Seattle Children's Hospital has taken legal action against the Texas Attorney General's Office after it demanded access to medical records of all Texas patients receiving gender-affirming care at the hospital between January 2022 and the present.

According to the lawsuit, filed on December 7 in Travis County, the Attorney General's office requested sensitive information including medication prescriptions, diagnoses, treatment for gender dysphoria, and other patient details pertaining to transgender youth from Texas.

The controversial Texas law prohibits transgender youth from receiving gender-affirming care while they are still minors. Additionally, the law mandates the revocation of licenses for any healthcare provider found to be offering such care to individuals below 18 years of age.

In an affidavit submitted as part of the lawsuit, Seattle Children's Hospital's leadership stated that they do not provide treatment to any patients from Texas, nor have they conducted any telehealth consultations with patients from the state.

Seattle Children's Hospital is now seeking the dismissal of the Attorney General's demands through the Travis County court. As of now, the office of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has not responded to the lawsuit.

This legal battle between Seattle Children's Hospital and the Texas Attorney General's Office highlights the intensified scrutiny and challenges faced by healthcare providers in offering gender-affirming care to transgender youth. It also underscores the ongoing debates surrounding the rights and healthcare options for transgender individuals, particularly in states with restrictive legislation.

The outcome of this lawsuit has the potential to set a significant precedent concerning patient privacy and access to gender-affirming care for transgender youth not only in Texas but also across the United States.