Pediatricians reject harmful Biden gender mandate for children

WHO: Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys

WHAT: Available for media interviews following hearing in American College of Pediatricians v. Becerra

WHEN: Immediately following hearing, which begins at 9 a.m. EST, Wednesday, Dec. 6

WHERE: U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit, Potter Stewart U.S. Courthouse, 100 E. Fifth St., 6th floor, East Courtroom, #636, Cincinnati, or view the livestream. To schedule an interview, contact ADF Media Relations Specialist Hayden Sledge at (205) 767-4705.

CINCINNATI – Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys will be available for media interviews Wednesday following oral arguments at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit in American College of Pediatricians v. Becerra.

ADF attorneys representing the American College of Pediatricians and the Catholic Medical Association appealed to the 6th Circuit after a lower court dismissed their case. In the lawsuit, the physicians are challenging a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services mandate requiring doctors to perform controversial and life-altering procedures and surgeries for individuals seeking to alter their bodies to match their gender identity, including children, even if doing so violates the physician’s medical judgment, religious beliefs, or conscientious objections.

“Doctors should never be forced to perform a controversial and medically dangerous procedure that goes against their best judgment, their conscience, or their religion, especially when it involves vulnerable children,” said ADF Senior Counsel Chris Schandevel, who will be arguing before the court on behalf of the medical associations. “President Biden’s Health and Human Services department is grossly overreaching its authority and, in so doing, putting children’s psychological and physical health in danger. Our clients are rightfully objecting on medical, ethical, religious, and conscientious grounds to this unlawful government mandate.”

The two medical associations filing suit together represent 3,000 physicians and health professionals.

• Pronunciation guide: Schandevel (SHAN’-deh-vell)

Alliance Defending Freedom is an alliance-building, non-profit legal organization committed to protecting religious freedom, free speech, parental rights, and the sanctity of life.

# # #