As Alabama's trans youth care ban goes into effect, providers scramble for answers

A federal judge is considering whether to block the ban.Classroom hardships amid wave of anti-trans lawsAlabama's gender-affirming care ban went into effect on May 8, and physicians in the state say they’re scrambling to figure out how provide care for their young transgender patients.S.B. 184, the Vulnerable Child Protection Act, states that anyone who provides gender-affirming care to anyone under 19 could be convicted of a felony and face up to 10 years in prison and a $15,000 fine.This type of care includes providing puberty blockers, hormone therapy or physical gender-affirming surgeries.Pediatric endocrinologist Hussein Abdul-Latif, who provides gender-affirming care for trans youth, told ABC News that before the ban went into effect, he was rushing to see his patients and refill the necessary prescriptions to continue their treatment in the meantime.He has already seen the fear this legislation has caused as patients prepare for an end to healthcare."It was a scramble, trying to gather as many names as possible of the kids that we see in our clinic and make sure that they do have refills called in before the law took effect," Abdul-Latif said.Abdul-Latif says patients have attempted suicide due to discrimination, bullying and anti-trans sentiment.