Current:Home > MarketsTexas doctor charged with obtaining confidential patient information on transgender care-LoTradeCoin
Texas doctor charged with obtaining confidential patient information on transgender care
View Date:2024-12-23 23:08:06
A Texas doctor who calls himself a whistleblower on transgender care for minors is accused of illegally obtaining private information on patients from the nation's largest pediatric hospital who were not under his care.
Federal prosecutors said Dr. Eithan Haim, a 34-year-old surgeon, snatched the information and shared it with a conservative activist with "intent to cause malicious harm" to Texas Children's Hospital in Houston.
Haim pleaded not guilty Monday in federal court to four counts of wrongfully obtaining individually identifiable health information.
Haim, a Dallas surgeon, previously did some work at Texas Children's Hospital as part of his residency. The indictment against Haim alleges that in 2023, he asked to reactivate his login there to access information on pediatric patients not under his care, including names, attending physicians and treatment codes, then turned over the information to a media contact.
Haim has publicly identified himself as the person who gave the information about patients at Texas Children's to a conservative activist who published a story that the hospital was providing transgender care for minors in secret. At the time, transgender care for minors was legal in Texas, but the hospital had announced in 2022 that it would stop gender-affirming therapies.
Texas lawmakers banned transgender care for minors in September 2023. That law is being challenged in court.
At least 25 states have adopted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors, and most of those states face lawsuits.
Haim faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted. He was released on $10,000 bond.
"I have maintained from day one that I have done nothing wrong. We're going to fight this tooth and nail, stand up for whistleblowers everywhere," Haim said outside the courthouse Monday.
Texas Children's declined to comment on the charges against Haim. In previous statements, hospital officials said its doctors have always provided care within the law.
- In:
- Health
- Houston
- Politics
- Texas
- Indictment
veryGood! (4)
Related
- Mike Tyson has lived a wild life. These 10 big moments have defined his career
- Stock market today: Asian shares follow Wall St higher on hopes for an end to Fed rate hikes
- Illinois city tickets reporter for asking too many questions, in latest First Amendment dustup
- Eric Trump wraps up testimony in fraud trial, with Donald Trump to be sworn in Monday
- It's Red Cup Day at Starbucks: Here's how to get your holiday cup and cash in on deals
- NFL backup QB rankings: Which teams are living dangerously with contingency plans?
- Massive storm in Europe drops record-breaking rain and continues deadly trek across Italy
- 'Priscilla' takes the romance out of a storied relationship
- Brittany Cartwright Defends Hooking Up With Jax Taylor's Friend Amid Their Divorce
- Why we love Under the Umbrella, Salt Lake City’s little queer bookstore
Ranking
- NFL MVP rankings: Does Steelers QB Russell Wilson deserve any consideration?
- Judges toss lawsuit targeting North Dakota House subdistricts for tribal nations
- Lebanon’s militant Hezbollah leader threatens escalation with Israel as its war with Hamas rages on
- We tune into reality TV to see well, reality. But do the stars owe us every detail?
- Kansas basketball vs Michigan State live score updates, highlights, how to watch Champions Classic
- Myanmar’s army chief vows counterattacks on armed groups that captured northeastern border towns
- Virginia teacher shot by 6-year-old can proceed with $40 million lawsuit, judge rules
- Star of David symbols spray-painted on Paris buildings under investigation by authorities in France
Recommendation
-
'He's driving the bus': Jim Harbaugh effect paying dividends for Justin Herbert, Chargers
-
Right turn on red? With pedestrian deaths rising, US cities are considering bans
-
Man who blamed cancer on Monsanto weedkiller awarded $332 million
-
The FDA proposes banning a food additive that's been used for a century
-
Joan says 'Yes!' to 'Golden Bachelorette' finale fantasy beach proposal. Who did she pick?
-
I spent two hours floating naked in a dark chamber for my mental health. Did it work?
-
Earthquake rocks northwest Nepal, felt as far as India’s capital
-
A small plane headed from Croatia to Salzburg crashes in Austria, killing 4 people