The University of Kentucky’s hospital system is under scrutiny following a report that staff at its Circle Clinic hypothetically offered transgender hormone therapy to a 15-year-old — a potential violation of Kentucky state law. The conversation was part of an undercover investigation by the Daily Caller and has ignited renewed concerns over the enforcement of medical regulations protecting minors.
In a March 31 phone call, a staff member at the University of Kentucky HealthCare’s Department of Family and Community Medicine at Circle confirmed to a Caller reporter that hormone therapy was available and age was not a disqualifying factor. “It does not” change anything, the staff member said, after being informed the hypothetical patient was 15 years old. The staffer clarified they provide hormone therapy, though not surgeries, which are handled at another facility.
Kentucky law, passed in 2023, explicitly bans puberty blockers, cross-sex hormone treatments, and surgical gender transitions for individuals under 18. Though Democratic Governor Andy Beshear vetoed the bill, the Republican-majority legislature swiftly overrode the veto, making it law. Beshear had claimed the measure endangered children, but the law remains enforceable.
In response to the report, the University of Kentucky stated on April 1 that it complies with both Kentucky state law and President Donald Trump’s executive order restricting federal funding to healthcare facilities that provide gender-altering procedures to minors. That executive order, signed on January 28, remains partially in effect despite court challenges.
Former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron called for accountability, stating that any institution performing such procedures on children should be held responsible. “Protecting Kentucky kids is not up for debate,” Cameron said. “President Trump and Kentucky lawmakers took decisive actions to end this permanent, life-altering harm.”
The day after the university’s denial, a follow-up call to the same clinic by the Caller revealed a shift in messaging. A staffer acknowledged a new policy: “They have to be over 18 for hormone therapy,” although minors could still be scheduled for other services at the clinic.
The case underscores ongoing concerns about inconsistent enforcement of laws designed to protect minors from irreversible medical procedures. It also raises questions about transparency in medical institutions and the influence of ideological agendas in healthcare settings.
As of now, Republican Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman has not commented on whether his office will investigate the clinic’s initial willingness to bypass the state’s legal age restrictions.
