The debate over gender-affirming care for minors heated up as Jesse Watters challenged Michigan Senate hopeful Abdul El-Sayed on the topic. El-Sayed argued that healthcare decisions should remain solely between parents, patients, and doctors. Watters questioned parental consent in irreversible surgeries for minors during a contentious discussion about medical policy.

Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Dr. Abdul El-Sayed spoke about sex changes for minors and transgender athletes in women’s sports during an intense exchange on Fox News’s “Jesse Watters Primetime.” The progressive candidate and former director of the Detroit Health Department initially avoided direct answers on these issues.

“Sex changes for minors. Do you support that?” Watters inquired on Monday, pressing for clear responses.

El-Sayed mentioned significant discussions about right-to-try legislation, voicing his belief that the government should not limit personal healthcare choices. “I just think the government shouldn’t tell you what kind of healthcare you should have and if you’re a minor, it’s between you and your doctor and your parents,” he stated.

El-Sayed further expressed disagreement with involving the government in medical decisions, suggesting that decisions need to stay between doctors, parents, and patients.

In response, Watters asked if El-Sayed supported the removal of genitalia in minors. El-Sayed brought up circumcision as another medical decision involving parental consent, questioning Watters if he was circumcised.

“I think it’s a problem that you think that you get to decide what happens between a parent, a doctor, and a patient,” El-Sayed responded, pointing out the selectivity in such discussions.

Watters then shifted the conversation to transgender athletes in women’s sports, a topic El-Sayed initially sidestepped, emphasizing more pressing issues in Michigan like groceries and healthcare. El-Sayed clarified that the rules should be managed by the governing bodies of sports.

The segment covered wealth taxes, religious freedom, and foreign policy as well, with El-Sayed attempting to steer the discussion to economic concerns facing the working class.

Abdul El-Sayed is the Democratic nominee for Michigan’s open U.S. Senate seat, competing against Republican nominee Mike Rogers in November. He holds a doctorate in public health from Oxford University and a medical degree from Columbia University.