Court Allows AG Bailey’s Sham Investigation into Gender Affirming Health Care to Move Forward

St. Louis, MO — Yesterday, the Circuit Court for the City of St. Louis issued a ruling in Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri’s (PPSLR) lawsuit challenging Attorney General Bailey’s baseless and harassing civil investigative demand (CID) related to PPSLR’s provision of gender-affirming care to minors. Despite the Attorney General’s demand that PPSLR turn over all patient medical records related to gender-affirming care, the court ruled that individual patient records remain protected — a major victory for patients' privacy rights. 

Just as we saw with abortion access, state politicians are inserting themselves into our health care and exam rooms, this time attacking the trans community. Missouri politicians — including the Attorney General — have waged a harmful war on transgender and gender-expansive youth in their doctors’ offices, restrooms, libraries, schools, and athletic fields.

Statement from Richard Muniz, interim president and CEO, Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri

“While we are grateful the court understood the Attorney General could not violate the privacy of our patients, this decision is nevertheless a deep disappointment to our providers and patients. By allowing the Attorney General to continue his sham investigation, the court has green-lit the ongoing assault on Missourians’ health care. Gender-affirming care has been recognized as essential and lifesaving care by more than two dozen leading medical organizations; patients have no reason to have this war waged by the Attorney General against their care. Attacks like this one are what happens when politicians put politics over people — people who look, identify, and believe differently from them. 

“It’s no coincidence: this sham investigation is a coordinated attack against transgender Missourians at a time when politicians, across many states, are systematically dismantling the right to establish one’s own gender identity. Just like abortion wasn’t banned overnight, neither will trans care. It will be systematically dismantled — little by little, starting with the most vulnerable, including young people.

“To our patients: rest assured that your private medical records and information will not be disclosed. As we consider all of our legal options, we want you to know that Planned Parenthood will do everything possible to ensure your rights to privacy and health care are protected. We won’t back down.”

Planned Parenthood provides compassionate, quality care to tens of thousands of patients in Missouri each year, and proudly provides gender-affirming health care to those who want and need it. Planned Parenthood believes all people deserve high-quality, compassionate health care.