A major US hospital is facing serious legal pressure. NYU Langone Health received a federal criminal subpoena. It is the first known hospital to face this kind of demand.

The subpoena came from the US Attorney's Office. That office is located in the Northern District of Texas. It demands information about transgender youth patients.

The hospital informed patients and parents on May 11. The subpoena is connected to gender-affirming care. This is medical care that supports transgender young people.

Gender-affirming care can include hormone therapy. It can also include mental health support and other treatments. Doctors and medical groups say this care is important. It helps reduce depression and suicide risk in trans youth.

This case is part of a broader trend in the United States. Several Republican-led states have tried to restrict or ban gender-affirming care. Texas has been one of the most active states in this effort.

A criminal subpoena is very serious. It means a federal prosecutor is investigating possible crimes. Hospitals and doctors providing this care now face legal risk.

LGBTQ+ rights groups reacted with concern. They say this is an attack on healthcare. They also say it puts doctors and patients in danger.

Parents of trans youth are also concerned. Some fear their children's private medical information could be exposed. Privacy in healthcare is protected by law in the US. This subpoena raises questions about those protections.

Medical organisations have spoken out. They say gender-affirming care follows medical best practices. They warn that legal threats could stop doctors from helping trans patients.

NYU Langone Health has not yet said how it will respond. The hospital has promised to keep patients informed. It says it takes patient privacy very seriously.

This case is being watched closely across the country. Many hospitals provide similar care. They are now considering what this means for their own patients and staff.

Advocates say the fight for trans healthcare rights continues. They are calling on Congress and courts to protect both patients and medical providers.