General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBREAKING: Judge Kacsmaryk strikes down Biden-era HIPAA rule protecting reproductive health information from disclosure
https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/us-judge-invalidates-biden-rule-protecting-privacy-abortions-2025-06-18/U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk in Amarillo, Texas, said the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services exceeded its powers and unlawfully limited states' ability to enforce their public health laws when it adopted the rule last year.
Keep up with the latest medical breakthroughs and healthcare trends with the Reuters Health Rounds newsletter. Sign up here.
The rule prohibits healthcare providers and insurers from giving information about a legal abortion to state law enforcement authorities who are seeking to punish someone in connection with that abortion.
"HHS lacked clear delegated authority to fashion special protections for medical information produced by politically favored medical procedures," wrote Kacsmaryk, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, a Republican, during his first term.
Kacsmaryk in December had blocked HHS from enforcing the rule against a Texas doctor who had brought the lawsuit, Carmen Purl, pending the outcome of the case. Wednesday's decision blocks the rule nationwide.
Abortion? Not in the Constitution.
— Joe Dudek (@joedudekjd.bsky.social) 2025-06-19T00:29:08.515Z
Uterus surveillance? Constitutionally protected.

Ocelot II
(125,360 posts)It's part of his audition for a future SCOTUS appointment.
Demovictory9
(36,319 posts)byronius
(7,760 posts)BOSSHOG
(42,869 posts)Bev54
(12,563 posts)Hong Kong Cavalier
(4,600 posts)*rubs face*
Won't say any more. Don't wanna get the NSA knocking on my door.
Efilroft Sul
(4,051 posts)What an asshole.
musette_sf
(10,401 posts)Last edited Thu Jun 19, 2025, 03:08 AM - Edit history (1)
Medical procedures have ZERO to do with political favor.
If this shit decision is going to stand, then the barely-regulated marketing and sales of ED generics must be seen as politically favored, since slut-shamers like Kacsmaryk dont give a shit if they are handed out like fn Halloween candy.
AZ8theist
(6,748 posts)This jerk-off judge would acquit Mengele.
2MuchNoise
(212 posts)calimary
(86,711 posts)BidenRocks
(1,672 posts)That was popular in the 60s.
Such obvious code.
Grins
(8,494 posts)Just like his ruling against the FDA over Mifepristone in 2023. And no Republicans stood up against that decision by a federal district court.
But take those same Republicans in a situation where federal district court judges rule against Trump over habeas corpus, and suddenly it is the tyranny of rogue judges!
God, I hate them.
DET
(2,065 posts)How do they get away with referring every damn decision to this piece of work in Butscratch, Texas? This is not justice.