, even during clinical trails.

There are procedural steps two state medical boards have to complete before the rules are finalized. But there have already been reports of disruptions to care, and some transgender youth and their families say the stress is traumatizing.

The proceedings against Dr. Joseph Dorn, who was one of the first Florida doctors eligible to order medical marijuana for patients, have been closely watched in the state’s medical cannabis community.

The policy backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis and Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo relies on one key statistic that many experts question.

The rules approved Friday would prohibit doctors from prescribing puberty-blocking, hormone and hormone “antagonist” treatments for patients under age 18. The rules would not apply to children already receiving such treatments.

Members of the Florida Board of Medicine and Florida Board of Osteopathic Medicine joint committee voted on a draft rule that would restrict doctors from providing treatments to trans people under age 18.

A joint committee of Florida's Board of Medicine and Board of Osteopathic Medicine will discuss a draft rule that could restrict doctors from providing transgender treatments to people younger than 18.