There's also a print version of this:
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/07/09/oregon-allowing-15-year-olds-to-get-state-subsidized-sex-change-operations/This is not as draconian a policy as Fox would like its ill-informed viewers to believe. First, the 15 year old age of consent in Oregon goes back to at least 2006, during the Bush presidency. This is getting attention now because of the Obamacare angle.
Also, under this law medical providers may give parents notification of their kid's desire for any treatment (this can't be done if the patient is 18). If there were true autonomy (as there is for an 18 year old) that would be illegal under Federal law.
And, there is the usually required mental health diagnosis. Under that same law, a minor of 14 years old may consent to mental health treatment, but the parents must be involved before the treatment is concluded. If they oppose, they are not financially obligated (also by law).
No legitimate surgeon will perform this surgery on a minor without RLE and without parental involvement unless he or she wants a malpractice suit. Also under that same law a surgeon is not immune from liability unless at least one parent has given consent. So, the kid can get treated, but if neither parent gives consent then the surgeon can be sued.
The law was originally made to allow teens who were being neglected or abused to get medical care without parental consent. Unlike with GRS, if an abused or neglected kid gets treatment to take care of an injury or illness the parents are not likely to object, as this would open them up to scrutiny and possible legal prosecution (and the surgeon has little to fear regarding his or her liability). Obamacare covers medical treatment (and GRS is medical treatment). But are there even any GRS surgeons in Oregon? I don't think surgeons in other states are obligated, or even authorized, to accept Oregon's Medicaid.
