DALLAS — On Friday, federal prosecutors announced that they have decided to discontinue the legal case against Dr. Eithan Haim, a Texas physician who had labeled himself a whistleblower concerning transgender healthcare for minors. He faced allegations of unlawfully acquiring private patient data from those not under his medical supervision.
The case dismissal in U.S. district court in Houston comes at a time when the political landscape is shifting, as the Trump administration swiftly took measures to diminish transgender rights through newly signed executive orders.
The prosecutors had asserted that Haim, 34, a surgeon, illicitly acquired and disseminated confidential information to a conservative activist, allegedly with “the intent to cause malicious harm” to Texas Children’s Hospital, one of the largest pediatric facilities in the country.
In June, Haim denied the allegations, pleading not guilty to four counts of improperly accessing individually identifiable health information. He maintained his innocence, declaring outside the courthouse that he had “done nothing wrong” and vowed to “fight this tooth and nail” in defense of whistleblowers everywhere.
Haim’s attorney, Ryan Patrick, expressed relief following the dismissal, suggesting that it underscores the integrity of their argument. He conveyed happiness on behalf of Dr. Haim and his family that this tumultuous situation has come to a conclusion.
Although Haim currently practices in the Dallas area, he previously served his residency at Texas Children’s Hospital. He was indicted for allegedly requesting to reactivate his login credentials, which allowed him to access information about pediatric patients outside of his care in 2023. It was claimed that he passed this sensitive data to a media contact.
Dr. Haim openly identified himself as the individual who disclosed details regarding patients from Texas Children’s Hospital to a conservative activist, who then published allegations that the facility was secretly providing transgender healthcare to minors. At that point, transgender healthcare for minors was permissible in Texas. Nevertheless, the hospital had declared its intention to cease gender-affirming care in 2022, followed by a statewide ban on such treatments that was implemented in September 2023.
In a statement released on Friday, Texas Children’s Hospital indicated that they “defer to and respect” the decisions made by the Department of Justice regarding the case. In earlier communications, hospital representatives emphasized that their healthcare providers have consistently operated within the legal framework.
Having been released on bond, Haim was initially facing a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison, along with a fine reaching $250,000 if found guilty.
