Ninth Circuit upholds QueerDoc subpoena

A divided panel of the United States — United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled that President Donald Trump's goal of ending gender-affirming care is not improper and cannot be the basis for quashing a subpoena issued by the United States — United States Department of Justice against QueerDoc, a telemedicine provider of gender-affirming care. The 2-1 decision, authored by Judge Carlos Bea and joined by Judge Daniel Bress, reversed a lower court ruling that had quashed the subpoena, sending the case back to the district court to consider other arguments. The subpoena seeks personnel files, billing documents, communications with drug manufacturers, and patient records related to puberty blockers and hormone therapy. The American Civil Liberties Union, representing QueerDoc, plans to continue fighting the subpoena. The ruling is the first by an appeals court on these subpoenas, which are part of a broader Justice Department investigation into healthcare fraud and align with Trump's executive orders restricting gender-affirming care.