After providing the Tennessee attorney general with the medical data of transgender patients, Vanderbilt University Medical Center is now under federal civil rights investigation, according to hospital authorities.

Only a few weeks have passed since two patients filed a lawsuit against VUMC for disclosing their details to Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti late last year, as reported by The Associated Press.

VUMC has come under fire for acting only after the existence of the requests surfaced as evidence in another court case. 

The hospital waited months before informing patients in June that their medical information had been provided late last year. Many families in the deep-red state, where GOP politicians have attempted to restrict LGBTQ rights and outlaw care for transgender children, were alarmed by the news.

Because the hospital was aware of Tennessee authorities' hostility toward transgender people's rights, the patients who are suing over the release of their information claim VUMC should have redacted personally identifying information before passing over the records.

Many of the patients whose private medical records were given to Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti's office are state employees, or their adult children or spouses; other patients are covered by TennCare, the state's Medicaid program; and some weren't even clients of the transgender clinic at VUMC.

Not Targeting Patients?

In the meantime, Skrmetti has insisted he is not targeting patients or their families and that his request for the VUMC patient records is simply part of a "run of the mill" probe into alleged medical billing fraud.

(Photo : by Julie Bennett/Getty Images)
MONTGOMERY, AL - MARCH 30: Trace Trice, the parent of a transgender child, speaks during a rally at the Alabama State House to draw attention to anti-transgender legislation introduced in Alabama on March 30, 2021 in Montgomery, Alabama.

Skrmetti, however, has been met with skepticism from Democratic lawmakers and civil rights advocates ever since he joined a group of Republican attorneys general in opposing a proposed federal rule that would restrict how law enforcement and state officials collect the medical records of people who leave their home state to receive abortion services or transgender health care.

A federal appeals court's decision to permit the legislation to temporarily take effect has been consistently praised by Skrmetti, who is also defending the state's ban on gender-affirming care for transgender children.

Read also: Vanderbilt Pediatric Transgender Clinic Halts Operations Ahead of New Law

Gender-Affirming Care in the US

Gender-affirming care for transgender children is a relatively new field, and there is still much debate about the best way to provide it. 

However, there is a growing consensus among medical experts that gender-affirming care can be safe and effective for transgender children.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has issued guidelines stating that gender-affirming care is the standard of care for transgender children. The AAP guidelines recommend that transgender children be allowed to access gender-affirming care as early as possible, and that this care should be coordinated by a team of healthcare professionals with expertise in transgender health.

The benefits of gender-affirming care for transgender children are well-documented. Studies have shown that gender-affirming care can improve mental health, reduce suicidality, and improve overall quality of life for transgender children.

The risks of gender-affirming care for transgender children are minimal. The most common side effects of hormone therapy are hot flashes, mood swings, and acne. The risks of surgery are more serious, but they are still relatively low.

The decision of whether or not to pursue gender-affirming care is a personal one that should be made by the child and their family in consultation with a healthcare professional. There is no one-size-fits-all answer, and the best approach will vary depending on the individual child's needs and circumstances.

Related article: Texas' Ban on Transgender Care for Minors Challenged in Court by Families and Doctors