Tennessee AG made a hospital hand over trans kids’ medical records

Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) in Nashville has been handing over the complete medical records of transgender patients to Tennessee’s attorney general, the center confirmed Tuesday.

The revelation has caused panic among the center’s trans patients, especially since the state recently passed a ban on gender-affirming healthcare for transgender youth. The ban requires youth who are currently receiving such care to de-transition.

Related:

Arkansas judge strikes down state’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors

The ruling marks the first time that a federal judge has issued a permanent injunction of a state’s trans healthcare ban.

“VUMC received requests from the Office of the Tennessee Attorney General as part of its investigation seeking information about transgender care at VUMC,” John Howser, VUMC’s chief communications officer, said in a statement.

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“The Tennessee Attorney General has legal authority in an investigation to require that VUMC provide complete copies of patient medical records that are relevant to its investigation. VUMC was obligated to comply and did so,” Howser added.

The Vanderbilt University-associated facility has been under scrutiny by the state since right-wing troll Matt Walsh targeted the medical center last September in his crusade against gender-affirming healthcare.

In a September 2022 Twitter thread, Walsh claimed that the staff at VUMC’s Transgender Health Clinic “now castrate, sterilize, and mutilate minors as well as adults, while apparently taking steps to hide this activity from the public view.”

Walsh criticized the clinic’s Trans Buddy program – which offers peer support to patients – and repeatedly accused the medical staff of “drugging and sterilizing” kids for financial gain.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) followed Walsh’s lead and called for an investigation.

“The ‘pediatric transgender clinic’ at Vanderbilt University Medical Center raises serious moral, ethical and legal concerns,” the governor said in September. “We should not allow permanent, life-altering decisions that hurt children or policies that suppress religious liberties, all for the purpose of financial gain. We have to protect Tennessee children, and this warrants a thorough investigation.”

The state’s Attorney General, Jonathan Skrmetti, complied.

Skrmetti’s office characterizes the ongoing probe as a simple billing inquiry.

“We are surprised that VUMC has deliberately chosen to frighten its patients like this,” AG Chief of Staff Brandon Smith said in a statement shared with The Tennessean Tuesday.

“The Office does not publicize fraud investigations to preserve the integrity of the investigative process,” Smith continued. “The Office maintains patient records in the strictest confidence, as required by law. The investigation is focused solely on VUMC and certain related providers, not patients, as VUMC is well aware.”

Court records reveal state officials have sought the medical records of specific patients, messages sent and received from a general LGBTQ+ health program email address, and the names of individuals referred to Vanderbilt’s transgender clinic.

Chris Sanders, executive director of the Tennessee Equality Project, said that parents of three different trans children have called him in a panic since the revelation.

“They’re terrified,” said Sanders. “They don’t know what’s next. They don’t know how this will be used, or whether they will be targeted in some way. They feel like their privacy has been violated.”