The controversial transgender youth clinic, GENECIS, at Children’s Medical Center Dallas has continued to see dozens of new patients throughout the protracted legal battle between the hospital and its chief medical director, Dr. Ximena Lopez.
As reported previously by The Dallas Express, in November 2021, Children’s Medical Center Dallas announced that it was shuttering its transgender youth clinic in Dallas amidst concerns surrounding the ongoing public debate over the availability of medical interventions to minors with gender dysphoria.
The clinic’s chief medical director, Dr. Ximena Lopez, then sued her employer for its closure, alleging that it was “discriminatory against patients based upon their gender identity.”
Lopez also sued under the banner of professional autonomy and claimed that the hospital’s decision interfered with her ability to practice medicine.
In May, Judge Melissa Bellan restored the clinic and allowed it to remain open while the lawsuit was ongoing.
At the time, Lopez’s attorney Charla Aldous commented on the judge’s order, stating, “What this means is that Dr. Lopez and her colleagues can treat new and existing patients as they see fit, free from any interference from outside sources, for at least as long as this case works its way through the system.”
After the ruling was handed down, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton attempted to intervene to halt the treatment of these minors, but Judge Bellan quickly ruled against him.
Paxton then appealed her decision. However, a panel of judges on Texas’ Fifth Court of Appeals ruled against Paxton, writing in a short opinion, “After reviewing the petition and the record before us, we conclude that the State has failed to demonstrate that the trial court abused its discretion.”
According to recent reports, Dr. Lopez has seen 72 new patients, all minors, at her clinic since the May ruling by Judge Bellan restored its operations.
Brent Walker, another attorney for Lopez, said that the number of new minor patients allegedly shows a need for clinics providing medical interventions, such as transgender hormones and sex-change surgeries, to minors with gender dysphoria.
He also chided Paxton for attempting to intervene in the case, stating, “The only reason the attorney general was trying to get into this case was for the sake of his personal politics, not because of his constitutional duties and certainly not because he has concerns about these children and parents, who need the kind of care Dr. Lopez and the others provide.”
After the decision to allow the transgender youth clinic to reopen in May, The Dallas Express reached out to Kelly Neidert, the head of Protect Texas Kids, an organization that has regularly protested the clinic and opposes the transitioning of minors.
When asked about how she felt about Judge Bellan’s decision to allow the clinic to reopen, Neidert was clear the Legislature would need to weigh in, as they appear poised to do in Tennessee.
“I’m hopeful that we can get the work that Dr. Lopez does completely banned. It’s disturbing that this is being allowed in Texas,” she said.
Lopez will continue to have the ability to accept and see new patients for the duration of the trial, which has yet to begin but is slated for April 2023.
At that point, the case will go to a jury to determine a final verdict.