Transgender Medical Care: University of Maryland Pauses Lawsuit on Gender Affirming Treatment as US Supreme Court Reviews Decision

The University of Maryland Medical System Corp. has filed a request to suspend a transgender bias lawsuit, pending a decision by the US Supreme Court on a case challenging state bans on gender-affirming care for transgender youths. The medical provider made this request on the same day that the US Supreme Court agreed to review a decision made by the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, which found that Tennessee’s ban on such care violates the constitutional rights of minors.

The case currently before the Fourth Circuit involves equal protection claims made by a transgender man who was denied a hysterectomy. This case is similar to the one being reviewed by the US Supreme Court in that it deals with the rights of transgender individuals to receive appropriate medical care. By waiting for the ruling from the highest court in the country, the University of Maryland Medical System Corp. hopes to gain clarity on the legal issues surrounding transgender rights in relation to medical care. The outcome of the Tennessee case could have significant implications for their own case and how they provide care to transgender patients. Keeping the lawsuit on hold until a decision is made by the Supreme Court is seen as a prudent and strategic move by the medical provider.