Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, the largest children’s hospital in the United States, has agreed to create what is described as the nation’s first detransition clinic for minors as part of settlements with Texas and federal authorities. The agreements resolve allegations related to transgender procedures performed on minors after Texas banned such treatments.
Under the settlement, the hospital will provide a free clinic for former patients seeking to reverse transgender-related procedures, dismiss five physicians, and pay $10 million to resolve alleged insurance fraud claims. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the hospital, while the U.S. Department of Justice conducted a separate investigation.
Dr. Eithan Haim, a surgeon and whistleblower, previously alleged that the hospital continued performing transgender procedures after the state ban took effect. The hospital said it complied with the law but settled to avoid prolonged litigation.
Legal experts say the case could lead to additional lawsuits and investigations involving pediatric transgender treatments, and some believe individual physicians could face criminal charges if diagnosis codes were intentionally falsified.
