On Friday, August 14, 2026, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a ruling in our case, QueerDoc, PLLC vs. the DOJ.
QueerDoc remains committed to its mission of providing expert, evidence-informed medical care to transgender and gender diverse patients. We’ll continue caring for our patients while defending the privacy, trust, and ethical principles that make healthcare possible.”
The Background of The Subpoena
In June 2025, we received a subpoena from the DOJ demanding extensive administrative and patient data. Approximately 20 other organizations also received subpoenas.
In October 2025, the District Court of Western Washington ruled in our favor to quash the subpoena.
In November 2025, the DOJ appealed this ruling, and the hearing for the appeal was held in March of 2026.
By a 2-1 vote, the three judge panel ruled to dismiss the quash and to send (remand) the case back to the District Court to argue the scope of data and the burden of proof for the subpoena.
What Does This Mean For Patient Data?
QueerDoc has not turned over any documents.
Our legal team is prepared and ready to defend the most basic right of anyone seeking to access healthcare: that their data will remain private.
What Does This Mean For Our Ability To Provide Care?
Nothing has changed: we are still able to provide medically-necessary, evidence-informed, and consent-driven care to youth and adults. QueerDoc is still caring for our current patients and accepting new patients. Transgender medicine remains legal in the United States and legal and protected in Washington State, where we are headquartered. We will continue to fight to protect transgender medicine and to protect patient privacy, which affects all people seeking healthcare.
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Statements issued by the ACLU and QueerDoc’s founder and CEO, Crystal Beal, MD:
ACLU of Washington Staff Attorney Adrien Leavitt had this comment:
“Today’s decision sends this case back to the district court, and we’re ready to continue defending one of the most fundamental principles of healthcare: every patient’s right to confidential medical care.”
Crystal Beal, MD, CEO and founder of QueerDoc had this comment:
“This case began with an attempt to use federal investigative powers to intimidate healthcare professionals and patients in an effort to undermine access to gender-affirming medical care. Although it arose from care provided to transgender patients, the principles at stake reach far beyond transgender healthcare. Every patient deserves to know they can seek medical care without fear that their most personal health information will become a tool of political investigation.
QueerDoc remains committed to its mission of providing expert, evidence-informed medical care to transgender and gender diverse patients. We’ll continue caring for our patients while defending the privacy, trust, and ethical principles that make healthcare possible.”