A surgeon indicted by federal prosecutors after exposing gender mutilation practices at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston says intimidation tactics won’t deter him.
Dr. Eithan Haim came into the spotlight after alleging that gender mutilation procedures on minors were being performed at Texas Children’s Hospital, despite the hospital’s public claim that it had ceased these practices. He is now facing a four-count indictment for allegedly obtaining personal patient information, including names, treatment codes, and details of the attending physicians, through the institution’s electronic system without authorization.
If convicted, he faces up to ten years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
In an interview with Chris Salcedo on The Salcedo Storm, Haim said he felt compelled to come forward after the hospital claimed it had shut down the program.
“I knew without a doubt that they were lying to the public, they were concealing this from them, and I had a responsibility to do something about it,” said Haim. “As a doctor, the only currency we operate on is trust.”
“If I am going to claim myself as a doctor, I had to do something about this. I had to hold my profession accountable, because my responsibility to that oath ‘do no harm’ is not just in the operating room with my patients, but to my profession as well.”
Haim said that gender mutilation procedures bring in a significant amount of cash to hospitals.
“These kids or young adults spend much longer periods of time in the hospital, even compared to some patients who get a liver transplant. It’s unbelievable. So, I mean, $100,000 might be on the lower side for one surgery. But these require multiple revisions, and then all the complications afterward. Hundreds of thousands of dollars. Millions on one person.”
When Haim passed his findings along to journalist Chris Rufo in 2023, the Texas Legislature was considering legislation to codify a ban on the procedures into law.
“We released our story on May 16, 2023, with me as the anonymous whistleblower, and it detailed how the hospital was lying to the public about this program. It came out at the perfect moment because, within 24 hours, the Texas Senate was voting on a bill called SB 14. This law was going to ban these interventions in the state of Texas. And because our story came out a day before, the bill was able to be passed within 24 hours,” said Haim.
“I would argue it has always been illegal, but this just codified it,” he added.
The federal indictment against Haim was unsealed earlier this month.
“I think the reason this is happening to me is because we challenged the dominant political ideology,” said Haim, pointing out the impact of his actions. “Those in power, who live by lies, who live by corruption, had to make an example out of me.”
Ultimately, Haim said his resolve will continue in the face of the federal indictments.
“There’s no way this is going to work on me because there’s a certain point where you understand that there’s something greater we’re fighting for.”
