The US state of Texas has filed a lawsuit against a Dallas-based doctor, accusing her of violating the state’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth.

The suit is the first by an attorney general against an individual doctor for allegedly violating a restriction on gender-affirming care for minors.

A law passed by the state Legislature last year prohibits doctors from performing “gender transition” surgeries on minors; it also forbids doctors from prescribing puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to children.

Texas has sued a Dallas doctor over accusations of providing gender-affirming care for transgender youths, bringing to court one of the first times a state has sought to enforce bans driven by Republicans in recent years.

FRIDAY, Oct. 18, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- A Dallas doctor has been sued by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton for allegedly providing transgender care to nearly two dozen minors in violation of state law.

The lawsuit from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton marks the first enforcement action against a physician under Senate Bill 14.

A Texas doctor faces a lawsuit from the state after allegedly prescribing transgender hormone treatments to over 20 biological females in violation of a Republican-backed ban.

The Texas Supreme Court in June upheld the state's ban on gender-affirming care for minors, rejecting arguments by families with transgender children and doctors that the law was discriminatory and deprived parents of their rights under the state constitution to make decisions concerning their children's care.

The Republican attorney general said the lawsuit marked the beginning of his enforcement of Texas’ Senate Bill 14, which bans gender-affirming care for minors.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced a lawsuit against Dr. May Lau for allegedly giving hormone treatments to minors.

The lawsuit claims pediatrician May Lau provided hormone treatments to at least 21 patients between the ages of 14 and 17.