(I guess I’m confused as to why he’s suing, and not charging this doctor. Is it a hunt for evidence to use in charges? This is not normally how that is done, but TX is TX. -A)
The suit is the first by an attorney general against an individual doctor for allegedly violating a restriction on gender-affirming care for minors.
By Matt Lavietes and Jo Yurcaba
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued a Dallas doctor Thursday accusing her of providing transition-related care to nearly two dozen minors in violation of state law.
Paxton alleged that Dr. May Chi Lau, who specializes in adolescent medicine, provided hormone replacement therapy to 21 minors between October 2023 and August for the purpose of transitioning genders. In 2023, Texas enacted a law, Senate Bill 14, banning hormone replacement therapy and other forms of gender-affirming care for minors.
“Texas passed a law to protect children from these dangerous unscientific medical interventions that have irreversible and damaging effects,” Paxton said in a statement Thursday. “Doctors who continue to provide these harmful ‘gender transition’ drugs and treatments will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”
The statement issued by Paxton’s office alleged that Lau used “false diagnoses and billing codes” in order to mask “unlawful prescriptions.”
Neither Lau nor her employer, the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, immediately returned requests for comment.
If found to be in violation of the law, Lau could have her medical license revoked and face a financial penalty of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Paxton’s suit is the first in the nation by an attorney general against an individual doctor for allegedly violating a restriction on transition-related care for minors.
Texas’ law includes a provision that allows physicians to continue to prescribe puberty blockers and hormone therapy to patients who began treatment prior to June 1, 2023, in order to wean them off of the medications “over a period of time and in a manner that is safe and medically appropriate and that minimizes the risk of complications,” according to Paxton’s suit. Minors are required to have attended at least 12 mental health counseling or psychotherapy sessions for at least six months prior to starting treatment. It’s unclear whether Lau’s treatment of the minors could fall under that provision.
Scottie's Playtime 
I see this as a ploy to avoid having the law invalidated by a court. And maybe, as you suggest, he’s after evidence. But I honestly think he’s afraid the law is unconstitutional. 🤷♀️
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Well, but lawsuits go before a judge, too. In this sort of a trial, the Petitioner has to prove the Defendant/Respondent is liable according to the preponderance of the evidence. In a criminal trial, guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. I’m not a lawyer nor practicing, but we all know this stuff even though rich people are scared witless of being sued and forget. I think this guy is fishing, the SOB.
I agree, I believe the law is absolutely unconstitutional, as is violating pregnant people’s medical privacy. But the court decision stating that has been tossed, so now every court everywhere is having to make the decisions again.
Sigh. I hope this doesn’t sound argumentative; I don’t mean to argue. I just get confused on why elected people make the decisions they do, especially when it costs many dollars of taxpayers’s money to act like this. Instead of fixing roads or helping people or lowering property taxes or whatever Texans want. Ah, well.
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Not a lawyer? You sure sound like one. 😊 Who is “we” if I can ask? 🤷♀️ 🫂
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😂 Sort of like Erin Brokovich, I’ve just “worked for ’em.” (Lawyers.) And for judges. We got this stuff in social studies and civics, though, in high school in Springfield, MO, of all places, during the 70’s. I’m certain that’s changed, by now. Just the simple stuff, like what I wrote above. There are different types of civil suits; some get filed simply to stop someone from doing something anymore, as another example. The article didn’t read like that, though; it sounds like TX is suing for money and the doctor’s license. By “we” I meant people in general, but I concede that is not true, and I was wrong.
Except my gut says he sued to obtain evidence to file criminal charges. Which is unethical, and ought to be wrong, if it isn’t.
IMO! I beg pardon for my writing; in another hour and a half, I’m going to bed. Yesterday was a very complicated day, and I’m still tired. But I must watch Grey’s Anatomy, and right now am enjoying Crime Scene Kitchen. Priorities! ⭐💤☕ I should have some cocoa, huh?
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