AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Friday announced his office is investigating Dell Children’s Medical Center in Austin for “a number of recent reports about potentially illegal activity.”


What You Need To Know

  • Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Friday announced an investigation into Austin’s Dell Children’s Medical Center based on recent reports of illegal “gender transitioning” procedures

  • Dell Children's Medical Group in a statement on April 28 said it "prohibits surgery and prescribing hormone therapy for the treatment of gender dysphoria for children"

  • It further said it is conducting a review of the situation and will take appropriate action if needed 

  • Paxton’s announcement came the same week as a chaotic scene erupted at the Texas State Capitol when a crowd protesting a bill that would ban gender-affirming care was kicked out of the building

That activity, Paxton claims, is “gender transitioning” procedures “unlawfully performed on minor children.”

Paxton, in his announcement, provided no specifics about accusations. 

“It is now alarmingly common for fringe activists to use their positions in medicine and health care to force experimental, life-altering procedures onto children,” Paxton wrote. “It is deeply disturbing and there is no place for it in Texas.”

Dell Children’s responded to the allegations in statement on April 28.

“As advocates for the best possible care and treatment of minors, Dell Children’s Medical Group takes seriously any allegations about the care provided in our clinics.

“Our organization prohibits surgery and prescribing hormone therapy for the treatment of gender dysphoria for children. While our pediatric and adolescent medicine clinics do not provide these interventions, we do provide a safe and welcoming place for children to receive other forms of primary care and treatment, including treatment of illness and injuries, well-baby visits, and school physicals.

“We are conducting a thorough review of this situation. To the extent that care provided at our clinic may have been inconsistent with our organization’s position on this important issue, we intend to take appropriate action.”

Paxton’s announcement came the same week as a chaotic scene erupted at the Texas State Capitol when a crowd protesting a bill that would ban gender-affirming care was kicked out of the building. The Texas House was slated to take Senate Bill 14 up again on Friday.