St. Louis-based Washington University is suing Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey over his demand to access Washington University Transgender Center patient records, the Missouri Independent reported Dec. 6.
Mr. Bailey sent the initial civil investigative demands to the center on Feb. 23, shortly after his office had confirmed an investigation by Missouri agencies into whistleblower allegations against the Washington University Transgender Center at St. Louis Children's Hospital. The whistleblower raised allegations that individuals at the transgender center had harmed hundreds of children each year, including by using experimental drugs on them.
Mr. Bailey cited Missouri's consumer protection law to demand access to all electronic health records from patients at the Transgender Center as part of his investigation.
In the lawsuit, Washington University asks the judge to determine if the civil investigative demands are legal and to what extent in order to modify the request. They note that the consumer protection law pertains to false advertising. The University said it has already turned over documents related to advertising but argues patient care is outside of the law's bounds.
Mr. Bailey's office also requested information from the center's physician and nurse, which the lawsuit said "appear to call for testimony about specific patients and medical decision making." The lawsuit cites concerns for patient privacy.
This is the second lawsuit against the attorney general's office following demands for patient information. Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo., sued Mr. Bailey over his demand for records and testimony on gender-affirming care in April.