Whistleblower Dr. Eithan Haim Faces Indictment for Exposing Texas Children’s Hospital’s Transgender Treatments

Controversy surrounding the handling of transgender treatments for minors has reached new heights as Dr. Eithan Haim, a surgeon-turned-whistleblower, faces a four-count indictment for HIPAA violations. Haim attended his initial appearance in Texas federal court on Monday after his indictment for allegedly obtaining and accessing sensitive information of pediatric patients in the Texas Children’s Hospital system without authorization.

According to the indictment announced by U.S. attorney Alamdar Hamdani, Dr. Haim is accused of accessing the personally identifiable information of pediatric patients in the Texas Children’s Hospital system without authorization. The indictment stems from Haim’s leak of documents last year, revealing that the hospital continued to conduct transgender procedures on minors, despite claiming to halt such procedures the year before. This information came to light following Texas attorney general Ken Paxton’s non-binding legal opinion equating transgender treatments with child abuse and Governor Greg Abbott’s subsequent order for a state investigation into gender-affirming care.

Prosecutors, led by assistant U.S. attorney Tina Ansari, claim that Dr. Haim obtained the sensitive patient records under false pretenses and intended to cause malicious harm to Texas Children’s Hospital. They argue that his actions violated the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which protects patient confidentiality and grants limited exceptions for reporting egregious medical misconduct.

Dr. Eithan Haim claims the documents he leaked to journalist Christopher Rufo were redacted to protect patient identities, asserting that HIPAA permits disclosure to stop serious medical misconduct. Rufo confirmed that critical details were redacted. Haim, then a resident at Baylor College of Medicine, is also accused of reactivating his login to access records of patients not under his care.

If convicted, Haim faces up to ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The case is being prosecuted in the Southern District of Texas. Haim learned of the indictment on June 4, when armed U.S. marshals arrived at his home, which he described as an intimidation tactic. He insists that his actions were in line with his professional duty to expose misconduct at Texas Children’s Hospital.

Haim plans to fight the charges to set a precedent for future whistleblowers, rejecting any plea deal. Legal costs have already exceeded $250,000, but donations on his GiveSendGo page have surpassed $620,000, with a goal of $1 million. Haim is determined to clear his name in the forthcoming trial.