Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against a doctor in El Paso for allegedly prescribing controversial gender change medications and treatments to minors.
Paxton’s office cites that the doctor’s actions directly violate recent state legislation aimed at protecting children from what many officials describe as dangerous medicine, according to a recent press release.
The press release from Paxton further reads, “Growing scientific evidence strongly suggests that ‘gender transition’ interventions prescribed to or performed on children in an attempt to anatomically or hormonally alter their biological sex characteristics have damaging, long-term consequences.”
The lawsuit from the Attorney General’s office claims that Dr. Hector M. Granados, practicing in El Paso, actively provided puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to patients as young as twelve.
“Texas is cracking down on doctors illegally prescribing dangerous ‘gender transition’ drugs to children,” Paxton said.
Dr. Granados’ website states that his practice “offers support for children and adolescents with differences of sex development…”
The recent legal action comes in the wake of the new Senate Bill 14 (SB14), which first passed in the Texas House in May of 2023, as previously reported by DX, and was later reinforced by a ruling from the Texas Supreme Court earlier this year. SB14 strictly prohibits medical procedures and treatments aimed at altering a minor’s biological gender, citing growing concerns over the potential long-term effects of such medical interventions.
Doctors who violate the boundaries set by SB 14 face harsh penalties. The law mandates that the Texas Medical Board “shall revoke the medical license or other authorization” of any physician found in violation of the bill.
“State law forbids prescribing these interventions to minors because they have irreversible and damaging effects. Any physician found doing so will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law,” Paxton added.
The lawsuit also mentions various other allegations of malpractice, including claims that Dr. Granados engaged in “deceptive practices” to “mask” certain illegal treatments from patients.
Additionally, Paxton’s filing claims that Dr. Granados knowingly falsified medical records and prescriptions to cover up his actions.
As of the time of publication, Dr. Granados’ office had not responded to The Dallas Express’ request for a comment.