A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from accessing sensitive medical records from healthcare institutions in New York City that provided pediatric gender treatments to minors in recent years.

Background

The ruling from US District Judge Katherine Polk Failla is a significant blow to the administration’s ongoing nationwide criminal investigation into the provision of pediatric gender treatments, which numerous courts around the country have described as an improper fishing expedition.

The Trump administration had issued a grand jury subpoena to NYU Langone Hospitals in recent weeks, seeking documents that would identify every patient who underwent sex-rejecting procedures and all the records related to those individuals. However, Judge Failla provisionally certified a class comprised of individuals who had received care from a New York City provider over the past six years and issued a temporary restraining order that bars investigators from obtaining the records.

Reasoning

Judge Failla stated that the scope of information sought by the government, including medical assessments, diagnoses, informed consent records, and revelation of plaintiffs’ transgender status, is significant and warrants the strongest constitutional protection. She also pointed to statements made by Justice Department attorneys that appeared to leave open the possibility that prosecutors may use the records to criminally pursue patients or their parents.

Chase Strangio, an American Civil Liberties Union attorney representing the plaintiffs, said they are thankful the court has granted their emergency request to protect the privacy interests of transgender New Yorkers and their families.

Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.