A federal judge has cancelled a subpoena from the U.S. Department of Justice, demanding that Boston Children’s Hospital hand over private medical information about young people receiving gender-affirming care and blow up the demand as a “fishing expedition” aimed at prosecuting doctors under investigation into medical fraud.
In him Arbitration“The Department of Justice is looking for an incredibly wide range of documents and information, including the patient’s Social Security Number, Family Address, Personal Information, and Personal Information, including the patient’s Social Security Number, Family Address, Personal Information, whether or not they are involved in implementing patients’ Social Security Number, Family Address, Personal Information, and Gender Faffin Care.”
The subpoena also sought all communications between the hospital and the pharmaceutical company, sales representatives and marketing departments.
In January, President Donald Trump issued an executive order since being blocked by two courts. Several clinics have since shut down or stopped providing services to young people diagnosed with gender discomfort, even in unprohibited states.
To enforce Trump’s orders, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondy issued a memo instructing Justice Department staff to handle cases in which minors treat genital violation care as female genital mutilation. The memo threatened doctors to prison for up to 10 years if they helped transgender youth obtain hormones, adolescent blockers, or surgical interventions.
” [Trump] Management is clear about its purpose to disapprove and terminate the transgender community. [gender-affirming care]Joun writes. “The subpoena reflect these goals and consist of requests for overloading of documents and information that appear to be unrelated to investigations of fraud or illegal unlabeled promotions. [of puberty blockers and hormone therapy]. ”
Joun noted that the Justice Department did not submit affidavits or evidence indicating that there was good reason to request information. The department allegedly investigated promotions other than false claims and false claims and accusations of transition-related drugs, but the attorney did not provide evidence that Boston Children’s Hospital was engaged in such practices.
“The government may be right that there is no need to provide a possible cause for investigation, but it cannot use the power of a subpoena to go on a fishing expedition,” he writes.
In a June 2025 memo to the Civil Division, the Department of Justice said it is investigating whether providers are “supporting patients with national-level bans on gender-affirming care for young people by filing a claim with Medicaid with a false diagnostic code. However, Massachusetts is not among the 27 states or territories that prohibit doctors from prescribing such treatments.
“[M]Assack Sets is not banned [gender-affirming care]. Additionally, a GAC diagnostic code exists for billing purposes. “Therefore, it is difficult to understand exactly what the government is trying to investigate BCH.”
Joun concluded that the subpoena was “motivated… by malicious intention.” [gender-affirming care] Harassment and threats at the border [Boston Children’s Hospital] Stop providing such care and discourage patients from seeking such care. ”
Boston Children’s Hospital praised the ruling as a victory to protect the privacy of patients, their families and the health professionals working there.
“Access to gender-affirming care is protected under Massachusetts law and we remain committed to providing safe, evidence-based, compassionate care to all patients and their families,” the hospital said in a statement.
However, a Justice Department spokesman vowed that Joun’s ruling was not a last word, but opened up the possibility of sueing the decision.
“As the Attorney General has made clear, this Department of Justice will use all legal and law enforcement tools available to prevent innocent children from being amputated under the guise of ‘care’,” the spokesman said. time magazine.
The Boston Children’s Hospital subpoena was one of those sent to more than 20 doctors and clinics under investigation for “fraudulent claims practices.”
Following the Boston Children’s Hospital lead, many doctors and clinics have moved to destroy subpoena, but some have already taken over records to state officials.
A month before the DOJ subpoena, Vanderbilt University Medical Center provided transgender patients record He told the office of Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skulmetti that he was investigating “health claims fraud.” Two patients then filed a class action lawsuit. Litigationalleges that disclosure hurts transgender patients and violates both state law and hospital’s own privacy policy.
While praising Joun’s ruling, some LGBTQ groups warned that the Trump administration is unlikely to disappoint its goal of making gender-affirming care illegal nationwide.
A GLAAD spokesperson said time“Federal non-delivery campaigns for best practice care need to be vigilant for all families who know that health care decisions belong to them and that their personal data should be protected.”
Metro Weekly reports on stories that are important to our community. Subscribe to our free digital magazine.
Source: Metro Weekly – www.metroweekly.com
