The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) warns two Texas hospitals that they cannot refuse or withhold life-saving treatment from a newborn based on a disability. The warning is directed at Children’s Medical Center of Dallas and UT Southwestern regarding a baby identified as Gabriel and a serious heart-related condition.
HHS says the care decisions must not be based on disability status, consistent with federal requirements that protect access to medical services. The directive emphasizes that hospitals must evaluate and provide treatment appropriate to the baby’s medical needs rather than making determinations tied to disability.
While both outlets report the same core action by HHS, the available information here focuses primarily on the enforcement message and the hospitals named, rather than on detailed reactions from the institutions or on any court or administrative process. The coverage centers on HHS’s position that withholding treatment in such circumstances is not allowed.
