The Cost of Preemptively Abandoning Transgender Patients

Some hospitals and healthcare providers have decided to stop offering gender-affirming care to transgender youth and even adults in response to political pressure and federal scrutiny. These decisions have created serious consequences for patients, healthcare institutions, and the broader fight for equal access to medical care. When institutions preemptively comply with politically motivated pressure campaigns urging them to abandon these patients, the harm goes beyond the immediate health effects. It also exposes providers to costly legal battles and worsens the mental health crisis among transgender people, young and old. A recent ruling by the Colorado Supreme Court highlights these issues clearly, ordering the state’s largest provider of gender-affirming care to resume treatments for gender-diverse youth despite political pressure to halt them.

Children’s Colorado Health Pavilion

The Mental Health Fallout of Abandoning Transgender Patients

Transgender youth often face high rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. Gender-affirming medical treatments, such as therapy, puberty blockers, and hormone therapy, have been shown to improve mental health outcomes by reducing gender dysphoria—the distress caused when a person’s gender identity does not match their assigned sex at birth. When hospitals stop providing these treatments, the consequences can be severe.

In Colorado, the Supreme Court recognized this reality. The court’s 5–2 decision emphasized that the immediate and irreparable harm to transgender minors from losing access to care outweighs the speculative risks hospitals might face from federal investigations.

This ruling reflects a growing understanding in the medical community: denying gender-affirming care can worsen mental health and increase the risk of self-harm. Providers that suspend treatment risk harming patients while also exposing themselves to legal challenges.

In Colorado, Children's Hospital suspended gender-affirming treatments for minors after the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) opened an investigation. This investigation followed a personal declaration by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who labeled treatments for gender-diverse youth as unsafe and ineffective. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, gender-affirming care can include developmentally appropriate medical, mental health, and social support tailored to individual patients.

A federal judge in Oregon ruled that Kennedy’s declaration overstepped, siding with Colorado and 20 other states defending gender-affirming care. The Colorado Supreme Court’s ruling further reinforced that suspending care violates state antidiscrimination laws.

These legal battles show that hospitals risk costly litigation and damage to their reputation when they abandon transgender patients.

"advocating to promote youth mental health or protecting kids' access to healthcare, we campaign for public policy change that benefits the health of all kids."

Balancing Federal Pressure and Patient Care

The tension between federal agencies and healthcare providers creates a difficult environment. The suspension of treatments for minors caused distress among patients and families who relied on them for care. The cultural impact of suspending care extends far beyond Colorado, contributing to fear and uncertainty among transgender patients nationwide.

The Colorado Supreme Court ruling sends a message that protecting patient rights, safety, and health must come first, even when federal policies create uncertainty. These legal battles are not happening in isolation. For many transgender youth and their families, these policy shifts create immediate emotional and medical uncertainty.

The Importance of Clear Medical Guidelines and Support

Medical organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Endocrine Society support gender-affirming care as safe and effective when provided under proper supervision. These guidelines emphasize individualized care tailored to each patient’s needs.

Hospitals that follow evidence-based protocols can reduce the risk of legal challenges and improve patient outcomes.

Healthcare providers should also engage with families and patient communities to build understanding and trust. Transparent communication about the benefits and risks of treatments can empower patients and reduce stigma.

Moving Forward: Protecting Transgender Youth and Providers

The Colorado Supreme Court ruling is a clear reminder that abandoning transgender patients harms both individuals and healthcare institutions.

Supporting transgender patients requires:

• Continuing access to medically necessary treatments

• Providing mental health services and resources to help patients beyond the clinic walls

• Following evidence-based guidelines from trusted medical organizations

• Advocating for patient rights in the face of political and federal pressures

  
  

Healthcare providers and allies must stand firm in protecting the health and dignity of all patients, including transgender patients. The legal landscape is evolving to support these rights, and hospitals should prepare to defend their commitment to care.

Access to gender-affirming care is not simply a political debate—for many transgender patients, it is a matter of stability, safety, and long-term well-being. Healthcare institutions that remain committed to evidence-based care and patient dignity will play an essential role in protecting both public health and civil rights in the years ahead.

Readers can support transgender youth by advocating for evidence-based healthcare policies, supporting local LGBTQ+ organizations, and amplifying the voices of transgender patients and families. The Bridge Alliance Fund works with gender-affirming care providers in Colorado to help cover the costs of care. We also have resources and guides for patients and their loved ones. Please reach out if you need support.

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This blog was informed by these sources

Sources

American Academy of Pediatrics. (2018). Ensuring comprehensive care and support for transgender and gender-diverse children and adolescents. Pediatrics, 142(4), e20182162. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2018-2162

“Colorado Supreme Court Orders Children’s Hospital to Resume Gender-Affirming Care for Minors.” PBS NewsHour, May 20, 2026. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/colorado-supreme-court-orders-childrens-hospital-to-resume-gender-affirming-care-for-minors

Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guidelines for Gender-Dysphoric/Gender-Incongruent Persons.