New Hampshire lawmakers are currently debating a bill that would take away the ability and rights of parents to make informed decisions about their child’s health care. This bill is HB 619 and, on its surface, it might seem like it “protects children.” In reality however, this bill sets the stage for New Hampshire lawmakers to decide, in the place of parents, the forms of medical care their children can access.

This bill seeks to ban genital gender- affirming surgeries in minors, but only for transgender individuals; there are intentional exceptions for anyone who is not transgender to access such surgical care. The efforts set forth in HB 619 are not only harmful, they are discriminatory.

Let us be clear — genital gender-affirming surgeries for minors do not take place in New Hampshire. And while this fact has been reiterated throughout the legislative process on HB 619, the bill also seeks to prohibit providers from making referrals outside of the state. This bill seeks to deprive New Hampshire parents any and all opportunities to even discuss the provision of such care with their trusted health care providers.

On behalf of New Hampshire parents, caregivers, and families, we ask that the freedom to continue to make medical decisions for their children’s health care needs remain within the family unit, without interference from lawmakers who are not doctors. While we know that there is uncertainty in medicine, as there is in all aspects of life, we trust the physicians and health care teams in our state to discuss any health care decision fully with families — in reviewing side effects, positive effects and any outcomes associated with treatment, management and procedures in medical care. When we legislate medicine, we are allowing elected officials inside doctors’ offices to interfere with patient-provider relationships and, in cases of medical care for minors, we are allowing the decisions of lawmakers to trump that of parents. This should not be tolerated in the “Live Free or Die” state.

While we are health care providers in New Hampshire, we are also parents. In fact, we are parents first. And we know the importance of having the freedom to discuss health care options with our children’s pediatrician. As parents, we worry about our children and many of us worry about taking time off work for doctor’s appointments, re-budgeting to afford costly medications, and even battling with health insurance providers about coverage and reimbursement. These roadblocks are hard enough; families should not have to also navigate state laws that not only impede access to the safest and most cutting edge technologies and health care, but prohibit it.

The choices that families must make for, about and with their gender-diverse kids are not easy. And regardless of the health care needs, they are just that — choices. Parents always seek education on the risks associated with any surgery and, in our experience, they come to the doctor’s office already with baseline knowledge. In fact, parents know more about the medical treatments that their children need than lawmakers.

Parents of LGBTQ+ kids are just like any other parents in New Hampshire — they want to support their children. They deserve the dignity and privacy to make personal health care decisions with their providers. New Hampshire families currently have the right to make their own health care decisions, as part of a team with their health care providers. We hope that it remains that way, which is why we, in lockstep with the New Hampshire Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, strongly oppose HB 619.

Dr. Julie Kim is president of the New Hampshire Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Frances Lim-Liberty is a pediatric endocrinologist. Both practice at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and teach at Dartmouth’s Geisel School of Medicine.