Texas Children’s Hospital is the nation’s largest freestanding pediatric hospital. Located in Houston, it ranks #1 in Texas and in the top tier of children’s hospitals in the U.S.

The hospital was investigated for conducting a secret transgender medicine program and for committing fraud against Medicaid. The clinic was prescribing and performing gender transition “treatments” to minors, as young as 11, and was mis-coding procedures to conceal them from outside scrutiny. 

Concurrent with the 2023 investigation, the Texas governor signed a bill which codified a statewide ban on providing gender transition “interventions” — the drugs, hormones and surgeries that were devastating the bodies of confused young people.

A court settlement obtained by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton included a commitment by the hospital to never again carry out “sex rejecting procedures” on minors. In addition, the hospital must pay $10 million (dollars) to cover its fraud against Medicaid, and fire five doctors who performed transition procedures. 

The settlement also requires that Texas Children’s Hospital establish the nation’s first detransition clinic. The clinic must provide free services for a period of five years for patients, up to age 21, who have received gender transition interventions and now seek to reverse them. 

Sadly, a total do-over is not possible. Gender treatments — even puberty blockers —  can effect undeniable changes. When someone starts taking cross-sex hormones or has sex rejecting surgery, that person guarantees they’ll be a patient for life. 

Attempts to reverse some of the damage will require access to multiple services and disciplines including endocrinology, surgeries, and mental health. A cynical hospital spokesperson told the Texas Tribune, “This simply provides structure and a name for the services we currently provide.”

Detransitioners face “intense backlash” from the very community that once embraced them. A struggling young person can get lots of support online to transition, but gets mostly condemnation for a decision to detransition.

The detrans clinic opens in October. Let’s pray these kids get real help.