Texas Surgeon Files Lawsuit Over Malicious False Accusations
A Texas plastic surgeon who previously exposed a hospital's transgender surgery programme for minors is now taking legal action against a colleague accused of fabricating rape allegations to destroy his career. The lawsuit, obtained by the Daily Mail, alleges a campaign of retaliation following his whistleblowing activities.
Whistleblower Exposes Hospital Programme
Three years ago, Dr Eithan Haim revealed that Texas Children's Hospital had been secretly performing gender transition procedures on children as young as 11, despite official claims that such treatments had been discontinued. In May 2023, Dr Haim released medical files showing hospital staff continued providing puberty blockers and other sex-change treatments to minors after March 2022, when officials publicly stated they had stopped.
Dr Haim publicly acknowledged providing these documents to journalist Christopher Rufo, repeatedly emphasising that no patient personal information was included in the leaked materials. This disclosure triggered a federal investigation into potential Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act violations, though the Trump Administration later dismissed the case with prejudice, citing its foundation on "lies, not facts or law."
Alleged Retaliation Through False Accusations
According to the lawsuit, Dr Kristy Rialon, a 43-year-old colleague, responded to Dr Haim's whistleblowing by posting multiple "anonymous defamatory reviews" on his WebMD profile. These posts allegedly accused Dr Haim of "mutilating and raping his patients," with one particularly detailed review pretending to be from a patient describing an alleged rape.
The complaint states that Dr Rialon admitted to the FBI that she authored these reviews, which were intended to prompt Justice Department action against Dr Haim for exposing the hospital's transgender health programme. Despite Dr Haim never being found guilty of any crime, his surgical career and professional reputation suffered severe damage from these allegations.
Broader Legal Action and Institutional Involvement
Dr Haim's lawsuit extends beyond Dr Rialon to include Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Dr Larry Hollier Jr, and TCH senior vice president and general counsel Afsheen Davis. The complaint accuses these parties of "malicious prosecution" and retaliation for whistleblowing activities.
The legal filing highlights how defendants allegedly "concocted a story" that Dr Haim's disclosures violated HIPAA regulations, then "stridently pushed that narrative during numerous meetings with federal authorities" despite knowing it was false. The complaint further suggests "willing partners" within the Biden Administration's Department of Justice, Health and Human Services department, and FBI facilitated this prosecution.
Career Consequences and Security Concerns
The lawsuit details significant professional repercussions for Dr Haim, stating he has been "blacklisted from major hospitals and surgical practices" and cannot obtain necessary credentials or privileges despite being otherwise qualified. His attorneys argue his surgical and academic career have been "irreparably limited" and his community standing damaged to the point where he "fears for his life."
Dr Haim has reportedly faced numerous death threats as a result of the false accusations, forcing him to implement additional security measures to protect himself and his family. The psychological and professional toll has been substantial, with the lawsuit seeking $1,000,000 in damages for the harm inflicted.
External Support and Platform Advocacy
Notably, Dr Haim's legal complaint has received backing from billionaire Elon Musk and his social media platform X, which the surgeon credits with enabling him to "fight back against an unjust prosecution." In public statements, Dr Haim expressed gratitude for this support, suggesting it was instrumental in ensuring "my wife has her husband and my daughter, her father."
Dr Haim specifically thanked Musk, X Corp, and his legal teams at Schaer Jaffe and Burke Law Group, stating: "The only way I was able to fight back against an unjust prosecution was to tell the truth. And the only way for people to see the truth was because of X. For this reason, they have proven themselves to be an incalculable force for good at a time when it's most important."
The case continues to develop as legal proceedings advance, highlighting complex intersections between medical ethics, whistleblower protections, and professional retaliation in contentious healthcare debates.
