Seattle hospital won't release gender-specific care records in lawsuit with Texas

DALLAS — DALLAS (AP) — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is dropping a request for a Seattle hospital to release records about gender-affirming treatment for Texas children as part of a settlement announced Monday.

Seattle Children's Hospital filed a lawsuit against Paxton's office in December in response to the Republican appearing to cross state lines to investigate transgender health care. Paxton, a staunch conservative who has spearheaded the Republican Party's efforts targeting transgender rights, sent similar letters to Texas hospitals last year.

The Seattle hospital said in a statement that it had “successfully combated” the “excessive demands to obtain confidential patient information.” A judge in Austin dismissed the lawsuit Friday, saying the parties had resolved their dispute.

Texas is among states that have passed laws restricting or banning gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors.

The hospital's lawsuit included a copy of the letter from Paxton's office, which, among other things, asked the hospital to provide records of the drugs given to children living in Texas. the number of Texas children treated; and documents that identified the “standard protocol or policy” used for treatment.

As part of the settlement, the parties agreed that Seattle Children's Hospital would withdraw its registration to do business in Texas, according to court documents. However, a hospital spokesperson said in a statement that they do not operate health care facilities or provide gender-affirming care in Texas.

In court filings, the hospital previously said it had a “limited number” of people working remotely and living in Texas, but that none were involved in gender-affirming care. It also said it had not advertised its services in Texas.

“When we simply started asking questions, they decided to leave the state of Texas and give up the opportunity to do business here,” Paxton said in a news release Monday. He said Texas would “vigorously” protect children from what he called gender-affirming treatment “harmful.”

Texas law bars transgender minors from accessing hormone therapy, puberty blockers and transition surgeries, even though medical experts say such surgical procedures are rarely performed on children.

In Washington, Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee signed a law aimed at protecting minors seeking gender-affirming treatment there.