Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has decided to drop a request for Seattle Children’s Hospital to hand over records regarding gender-affirming treatment potentially given to children from Texas as part of a lawsuit settlement. The hospital had filed the lawsuit against Paxton’s office in response to his attempts to investigate transgender health care beyond state borders. Paxton, known for his conservative views on transgender rights, had sent similar letters to Texas hospitals last year. A judge in Austin dismissed the lawsuit on Friday after the parties settled their dispute. Texas is one of the states that have enacted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors.
The letter from Paxton’s office to Seattle Children’s Hospital had requested records identifying medication given to Texas children, the number of Texas children who received treatment, and documents detailing the standard protocol for treatment. As part of the settlement, the hospital agreed to withdraw its registration to transact business in Texas, although they do not operate health care facilities or provide gender-affirming care in the state. According to court records, the hospital stated that they have a limited number of employees who live in Texas but are not involved in gender-affirming care and do not advertise their services in the state.
Paxton made a statement in response to the settlement, claiming that when they began asking questions, the hospital decided to leave Texas. He emphasized that Texas will vigorously protect children from gender-affirming treatment, which he deems as damaging. The Texas law currently prevents transgender minors from accessing hormone therapies, puberty blockers, and transition surgeries, despite medical experts stating that such procedures are rarely performed on children. In contrast, Washington’s Democratic Governor Jay Inslee has signed a law aimed at protecting minors seeking gender-affirming care, part of a trend of legislation in Democratic-led states to provide refuge for those seeking such treatment.
The legal battle between Paxton and Seattle Children’s Hospital sheds light on the ongoing controversy surrounding gender-affirming care for transgender minors. The hospital’s lawsuit against Paxton’s office highlighted the overreaching demands for confidential patient information that they successfully fought against in court. With the settlement reached and the lawsuit dismissed, the focus now shifts to the larger debate around transgender rights and medical care, with different states taking contrasting approaches to the issue. While Texas continues to restrict gender-affirming care, some Democratic-led states are moving to protect and support minors seeking such treatments. The outcome of this case could have broader implications for the rights and healthcare access of transgender individuals across the country.
