The Christian nurse who blew the whistle on Texas Children’s Hospital allegedly using federal funding for gender-affirming care has been fired.
Vanessa Sivadge, 31, announced on social media that the hospital unlawfully fired her on August 16 – months after putting her on leave.
The hospital at the time cited ‘things [she] shared publicly’ as its justification for putting Sivadge on leave after journalist Christopher Rufo published her allegations that the hospital charged Medicaid to cover minors’ cross-sex hormones and puberty blockers against state law.
She now says her claims about the hospital, and a religious accommodation request to transfer out of the endocrinology clinic – where she claims she was forced into the ‘indirect participation in the care of children on cross-sex hormones’ – contributed to the hospital’s decision to fire her.
‘This is unlawful for two reasons: It is retaliation for my coming forward with information on TCH’s egregious pattern of deception and Medicaid fraud, and this actin also illegally disregarded my request to transfer due to my belief that these procedures bring irreversible harm and lifelong regret to children confused about their sex,’ she argued.
Vanessa Sivadge, 31, announced on social media that the hospital fired her on August 16
The nurse is now seeking to challenge her termination in court, and has set up an online fundraiser to cover legal fees.
‘The only thing I am guilty of is telling the truth, and I am more committed to this fight than ever before,’ Sivadge wrote in the GiveSendGo, which has raised more than $50,000 by Monday evening.
‘The risks have never been higher for whistleblowers who come forward to expose wrongdoing, but when the lives and well-being of children are at stake, it is worth it.’
Sivadge went on to say that she sees her situation as part of a religious struggle, noting: ‘I believe that human beings are made in the image of God, and the intrinsic biological differences between men and women should be affirmed, upheld and celebrated.’
She said it was her faith that guided her to come forward with the allegations that the hospital was using federal funds for gender-affirming treatment.
She has claimed Texas Children’s Hospital charged Medicaid to cover minors’ cross-sex hormones and puberty blockers against state law
Sivadge approached Rufo about the claims after he published a story about Dr. Ethan Haim – who leaked medical records suggesting that Texas Children’s Hospital continued to prescribe puberty blockers and other sex-change treatments for kids even after it said it stopped.
The hospital’s claimed it was no longer performing such procedures a month after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton ruled that gender-affirming care for kids is considered a form of child abuse under state law.
But in the files Haim released, one doctor performed transgender medical procedures on minors whose ages ranged from 12 to 17, with ‘visit types’ listed as ‘gender dysphoria’ and ‘gender identity.’
Another visit was listed for ‘HRT [hormone replacement therapy].’
One procedure also listed in the documents suggests one appointment was with an 11-year-old ‘female-to-male transgender person’ — three days after the hospital announced it was halting such treatments.
Texas Children’s Hospital denied these claims, saying in a statement back in June that it ‘never condones any criminal act,’ according to the Daily Signal.
‘It goes without saying that if we uncover any rogue or unauthorized criminal activity, we will take swift action to correct the issue,’ a spokesperson said.
‘To reiterate, our internal investigation to date has found no basis to substantiate any allegations of Medicaid fraud. All services provided by Texas Children’s were permitted according to Medicaid billing and paying guidelines that were in effect at the time care was provided.’
She came forward with her allegations after Dr. Ethan Haim leaked medical records suggesting that Texas Children’s Hospital continued to prescribe puberty blockers and other sex-change treatments for kids even after it said it stopped
But Sivadge has backed Haim’s allegations.
‘I knew what Dr. Haim reported to be true, because I worked in the endocrine clinic, and had first-hand knowledge of patients being prescribed puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones, despite the hospital repeatedly and publicly denying the program’s existence,’ she wrote in the GiveSendGo.
The nurse also claimed in an interview with the New York Post that she saw doctors at the clinic telling parents their kids could kill themselves if they did not transition, and said many parents feared the doctors would call Child Protective Services on them if they did not agree to the gender-affirming care.
‘These doctors are driven by a political agenda, like an ideological agenda,’ Sivadge said, ‘and I truly believe that they think that they’re doing the right thing.’
She added: ‘Parents were manipulated by doctors with an ideological agenda to go down this path of medical transition for their child…
‘And I do think that doctors would use manipulative language to suggest that if they didn’t do this their child would commit suicide or they would harm themselves.’
Sivadge also believes doctors at the hospital miscategorized gender-affirming treatments in order to get around Texas’ ban on Medicaid covering hormone treatments.
Sivadge also claimed that doctors would tell parents their kids could kill themselves if they did not transition, and many parents feared the doctors would call Child Protective Services on them if they did not agree to the gender-affirming care
The allegations prompted Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to open an investigation.
But in June, Haim was indicted on four counts of violating the patient-privacy provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
He faces penalties of up to 10 years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines, but has pleaded not guilty – citing the fact that the medical records were all redacted.
Sivadge has not been indicted by the federal government, but the FBI reportedly visited her house after she came forward with her allegations.
She claims the agents told her ‘they could make my life difficult, and said I was not safe unless I helped them.
‘I felt scared, intimidated and overwhelmed,’ she said in her online fundraiser.
After coming forward with her claims, FBI agents reportedly visited her house
Sivadge now says she believes federal law enforcement have been politically weaponized.
‘I never thought that [my identity] would come to light, and that I would be ultimately visited by the federal government, wanting to intimidate me into silence,’ she told the Christian Post.
‘And so I think that instead of investigating medical institutions and organizations – in my case, a hospital – for wrongdoing and for illegal activity, the federal government was weaponized to come after people exposing crime and whistleblowers like me.
‘And so that’s egregious, it’s something I never imagined in a million years would happen to me.’
She went on to say that she fears political weaponization of federal agencies would continue under a Kamala Harris presidency.
‘I believe that the Department of Justice has been weaponized against people of faith and people who expose wrongdoing and illegal activity – not just in my case, but in man others.
‘And so I am deeply concerned that if she gets elected, nothing will change in that regard.’
Sivadge now argues she is the victim of political weaponization, and is planning to fight her termination in court
Still, Sivadge said she ‘absolutely’ feels God’s presence.
‘Not just that, but I’ve felt tremendous support from the people of God,’ she said, adding that ‘people in the community who have reached out, have sent so many messages, have donated to my GiveSendGo, have ultimately made me feel like I’m doing the right thing, no matter what comes down the pike.
‘And that’s ultimately the greatest encouragement that I receive is from people who have donated and who have prayed for me.’
DailyMail.com has reached out to Texas Children’s Hospital for comment.
