After Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton launched an investigation into Dell Children’s Medical Center in Austin for providing gender mutilation services to minors, the center has now halted its practices.
According to reports, just hours after the investigation was launched, parents were notified that the doctors who previously worked there were departing and that parents would need to find new providers.
“While the physicians who previously staffed the clinic will be departing, the clinic remains open and supported by other physicians within Dell Children’s Medical Group. We continue to be advocates for the best possible care and treatment for children in Central Texas,” a spokesman for the hospital said.
DCMC says they are taking the allegations seriously and claim they prohibit prescribing hormones or gender-mutilation surgery for minors:
Our organization prohibits surgery and prescribing hormone therapy for the treatment of gender dysphoria for children. While our pediatric and adolescent medicine clinics do not provide these interventions, we do provide a safe and welcoming place for children to receive other forms of primary care and treatment, including treatment of illness and injuries, well-baby visits, and school physicals. We are conducting a thorough review of this situation. To the extent that care provided at our clinic may have been inconsistent with our organization’s position on this important issue, we intend to take appropriate action.
Earlier this month, Project Veritas published a documentary calling out a group of hospitals and medical groups that were providing gender mutilation services for minors. Among the list was Dell Children’s Medical Center in Austin.
In the video, a licensed social worker at DCMC told an undercover investigator that children as young as 8 and 9 years old were starting transition in their care.
Paxton issued a Request to Examine DCMC and required the hospital to provide all documents regarding child “gender identity” and “gender affirming care” to his office.
Meanwhile, legislation to specifically outlaw gender mutilation in minors finally passed the Texas House in a bipartisan vote on Monday. The legislation requires one more approval vote in the Senate before heading to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk.
