A legislative panel on Monday approved a bill that would create a panel to study the issue of surgery on intersex children.
Intersex people – a broad term that encompasses a range of variations affecting chromosomes, external genitalia and internal reproductive organs – had sought legislation to ban medically unnecessary procedures on intersex individuals without their consent.
Several of those advocates framed the debate as a civil rights issue and said such surgeries should be banned because they are often done for cosmetic reasons.
But some physicians testified against a full ban, saying surgeries on intersex children are rarely performed for non-medical reasons.
The legislature’s public health committee unanimously approved a compromise bill that would create a task force to study the issue and report back to lawmakers.
Sen. Heather Somers, a Republican from Groton, supported the bill but said she’d like to see it amended to ensure the medical community is part of the task force.
“We heard a lot of testimony from medical experts who have great experience here,” Somers said. “So I think that’s important.”
