Boston's Children's Hospital Seeks Fed Probe Into Threats

BOSTON — Boston's Children's Hospital is among the major medical associations that have asked U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland to investigate and prosecute those who are accused of threatening violence at the children's hospitals and physicians who provide gender-affirming health care across the country.

The Associated Press reported that The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association and the Children's Hospital Association wrote to Garland with the request on Monday.

The associations said children's hospitals nationwide have substantially increased security and are working with law enforcement, while some providers now need constant security, amid the rash of threats to buildings and physicians.

Garland did not immediately comment publicly, and a spokesperson did not immediately respond to an AP email seeking comment Tuesday.

Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins said this summer that the Department of Justice will ensure equal protection of transgender people under the law.

A Westfield woman was arrested last month and charged with making a bomb threat to Boston Children's Hospital, which has been the target of intimidation after a right-wing group drew attention to a health program for transgender children there.

Rollins said during a news conference after the arrest that Catherine Leavy, 37, made the threat while calling hospital staff "sickos." She was charged with a single charge of making a false telephonic bomb threat, Rollins said.

The hospital is home to the first pediatric and adolescent transgender health program in the United States. Other U.S. children's hospitals were also being harassed online.

"From Boston to Akron to Nashville to Seattle, children's hospitals, academic health systems and physicians are being targeted and threatened for providing evidence-based health care," the
association's letter to Garland states. "These attacks have not only made it difficult and dangerous for institutions and practices to provide this care, they have also disrupted many other services to families seeking care."

In August, Libs of TikTok — which largely targets LGBTQ+ people — drew attention to the hospital's transgender health program. The account also tweeted false information about treatments for young girls.

Boston Children's officials reported a surge in threats of violence toward hospital staff after attention from Libs of TikTok.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.