California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a lawsuit against Rady Children’s Health on Friday for shuttering its gender-affirming care program for patients under the age of 19. Earlier in January, the hospital stated “escalating federal actions” concerning gender-affirming care and being u nder federal investigation by the Health and Human Services’ Inspector General are what led to their decision to end those services. In the lawsuit, Bonta argues that Rady’s decision to end care violates legally-binding conditions placed by the attorney general himself on Rady Children’s Hospital of San Diego’s merger with Children’s Hospital of Orange County and its affiliates (CHOC). “Rady Children’s Health has chosen to violate its merger agreement and California law in response to the Trump Administration’s illegal campaign against providers of gender-affirming care,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Rady flagrantly disregarded its legal obligations by unilaterally deciding to preemptively comply with the Administration’s demands and cease medically necessary care for roughly 1,450 patients. We will not allow Rady to violate its obligations to its patients and the State. We will fight to uphold the law and ensure Californians can access gender-affirming care without facing unfair roadblocks.” Related stories San Diego County Jan 24 Dozens hold protest after Rady Children's ends gender-affirming care Rady Children's Hospital Jan 22 Rady Children's Hospital, under federal investigation, ends gender-affirming care Rady Children's Hospital Jan 13 Family says Rady Children's Hospital canceled teen's gender-affirming care Rady Children’s Hospital had previously stated that offering gender-affirming medical care under the Trump administration affected their ability to participate in federal programs such as Medicaid and Medicare. “These developments affect our role and responsibilities as a provider participating in federal programs such as Medicaid and Medicare, which are essential to caring for all children and families in our communities. For these reasons, we will no longer be providing gender-affirming medical interventions, procedures and prescriptions,” the Rady Children’s Health said, in part, in a written statement. The hospital said it would continue to provide counseling, mental health resources, and care coordination.  NBC 7 reached out to Rady Children’s Health for comment regarding the lawsuit but they had not responded by Friday night. NBC 7 previously spoke to a San Diego family who said their teenager’s upcoming mastectomy surgery was canceled by the hospital because of, they were told, the Trump administration’s proposal to cut federal funding to hospitals that provide gender-affirming care to minors. ...read more read less