Bill · S. 209· Senate(119-S-209)
Protecting Minors from Medical Malpractice Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 1/23/2025
- Last activity
- 1/23/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- Sponsored by
- Tom Cotton
- Cosponsors
- - 3 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Protecting Minors from Medical Malpractice Act of 2025 establishes a private right of action for individuals who undergo gender-transition procedures while under the age of 18. It holds medical practitioners liable for physical, psychological, emotional, or physiological harms resulting from such procedures or related treatments. Individuals may bring civil actions for damages, relief, or legal costs up to 30 years after they turn 18. The bill also protects a practitioner's right to refuse these procedures based on conscience or medical judgment. Additionally, it denies Federal funding from the Department of Health and Human Services to any State that requires practitioners to perform these procedures.
Yes
Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts?+5
The bill establishes a specific private right of action for individuals to seek damages for medical harms.
Does this give the federal government more power?+4
The bill uses federal funding leverage to influence state-level medical requirements.
The opposite· 3 of 9
Would LGBTQ people be better off under this?-8
The bill creates significant legal and financial risks for those undergoing gender-transition procedures.
Does this expand the rights of LGBTQ people?-7
The bill targets gender-transition procedures and creates legal vulnerabilities for those receiving them.
Would children be better off under this?-5
The bill targets medical procedures performed on individuals under the age of 18.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Legal Recourse for Harmed Individuals: Under Section 2(a), individuals who undergo gender-transition procedures as minors can hold practitioners liable if they suffer physical, psychological, emotional, or physiological harms.
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Extended Timeframe for Lawsuits: Section 2(b) allows an individual to bring a civil action for up to 30 years after they reach the age of 18, providing a long window to seek compensatory or punitive damages.
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Protection of Medical Freedom: Section 3 ensures that no federal law can require a medical practitioner to perform a gender-transition procedure, protecting their medical judgment and freedom of conscience.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Financial Risk for Medical Practitioners: Section 2(a) and 2(b) create liability for practitioners, allowing individuals to sue for compensatory damages, punitive damages, and attorney's fees due to harms related to gender-transition procedures.
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Loss of Federal Funding for States: Under Section 4, any State that requires medical practitioners to perform gender-transition procedures on individuals would become ineligible to receive Federal funding from the Department of Health and Human Services.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For L G B T Q Community-8Good For Children-5Good For Young Adults-3Good For Low Income Households-2Good For Women-2
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Due Process+5Increases Federal Power+4
- Healthcare
- Increases Medicaid Funding-5Improves Healthcare Access-4
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves L G B T Q Rights-7
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Small Business Support-3
- 1/23/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Jim BanksRepublican · Indiana
Markwayne MullinRepublican · Oklahoma
Tim SheehyRepublican · Montana