OPINION
tives from the Susan B . Anthony Foundation and Right to Life . We passed this bill to “ protect ” women from access to a dangerous pharmaceutical , even though there has never been a single verified death associated with appropriate usage , and even after JAMA ( the Journal of the American Medical Association ) had printed a definitive review article of all available data and deemed the drug safe and effective for usage not just by OB-GYNs , but by primary care providers as well .
The 2023 session was my real eye opener . During this session , an elected representative from Shelby County worked directly with a group called the Alliance Defending Freedom and the Family Foundation to bring outside physicians to testify by Zoom in front of the legislature . Alliance Defending Freedom is a well-funded Christian nationalist legal group that is behind many of the court cases facing this country right now , including the mifepristone case currently before the Supreme Court . The physicians who spoke in favor of House Bill 470 and Senate Bill 150 belonged to a national organization called the American College of Pediatricians .
The American Academy of Pediatrics is the mainstream medical organization that represents around 67,000 pediatricians in this country and has represented pediatricians since 1930 . The American College of Pediatricians is a group of about 500-600 people , about 40 % MDs , formed in 2002 when the Academy came out with a statement that children could be safely raised by homosexuals . Their underlying reason for separating from established mainline medical groups was their religious objection to the “ homosexual lifestyle .” Their website says they are a “ national organization of pediatricians and other healthcare professionals ” founded by a group of concerned physicians who believe in scientific proof “ within a framework of ethical absolutes .” These include the importance of the fundamental mother-father family unit in the rearing of children , the ideology that homosexual lifestyle is inherently ungodly , that life begins at conception and that conversion therapy is safe and effective .
A family medicine physician practicing in California and a board member of the College once testified over Zoom on a different matter in Kentucky , SB 150 , relating to gender-affirming care . It was said that he was paid over $ 12,000 for his testimony on the same bill in Florida ; I am unable to confirm any billing information for his testimony in this state . The health care practitioners practicing and licensed in the state of Kentucky all testified against this bill , and to some avail . Some of the worst provisions were excluded . None of the Kentuckians was paid for testifying . Ultimately , the bill passed and is considered an example of some of the most extreme anti-transgender legislation passed in the country .
The outside influences being brought into this state to exert control over the practice of medicine are being influenced by religious ideology and funded by Christian nationalist groups . This is happening in our state and has been for years . I can only respond by defending our profession . I can stand on our history of ethical behavior , our commitment to our patients and our insistence on the scientific method . As practitioners , I hope you are paying attention .
Dr . Berg is a Kentucky State Senator , representing the 26th District and is a diagnostic radiologist . .
OPINION September 2024 33