According to Wisconsin Rapids Tribune, the bill was introduced at the beginning of November by Republicans in the state legislature — Sen. Rob Hutton and Rep. Amanda Nedweski.
The law will open an avenue for civil action for young adults to sue regarding injuries sustained when they were a minor receiving gender-affirming health care. The health care provider will be held accountable for any injuries during gender transition procedures, and under the legislation, lawsuits could be filed until the treated individual reaches the age of 33.
“This legislation does not ban procedures, penalize providers or criticize anyone based on their identity,” said Hutton, regarding the bill. “It does protect children by creating a new level of accountability for medical practitioners while incentivizing them to follow widely recognized standards of due diligence.”
Nedweski affirmed that patients who are minors do not have much in the way of legal action if they are afflicted with enduring physical or mental injuries. This bill is a way to change that, but sadly, it is reported that a large number of individuals and groups are against the bill.
Laurie Higgins, culture-education writer at Breakthrough Ideas, says that this is different than the malpractice suits normally filed against physicians.
“This malpractice is entirely different from what this law is addressing. This law is addressing the disastrous effects of permissible treatments,” says Higgins.
In the unlikely event that it passes, the legislation would cover any physical, psychological, emotional, or physiological injuries.
“This would put the brakes on doctors if they thought, ‘I may get sued for this in 5 years, or 10 years, or 15 years. I may have to pay for this for what I've done’," says Higgins.
Even though the bill has slight chance of passing in the liberal legislature, Higgins believes that the more it is introduced, the more red state legislators may sit up and take notice.
