MU Health Care settles lawsuit over gender-affirming care

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

MU Health Care and the family of a Boone County boy have settled a lawsuit over the organization's abrupt end to gender-affirming care for minors last year.

The family of a youth known only as "K.J." in court documents was one of two families who sued MU Health Care in November 2023. The lawsuit came after MU Health Care stopped providing gender-affirming care to minors. One of the families later dropped out of the lawsuit.

That decision was made after a state law went into effect that August banning gender-affirming care for minors. However, the law contains language that apparently grandfathered in those already receiving care.

The plaintiffs' lawyer told ABC 17 News in November that MU Health Care discriminated against his clients. The attorney, Andy Hirth, was not available for comment Friday.

An MU Health Care spokesman confirmed a settlement in a statement Friday but did not give the terms of the deal. The two sides submitted a motion for a judge to approve a settlement under seal earlier this week.

"This case has been resolved through a mutual agreement," the statement says.

ABC 17 News has requested documents detailing the terms.