Story perspectives

Court Rejects Child Advocate, Hospital Clears Anonymized Records

5/21/2026

Summary

Story summary

The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Rhode Island Child Advocate had not shown irreparable harm, allowing the hospital to comply with Texas Judge Reed O'Connor’s order.
A panel denied the injunction, permitting the hospital to turn over anonymized records without identifiers, which the Justice Department accepted at a May 12 hearing.
Child Advocate Katelyn Medeiros called the decision disappointing and pledged to keep fighting to protect youths’ medical privacy.

1 of 1

Story summary

The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Rhode Island Child Advocate had not shown irreparable harm, allowing the hospital to comply with Texas Judge Reed O'Connor’s order.
A panel denied the injunction, permitting the hospital to turn over anonymized records without identifiers, which the Justice Department accepted at a May 12 hearing.
Child Advocate Katelyn Medeiros called the decision disappointing and pledged to keep fighting to protect youths’ medical privacy.