Children’s Hospital Colorado said earlier this month they would no longer be writing or renewing prescriptions related to gender-affirming care for minors.

DENVER — Children’s Hospital Colorado is facing a new lawsuit over its suspension of gender-affirming care for patients under the age of 18.

The lawsuit was filed in Denver District Court on Tuesday on behalf of several families. All of the plaintiffs are transgender and between the ages of 9 and 17. It asks the court to block the hospital’s suspension of gender-affirming care and to restore it. It also says stopping gender-affirming care can cause “irreparable, life-altering, and potentially life-threatening harm” to transgender minors looking for this type of care.

Children’s Hospital Colorado and Denver Health said earlier this month that they will no longer be writing or renewing prescriptions related to gender-affirming care, such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy, for patients under the age of 18. Neither hospital offered gender-affirming surgeries for minors.

In a statement to 9NEWS on Tuesday night, the hospital said, “Children’s Hospital Colorado (Children’s Colorado) lawfully suspended medical gender-affirming care for patients under the age of 18 because of mandates from the federal government that threaten to deny access to hundreds of thousands of patients who rely upon us for care that is not available anywhere else in our region. It is unfortunate that this lawsuit targets Children’s Colorado rather than the federal mandates. 

“One of our core values as an organization is that all families, including the families of gender-diverse children, should have the ability to seek and receive the expert medical care their child needs to thrive. The federal mandates interfere with our mission and our commitment to patient-centered care. Children’s Colorado will closely monitor the ongoing legal challenges while continuing to provide behavioral and supportive care to patients during this difficult period.”

Both hospitals cited pressure by the Trump administration when they announced the decision earlier this month. Children’s Hospital also said a possible federal investigation against the hospital threatens Medicare and Medicaid funding. 

“Ultimately, [Children’s Hospital Colorado] bowed to this pressure and chose to abandon its patients and help the Trump administration implement its discriminatory policies,” the lawsuit reads. “The Hospital’s decision to abandon its transgender patients is not only illegal, it is dangerous.”

Hospital leaders have said they are continuing to offer behavioral health and supportive care services, and are contacting affected families directly.

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Children’s Hospital Colorado is also fighting a federal subpoena seeking medical and employment records related to gender-affirming care, according to recently unsealed court documents that reveal months of behind-the-scenes litigation over whether the federal government can compel access to patient information.

In July, the Department of Justice served Children’s Hospital Colorado with an administrative subpoena ordering the release of patient records, internal emails, policies and staff information tied to the provision of gender-affirming care.

The case, previously sealed at the hospital’s request, places Colorado at the center of a growing national conflict over transgender health care for minors — with both the U.S. Department of Justice and more than 20 state attorneys general now weighing in.

Amanda Kesting contributed to this article.