The Texas Supreme Court last week allowed Soren Aldaco to proceed with a medical malpractice lawsuit against her former therapist and Three Oaks Counseling. The unanimous decision addresses the statute of limitations for cases involving minors who underwent gender transition procedures.
Aldaco alleges that the defendants breached their fiduciary duties through medical interventions that resulted in permanent disfigurement and profound psychological scarring. She is seeking more than $1 million in damages.
The court determined that the statute of limitations can extend in situations where a minor was placed on a path to medical transition. Aldaco began identifying as transgender around age 11, started hormone replacement therapy at 17, and underwent breast removal surgery at 19.
In a statement issued Monday, Aldaco said the ruling means providers cannot use the statute of limitations to avoid accountability. She described the decision as a watershed moment that will affect cases across the country.
The ruling follows a separate New York verdict in January in which Fox Varian received $2 million in a case involving breast removal at age 16.