Federal Judge Blocks Justice Department’s Request for Medical Records

A federal judge in Manhattan ordered the Justice Department to cease efforts to obtain sensitive medical information about transgender youth who received transition-related care at New York City hospitals. The ruling was issued following a subpoena directed at NYU Langone, a prominent Manhattan medical system, seeking identifying details and records of adolescent patients who underwent transition care.

The request emerged from the Trump administration’s initiative to curtail gender transition treatments for adolescents, claiming potential harm to impressionable minors. Over a year, the Justice Department investigated hospitals and providers offering such services to youth, with the ruling now posing a substantial barrier to these inquiries.

Judge Katherine Polk Failla of Federal District Court highlighted concerns regarding the extensive scope of the subpoena issued to NYU Langone. The subpoena demanded patient information spanning six years, prompting judicial intervention to safeguard patient privacy.

“Because I cannot conceive of a crime that would require the breadth of disclosure sought in the subpoena — sensitive medical information for an entire class of people for a six-year period — I have to find that the government’s interest does not outweigh the plaintiffs’ interest in privacy,” Judge Failla stated.

The judge emphasized the potentially severe consequences of not intervening, noting that the subpoena would permit governmental access to personal medical histories and details of transgender status, infringing on privacy rights.