Texas Sues Doctors for Providing Gender-Affirming Care to Youth

The American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, and the World Medical Association all agree that gender-affirming care is evidence-based and medically necessary not just for adults, but minors as well.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has expanded lawsuits against two North Texas physicians, Dr. May Lau and Dr. M. Brett Cooper, adding new claims of Medicaid fraud and falsifying medical records to conceal the gender-affirming care provided to minors. 
Key Details of the Expanded Lawsuits

• Original Lawsuits: Paxton initially sued the doctors in late 2024 for allegedly violating Senate Bill 14 (SB 14), a 2023 Texas law that bans most gender-affirming medical care, including hormone therapy and puberty blockers, for individuals under 18.
• New Allegations: The expanded lawsuits, announced in December 2025, introduce new accusations under the state's Healthcare Program Fraud Prevention Act. Paxton claims the doctors:
  • Falsified medical records and altered diagnosis codes.
  • Hid that prescribed drugs were being used for gender-affirming care.
  • Used misleading billing records to disguise the treatments and obtain Medicaid reimbursement for services prohibited by state law.
• Official Statements:
  • Paxton characterized the actions as a "fraudulent scheme to steal hardworking Texans' taxpayer dollars" and "cruel child abuse".
  • An attorney for Dr. Lau stated that her care "complied with Texas and federal law in every respect" and that Paxton's allegations are "false in every material aspect".
• Status of Doctors:
  • Dr. May Lau voluntarily surrendered her Texas medical license earlier in 2025 and has moved her practice to Oregon.
  • The case against Dr. Cooper is ongoing and scheduled for trial in May 2026.
• Third Lawsuit Dropped: Paxton was forced to drop a separate lawsuit against a third doctor, El Paso endocrinologist Dr. Hector Granados, in September 2025, after a review of the evidence and medical records found no legal violations. 

​The lawsuits are a key part of Texas's efforts to enforce its ban on gender-affirming care for minors, a law that has faced significant legal challenges from advocacy groups and medical associations. 

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