Children’s Hospital Colorado said it will no longer write or renew prescriptions related to gender-affirming care for minors, and roughly 800 patients are affected.

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 the 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.

“I can’t tell you how much time I’ve spent in the last couple of weeks talking to parents who are just, they’re crying. It’s a nightmare,” said Paula Greisen, the attorney representing the families in this lawsuit. “The rate of suicide amongst this population is so high… If you stop all of a sudden, a puberty blocker, children begin to develop physical characteristics that are not in accordance with their gender identity. It’s devastating. It devastates the kids who just want to function in their day-to-day life.” 

Greisen said there are roughly 800 patients in the state of Colorado impacted by the sudden stoppage. She said her class action suit represents all of them. 

“The wait list at Colorado True Center was between 15 to 18 months long just to get an initial appointment,” she said. “We have a class, which means we, by default, represent all of them and what we’re trying to do is make this care accessible for anybody who needs it.” 

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 from the Trump administration when they announced the decision earlier this month. The Children’s Hospital 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.”

“I believe it is clear beyond doubt under Colorado law, which says in places of public accommodations such as hospitals,” Greisen stated on Thursday. “There cannot be discrimination based on protected categories;s refusing to treat children because of their gender identity is illegal discrimination in Colorado.” 

Greisen stressed that she understood that hospital officials were “between a rock and a hard place” and believed that medical providers still want to provide this kind of care. But she challenged the hospital to ask themselves one thing. 

“If they wouldn’t treat your child, would you say, ‘It’s OK?’ If the administration were to come in and say, ‘You know what, we’re going to cut off Medicaid and Medicare funding if you treat Muslim people, would we say, ‘Choice between two evils?’ I understand the importance [of this funding]. I’m not trying to be dismissive, but we have to stand together.” 

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

RELATED: Attorney raises discrimination concerns over stoppage of gender-affirming care for minors

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 the reporting in this article.