Rhode Island Hospital Scores Legal Win Against DOJ Over Subpoena

In a significant legal victory, a U.S. judge ruled against the Justice Department's efforts to compel a Rhode Island hospital to disclose records related to gender-affirming care for transgender minors. The ruling spares Rhode Island Hospital, managed by Brown Health, from submitting extensive documentation that included sensitive medical records.

District Judge Mary McElroy sharply criticized the department, citing bad faith and privacy infringements. She dismissed claims that the investigation focused on the off-label use of FDA-approved drugs and reprimanded the DOJ for its tactics, which she described as untrustworthy and unsettling.

This decision forms part of a larger contest around gender-affirming care practices, with the Justice Department facing multiple legal challenges over similar subpoenas. Despite former President Donald Trump's push against such treatments, this ruling is a setback for federal investigations aiming to scrutinize these medical practices.

(With inputs from agencies.)