Texas will now treat puberty blockers, certain operations for minors child abuse 

On Monday, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton declared that the prescription of puberty blockers and certain sex-change operations on children is “child abuse” under Texas law.

Paxton released a formal opinion from the attorney general’s office, stating that “certain procedures performed on minors such as castration, fabrication of a ‘penis’ using tissue from other body parts, fabrication of a ‘vagina’ involving the removal of male sex organs, prescription of puberty-suppressors and infertility-inducers, and the like are all ‘abuse’ under section 261.001 of the Texas Family Code,” according to a press release.

“There is no doubt that these procedures are ‘abuse’ under Texas law, and thus must be halted,” said Attorney General Paxton. “The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) has a responsibility to act accordingly. I’ll do everything I can to protect against those who take advantage of and harm young Texans,” Paxton wrote.

Paxton said these procedures result in the sterilization of a child infringe upon a child’s “fundamental right to procreate” in the future, and that these children do not legally possess the ability to consent to these procedures.

Beyond the risk of sterilization, Paxton listed a number of other harmful side effects or conditions that can arise, including serious mental health effects, increased risk of cardiovascular disease, elevated blood pressure, gallbladder disease, insulin resistance, and an increased cancer and stroke risk.

Paxton believes that these procedures can constitute abuse under the Texas Family Code, which states that “causing or permitting substantial harm to the child or the child’s growth and development is child abuse.”

“Courts have held that an unnecessary surgical procedure that removes a healthy body part from a child can constitute a real and significant injury or damage to the child,” wrote Paxton.