Texas AG to investigate 2nd children's hospital over gender-transition care

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is now investigating Texas Children's Hospital in Houston — the second children's hospital in the state being probed on whether its providers are performing gender-transition procedures. 

"Recent reports indicate that Texas Children's Hospital may be unlawfully performing such procedures, and my office is working to uncover the truth," Mr. Paxton said in a May 19 statement announcing the investigation. The attorney general's office gave Texas Children's a June 19 deadline to turn over requested documents. In March of 2022, the hospital said it had halted prescribing gender-affirming hormone therapies after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called on state officials to investigate such care as child abuse. 

On May 5, Mr. Paxton launched a probe into whether Dell Children's Medical Center is offering puberty blockers and other gender-affirming care. Ten days later, the Austin-based hospital confirmed it was parting ways with physicians who staffed its adolescent medicine clinic. No details were released on how many physicians were departing or when. 

Gender-affirming care for minors is not illegal in Texas, though the governor has indicated he will sign a bill recently passed by the state legislature that would bar minors from receiving such care, the Texas Tribune reported. 

A spokesperson for Texas Children's told the news outlet that their "healthcare professionals have always and will continue to prioritize the care of our patients within the bounds of the law."

Copyright © 2024 Becker's Healthcare. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy. Cookie Policy. Linking and Reprinting Policy.

 

Featured Whitepapers

Featured Webinars