DALLAS — Ken Paxton is suing a Dallas doctor for allegedly unlawfully prescribing testosterone to teens who are biologically female to transition their biological sex, according to a new court filing.
May Lau, a professor in the Pediatrics Department at UT Southwestern Medical Center and Medical Director of the Adolescent and Young Adult clinic at Children’s Medical Center Dallas, is named as the defendant.
The lawsuit accuses Lau of prescribing testosterone cypionate to 21 teens ages 14 through 17, according to the filing. Paxton argues Lau violated Senate Bill 14, which went into effect Sept. 1, 2023, and the Texas business and commerce code, the filing states.
Lau is certified by certified by the American Board of Pediatrics in pediatrics and adolescent medicine, according to her biography with UT Southwestern.
“She specializes in adolescent female and male sexual and reproductive health, including menstrual disorders, polycystic ovarian syndrome, dysmenorrhea, breast masses, gender dysphoria, education for and treatment of sexually transmitted infections, and the provision of contraception,” the biography states.
“Lau has violated the law by providing, prescribing, administering, or dispensing testosterone to minor patients for the purposes of transitioning their biological sex or affirming their belief that their gender identity is inconsistent with their biological sex,” the suit states.
The state is seeking a temporary and permanent injunction against Lau and $1 million in civil penalties, attorney’s fees, litigation expenses, restitution and costs, the suit states.
The suit also accuses Lau of allegedly “engaging in false, misleading, and deceptive acts” to deceive pharmacies, insurance providers and patients by allegedly falsifying records to indicate that prescribed testosterone is for a purpose other than transitioning a child’s biological sex, the lawsuit states.
Lau and UT Southwestern did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Children's Health said in a statement to the Associated Press that it "follows and adheres to all state health care laws.”
Senate Bill 14 prohibits doctors from performing procedures or administering treatments that aim to transition a child’s, defined as younger than 18 years old, biological sex or affirm a child’s perception of their sex if it is inconsistent with their biological sex.
The bill gives the Attorney General the authority to “restrain or enjoin the person from committing, continuing to commit, or repeating the violation.”
The bill was challenged in Travis County court but allowed to take effect by the Texas Supreme Court.
The lawsuit characterizes Lau as a “radical gender activist” citing several published studies centered around gender-affirming healthcare and a presentation she gave about transgender care of adolescents and adults, the lawsuit states.
Lau’s biography notes she is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and a Fellow of the Society of Adolescent Health and Medicine.
“Her research on racial and ethnic disparities in adolescent health, adolescent pregnancy, and youth with gender dysphoria has been presented at national meetings and appeared in many peer-reviewed journals,” the biography states.
The lawsuit comes just weeks before an election in which Republicans have used support of gender-affirming health care as a way to attack their opponents. Republican Sen. Ted Cruz has repeatedly blasted his Democratic challenger, U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, for his support of transgender rights.