The Supreme Court's conservative agenda has once again prevailed, now making the provision of necessary care a crime worthy of up to ten years in prison and a $5K fine. By limiting medical access only to the plaintiffs, the court has chosen to ignore the law's constitutional incompatibility, placing thousands of families into crisis and inadvertently risking publicizing the identities of the case's anonymous minors as they continue their treatment.
This decision is a win for both Idaho Republicans and those who seek to protect children suffering from their mental health and sexual identity nationwide. There is very little scientific evidence that supports giving life-altering treatment to children and, far too often, children are manipulated into making decisions that they will later regret. This ruling will help protect minors from additional trauma and mental distress.