Texas Targets Doctor Over Gender-Affirming Care BanLawsuit Escalates US State's Crackdown on Medical Providers
Link to Full ArticleHuman Rights Watch - Yasemin Smallens
October 21, 2024 2:50PM EDT
The US state of Texas has filed a lawsuit against a Dallas-based doctor, accusing her of violating the state's ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth. This case, among the first of its kind, underscores the severity of draconian restrictions on ... medical care for transgender youth by state officials.
Currently, 24 US states have imposed bans on medication for transgender youth seeking gender-affirming care, despite opposition from leading medical authorities. ... Organizations such as the American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Psychological Association, and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry uniformly support access to developmentally appropriate care for transgender youth.
The lawsuit alleges that Dr. May Lau provided gender-affirming care to 21 patients ages 14 to 17 in violation of Texas's ban, which took effect on September 1, 2023. The state contends that Lau sought to circumvent the law by issuing prescriptions to be filled before the ban's implementation. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is seeking $10,000 in penalties per violation, amounting to potential liability of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Additionally, Lau's medical license is at risk, as the ban mandates the denial, non-renewal, or revocation of licenses for professionals providing gender-affirming care to trans youth.---------------
If you or someone you know needs mental health resources and support in the US, please call, text, or chat with the
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or visit
988Lifeline.org for 24/7 access to free and confidential services. For youth services
dial 988 and then press 3, or
text PRIDE to 988.
