Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) has resolved his legal intervention in the case of baby Gabriel after the newborn received medically indicated, life-sustaining treatment for a serious heart condition.
What happened in Baby Gabriel's case?
AG Paxton has filed a notice of nonsuit, ending his office's legal intervention after ensuring that baby Gabriel received the life-saving medical care he needed.
Paxton previously secured an emergency court order protecting Gabriel, who was diagnosed before birth with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a serious congenital heart condition requiring surgery shortly after birth. The order required that medically necessary care be provided after Gabriel's birth and prevented anyone from withholding treatment or removing him from Texas while the case was pending.
The Attorney General's Office also notified UT Southwestern Medical Center and Children's Medical Center of Dallas of their legal obligations to provide medically necessary, life-saving treatment to Gabriel.
Why did Paxton intervene?
According to the Attorney General's Office, the case arose from a dispute involving Gabriel's intended parents and surrogate mother. Paxton intervened after the intended parents allegedly declined to consent to the surgery Gabriel would need following birth.
The emergency order was intended to ensure that Gabriel could receive treatment without delays related to the dispute.
"Every child, no matter what situation they're born into, deserves to be loved and receive the best possible care," said Paxton. "My office used every legal tool at our disposal to ensure baby Gabriel was able to receive the life-saving care he needed."
With Gabriel's immediate medical needs secured and the purpose of the emergency intervention fulfilled, Paxton's office filed the notice of nonsuit to end the case.
