Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed suit against UT Southwestern pediatrician Dr. May C. Lau, alleging she violated state law by prescribing at least 21 natal female girls testosterone.
Planned Parenthood used E34.9 (Endocrine disorder, unspecified) to fraudulently prescribe testosterone to my healthy 19-year-old daughter. Fraud because there was nothing wrong with her endocrine system. Fraud because their "treatment" turned a healthy body sick.
We need class action suits against PP and the doctors that use this fraudulent diagnosis (Endocrine disorder unspecified) to prescribe these drugs to young people! Wouldn't this also be Insurance fraud if insurance is used to pay for the drugs?
I am personally aware of instances of this exact kind of thing happening (rarely, but still happening). Because of where I live I’m 100% sure that no action would be taken if it were to be reported, even though it could technically be classified as fraud. I seriously doubt anyone in a position of power here would see it as a problem that needs to be solved, which is certainly not the case in Texas these days.
I watched the presentation linked in the article. Apart from the items pointed out already, my general impression is the same as other similar presentations I’ve seen: they are really, truly bought into the belief system behind these practices. Everything else just follows naturally from that.
A few other nuggets that got my attention:
- The erstwhile Genderbread Man makes an appearance at the beginning.
- They reference a case of a 17 year old seeking a double mastectomy and hysterectomy, followed by a slide showing that people are required to be “age of majority” to have surgeries. If I’m being generous, this case could be someone seeing consultation prior to getting surgery at 18, though I didn’t see this mentioned specifically. Otherwise….um… that’s a minor getting surgery.
- A couple of questions at the end were pointing out “wrong” language being used at various points during the presentation and the presenters subsequently apologizing.
At around 24:00 the presenters implied that asexuality can arise when an individual stops leaving their house out of fear of how they will be perceived, leading later on to the audience comment “Asexuality is not synonymous with being afraid of connection. There is a distinction between being asexual and aromantic and both types of people can and do enjoy close, intimate relationships.” Later on was another audience comment, "Please be careful when saying someone is a girl and wants to be a boy. It’s not who they want to be but identity as.”
On second listen I remembered incorrectly that it was "almost entirely" that type of comment (I've updated my comment to reflect that. Apparently I'm no journalist!).
Isn't the type of fraud she engaged in—lying about diagnoses and procedures to insurers and in medical records—already illegal under laws that existed before the GAC ban? A lot of doctors seem to be engaged in this kind of deception now, not just to get around state bans but to defraud insurers. I hate to think of how useless medical records are getting to be in this age of deception, self-ID, and ideologically captured physicians.
Yes, the part of the charge that has to do with deception is made under a pre-existing statute. In fact, the alleged point when she gave the child a puberty blocker under the endocrine disorder not specified diagnosis was before the ban went into effect.
Texas Children's Hospital in Houston was allegedly defrauding Texas Medicaid by using false diagnoses & fraudulent billing for same according to whistle-blower Nurse Vanessa Sivadge who worked there in the endocrinology dept. Dr. Haim had previously blown the whistle on TX Children's Hosp. Both were visited by FBI agents. Dr. Haim has been indicted. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldSVxb4iYtg
Thanks for providing this level of detail. A similar work-around exists in the UK for 'puberty blocker' prescriptions from private clinics, for children, which are supposedly banned. Any diagnosis other than gender is considered acceptable, and there is a further loophole once puberty has ended: "...the purpose for which the private prescription was issued is a purpose other than treatment for the purpose of puberty suppression in respect of gender dysphoria, gender incongruence or a combination of both." https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2024/868/made
Dysphoria definitely exists, but by definition it's an emotion, a feeling. The dishonesty arises when people tell those who have dysphoria that this feeling has a certain underlying meaning, and that they have a cure for it.
I know it is all supposed to be confidential - going back to Hippocrates etc. However most hospitals keep records which can be accessed for leagal /admin. purposes . When my mother was practising family medicine here in the UK a surprising number of official bodies had rights to medical records . She tried to give the minimum info. legally required and did not give up or even photocopies of originals . This actually got her into trouble . Never underestimate bureaucracies !
Paxton is a complete and total ass who should have been impeached for bribery and abuse of trust of his office , BUT in this he is completely correct. There are numerous cases of fraud where doctors misrepresent a diagnosis so that drugs can be prescribed or surgeries done so they will be covered by insurance. A god awful place to start , but since Democrats refuse to protect youth you hold your nose and go with what works.
Much of this lawsuit is about poor documentation and possibly fraud, both of which can absolutely lead to doctors losing their licenses and even doing jail time depending on the details. And unless I am missing something, all of those refills that were filled after the law took effect were related to scripts written after the law had been signed, meaning that she should have known that those refills would violate the law since they weren't due for filling until after it took effect. Is this accurate?
My point in clarifying is that it's easy for folks to turn this into a story about a poor victimized doctor who has unjustly been targeted due to pure transphobia, yet the practices she allegedly engaged in would be problematic and/or illegal regardless of the area of specialty or diagnosis. Medical professionals cannot misrepresent diagnoses in order to game the system and they cannot knowingly write scripts that will soon be illegal to fill. We shouldn't support this sort of behavior in any area of medicine.
Planned Parenthood used E34.9 (Endocrine disorder, unspecified) to fraudulently prescribe testosterone to my healthy 19-year-old daughter. Fraud because there was nothing wrong with her endocrine system. Fraud because their "treatment" turned a healthy body sick.
I’m so sorry ! I hate all this mutilation of young people who just need psychological help!
We need class action suits against PP and the doctors that use this fraudulent diagnosis (Endocrine disorder unspecified) to prescribe these drugs to young people! Wouldn't this also be Insurance fraud if insurance is used to pay for the drugs?
Yes to both
Yes, I’ve heard about the “unspecified endocrine disorder” dodge—just unconscionable to lie on medical records like that.
These people are convinced they are on the right side of history so lying is justified.
I am personally aware of instances of this exact kind of thing happening (rarely, but still happening). Because of where I live I’m 100% sure that no action would be taken if it were to be reported, even though it could technically be classified as fraud. I seriously doubt anyone in a position of power here would see it as a problem that needs to be solved, which is certainly not the case in Texas these days.
These people are making a huge profit, so why not lie?
Excellent work Ryan!
I watched the presentation linked in the article. Apart from the items pointed out already, my general impression is the same as other similar presentations I’ve seen: they are really, truly bought into the belief system behind these practices. Everything else just follows naturally from that.
A few other nuggets that got my attention:
- The erstwhile Genderbread Man makes an appearance at the beginning.
- They reference a case of a 17 year old seeking a double mastectomy and hysterectomy, followed by a slide showing that people are required to be “age of majority” to have surgeries. If I’m being generous, this case could be someone seeing consultation prior to getting surgery at 18, though I didn’t see this mentioned specifically. Otherwise….um… that’s a minor getting surgery.
- A couple of questions at the end were pointing out “wrong” language being used at various points during the presentation and the presenters subsequently apologizing.
What kind of wrong language were they accused of uttering?
Oh, you’re right. Wow.
At around 24:00 the presenters implied that asexuality can arise when an individual stops leaving their house out of fear of how they will be perceived, leading later on to the audience comment “Asexuality is not synonymous with being afraid of connection. There is a distinction between being asexual and aromantic and both types of people can and do enjoy close, intimate relationships.” Later on was another audience comment, "Please be careful when saying someone is a girl and wants to be a boy. It’s not who they want to be but identity as.”
On second listen I remembered incorrectly that it was "almost entirely" that type of comment (I've updated my comment to reflect that. Apparently I'm no journalist!).
Right on AG Paxton! Go get her and make her pay for this abuse!
They absolutely should pull her license and put her in prison, to boot. $1M is far too little.
Very likely to be reported to the TMB. Almost certainly will have her license suspended or restricted if found guilty.
Isn't the type of fraud she engaged in—lying about diagnoses and procedures to insurers and in medical records—already illegal under laws that existed before the GAC ban? A lot of doctors seem to be engaged in this kind of deception now, not just to get around state bans but to defraud insurers. I hate to think of how useless medical records are getting to be in this age of deception, self-ID, and ideologically captured physicians.
Yes, the part of the charge that has to do with deception is made under a pre-existing statute. In fact, the alleged point when she gave the child a puberty blocker under the endocrine disorder not specified diagnosis was before the ban went into effect.
Texas Children's Hospital in Houston was allegedly defrauding Texas Medicaid by using false diagnoses & fraudulent billing for same according to whistle-blower Nurse Vanessa Sivadge who worked there in the endocrinology dept. Dr. Haim had previously blown the whistle on TX Children's Hosp. Both were visited by FBI agents. Dr. Haim has been indicted. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldSVxb4iYtg
This is great news! Let’s hope it’s the beginning of many more suits ! The gender mutilation industry has to be stopped.
Thanks for providing this level of detail. A similar work-around exists in the UK for 'puberty blocker' prescriptions from private clinics, for children, which are supposedly banned. Any diagnosis other than gender is considered acceptable, and there is a further loophole once puberty has ended: "...the purpose for which the private prescription was issued is a purpose other than treatment for the purpose of puberty suppression in respect of gender dysphoria, gender incongruence or a combination of both." https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2024/868/made
They can’t tell the truth about gender “ dysphoria, “ which is a lie anyway!
Dysphoria definitely exists, but by definition it's an emotion, a feeling. The dishonesty arises when people tell those who have dysphoria that this feeling has a certain underlying meaning, and that they have a cure for it.
I wonder how Texas was able to obtain those records from the hospital.
Subpoenas, I suppose.
I know it is all supposed to be confidential - going back to Hippocrates etc. However most hospitals keep records which can be accessed for leagal /admin. purposes . When my mother was practising family medicine here in the UK a surprising number of official bodies had rights to medical records . She tried to give the minimum info. legally required and did not give up or even photocopies of originals . This actually got her into trouble . Never underestimate bureaucracies !
Paxton is a complete and total ass who should have been impeached for bribery and abuse of trust of his office , BUT in this he is completely correct. There are numerous cases of fraud where doctors misrepresent a diagnosis so that drugs can be prescribed or surgeries done so they will be covered by insurance. A god awful place to start , but since Democrats refuse to protect youth you hold your nose and go with what works.
Much of this lawsuit is about poor documentation and possibly fraud, both of which can absolutely lead to doctors losing their licenses and even doing jail time depending on the details. And unless I am missing something, all of those refills that were filled after the law took effect were related to scripts written after the law had been signed, meaning that she should have known that those refills would violate the law since they weren't due for filling until after it took effect. Is this accurate?
My point in clarifying is that it's easy for folks to turn this into a story about a poor victimized doctor who has unjustly been targeted due to pure transphobia, yet the practices she allegedly engaged in would be problematic and/or illegal regardless of the area of specialty or diagnosis. Medical professionals cannot misrepresent diagnoses in order to game the system and they cannot knowingly write scripts that will soon be illegal to fill. We shouldn't support this sort of behavior in any area of medicine.
Thank you for reporting on this Benjamin.