Gag Order Requested in Texas Lawsuit Against Doctor Accused of Providing Gender-Affirming Care to Minors
Attorneys for a doctor who was sued by the Texas attorney general under the state’s trans health care law are asking a judge to issue a gag order in the case.
Dr. M. Brett Cooper, a Dallas doctor, is one of three doctors currently being sued by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who has accused all of the doctors of illegally providing gender-affirming care to minors.
The Background
The state of Texas has banned gender-affirming care, including puberty blockers and hormone therapies, for minors, under a law that went into effect in 2023. The ban has some exceptions carved out, including allowing doctors to continue prescribing medications as part of a weaning protocol for patients who were already taking the medications.
The Lawsuit
The Texas attorney general sued Cooper in Collin County, where Cooper works at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and at Children’s Medical Center Dallas. The lawsuit alleges that Cooper illegally provided gender-affirming care to minors in violation of the state’s new law.
Gag Order Request
Cooper’s attorneys have filed a motion for a gag order, arguing that Paxton’s public statements about the case could distort the public view before the case has been tried. They claim that Paxton’s statements have turned the lawsuit into "a politicized media spectacle that risks misleading the public, poisoning the jury pool, and harming innocent patients whose privacy and safety may be threatened by unwarranted media attention."
The Request
The attorneys requested the judge grant a gag order in the case, prohibiting all attorneys – including all employees of the attorney general’s office – from making false statements about the case, and from making "extrajudicial statements" that could be publicized. They also filed a motion to move the case to a different court.
Motion to Move the Case
Cooper’s attorneys argue that Paxton’s media statements have not accounted for the exceptions to Texas’ trans health care ban. They claim that Paxton’s public statements have been reported widely in the media, and that the media attention could harm patients and interfere with the case.
Conclusion
The gag order request and motion to move the case are part of a larger effort by the doctors to challenge the constitutionality of the Texas trans health care ban. The ban has been widely criticized by medical professionals and LGBTQ+ advocates, who argue that it is harmful and ineffective.
FAQs
Q: What is the Texas trans health care ban?
A: The Texas trans health care ban is a law that bans gender-affirming care, including puberty blockers and hormone therapies, for minors.
Q: What are the exceptions to the ban?
A: The ban has some exceptions carved out, including allowing doctors to continue prescribing medications as part of a weaning protocol for patients who were already taking the medications.
Q: Who is Dr. M. Brett Cooper?
A: Dr. M. Brett Cooper is a Dallas doctor who is one of three doctors currently being sued by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton for allegedly providing gender-affirming care to minors.
Q: What is a gag order?
A: A gag order is a court order that prohibits parties in a lawsuit from making public statements about the case. It is intended to prevent the spread of false information and to ensure a fair trial.
