Feds Investigate Hospitals Over Religious Exemptions From Gender-Affirming Care
Summary
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights has launched investigations under the Church Amendments into healthcare providers who claim religious exemptions for refusing to provide gender-affirming care. The investigations mark the first time HHS has explicitly stated that the Church Amendments cover refusal of gender-affirming services and that misgendering patients may be included under these protections.
Relevance
This development emphasizes the expanding role of conscience protections in faith-based healthcare, showing how Catholic-affiliated providers may invoke religious freedom when declining to offer gender-affirming care.