Dallas, Texas, Oct 15, 2019 / 15:00 pm
A federal judge struck down the so-called "transgender mandate" on Tuesday, vacating an Obama-era requirement that doctors perform gender-transition surgeries upon request.
Judge Reed O'Connor of the North District of Texas-who had issued a preliminary injunction on the transgender mandate at the end of 2016-struck down the mandate Oct. 15 in the case of Franciscan Alliance v. Azar, after doctors around the country filed suit against the mandate on religious freedom grounds.
"Today marks a major victory for compassion, conscience, and sound medical judgment," said Luke Goodrich, vice president and senior counsel at Becket, which represented plaintiffs that filed suit against the mandate.
"Our clients look forward to joyfully continuing to serve all patients, regardless of their sex or gender identity, and continuing to provide top-notch care to transgender patients for everything from cancer to the common cold," Goodrich said.