TEXAS, USA — A hospital in Seattle is suing the Texas Attorney General's office, claiming the office is trying to get records to reveal information about gender transition treatments provided to Texas children.
Seattle Children's Hospital says in its lawsuit that the demands are not legitimate exercises of the AG's authority and that they would require the hospital to violate federal privacy laws.
Despite legal challenges, a Texas law remains in effect banning gender-affirming care for transgender children under 18 years old.
According to court documents obtained by KVUE, the Texas AG's office served Seattle Children's with a Civil Investigative Demand in November. The state requested records related to gender-affirming care for Texas patients, including prescriptions, diagnoses, and how to "wean" a child off gender-related care. Sworn written statements from Seattle Children's were part of the request.
The hospital also said while it has employees licensed to work in the state of Texas, none of them work in gender-affirming care and no state money has been taken by Seattle Children's as part of it.
In an effort to find out what prompted the request, KVUE reached out to the attorney general's office three separate times on Thursday but did not hear back.
Here's the statement from the hospital provided to KVUE:
“Seattle Children’s took legal action to protect private patient information related to gender-affirming care services at our organization sought by the Texas Attorney General. Seattle Children’s complies with the law for all health care services provided."