The Christian nurse who blew the whistle on Texas Children’s Hospital allegedly using federal funds for gender-affirming care has been fired.
Vanessa Sivadge, 31 years old, announced on social media that the hospital illegally fired her on August 16, months after putting her on leave.
At the time, the hospital cited “things she shared publicly” as justification for placing Sivadge on leave after journalist Christopher Rufo published her allegations that the hospital billed Medicaid to cover cross-sex hormones and puberty blockers for minors in violation of state law.
She now says her allegations about the hospital and a request for a religious accommodation to be transferred out of the endocrinology clinic (where she claims she was forced to “indirectly participate in the care of children treated with 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 about TCH’s egregious pattern of Medicaid deception and fraud, and this action also unlawfully ignored my request for transfer because of my belief that these procedures cause irreversible damage 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 trying to challenge her dismissal in court and has create an online fundraiser to cover legal fees.
“The only thing I’m guilty of is telling the truth, and I’m more committed than ever to this fight,” Sivadge wrote on GiveSendGo, which had raised more than $50,000 as of Monday evening.
‘The risks have never been greater for whistleblowers who come forward to report wrongdoing, but when the lives and well-being of children are at stake, it’s 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, defended and celebrated.”
She said it was her faith that led her to come forward with allegations that the hospital was using federal funds for gender-affirming treatments.
She has claimed that Texas Children’s Hospital billed Medicaid to cover cross-sex hormones and puberty blockers for minors in violation of state law.
Sivadge approached Rufo about the claims after he published a story about Dr. Ethan Haim, who leaked medical records suggesting Texas Children’s Hospital continued prescribing puberty blockers and other sex-change treatments for children even after it said it had stopped doing so.
The hospital said it was no longer performing such procedures a month after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton ruled that gender-affirming care for children is considered a form of child abuse under state law.
But in the files released by Haim, a doctor performed transgender medical procedures on minors ranging in age from 12 to 17, and the “types of visits” listed were “gender dysphoria” and “gender identity.”
Another visit was scheduled for ‘HRT (hormone replacement therapy)’.
A procedure also listed in the documents suggests one of the appointments was with an 11-year-old “female-to-male transgender person,” three days after the hospital announced it would stop such treatments.
Texas Children’s Hospital denied the claims, saying in a statement in June that it “never condones any criminal act.” according to the Daily Signal.
“It goes without saying that if we discover any unauthorized criminal activity, we will take swift action to correct the problem,” a spokesperson said.
“To reiterate, our internal investigation to date has found no basis to support any allegation of Medicaid fraud. All services provided by Texas Children’s were permitted in accordance with the Medicaid billing and payment guidelines that were in effect at the time the care was provided.”
She came forward with her allegations after Dr. Ethan Haim leaked medical records suggesting Texas Children’s Hospital continued to prescribe puberty blockers and other sex-change treatments to children even after it said it had stopped doing so.
But Sivadge has backed Haim’s allegations.
“I knew what Dr. Haim was saying was true because I worked in the endocrinology clinic and had firsthand knowledge of patients being prescribed puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones, despite the hospital’s repeated and public denials of the program’s existence,” she wrote on GiveSendGo.
The nurse also stated in an interview with the The New York Post who saw doctors at the clinic telling parents their children might commit suicide if they did not transition, and said many parents feared doctors would call Child Protective Services if they did not agree to gender-affirming care.
“These doctors are motivated by a political agenda, like an ideological agenda,” Sivadge said, “and I truly believe they believe they are doing the right thing.”
He added: “Parents were manipulated by doctors with an ideological agenda to follow this path of medical transition for their children…”
“And I think doctors would use manipulative language to suggest that if they didn’t do this, their child would commit suicide or harm themselves.”
Sivadge also believes doctors at the hospital miscategorized gender-affirming treatments to get around Texas’ ban on Medicaid covering hormone treatments.
Sivadge also claimed that doctors told parents their children could commit suicide if they did not transition, and many parents feared doctors would call Child Protective Services if they did not agree to gender-affirming care.
The allegations prompted Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to open an investigation.
But in June, Haim was charged with four counts of violating patient privacy provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
He faces up to 10 years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines, but has pleaded not guilty, citing the fact that all medical records were redacted.
Sivadge has not been charged by the federal government, but the FBI is reportedly… I visited your house after she came forward with her allegations.
She claims the officers told her they “could make my life difficult” and that “I wouldn’t be safe unless I helped them.”
“I felt scared, intimidated and overwhelmed,” she said at her online fundraiser.
After filing their complaints, FBI agents reportedly visited their home.
Sivadge now says he believes federal law enforcement has been used as a political weapon.
“I never thought that (my identity) would come to light and that I would eventually be visited by the federal government, wanting to intimidate me into silence,” he said. he told the Christian Post.
‘And so I think that instead of investigating medical institutions and organizations – in my case, a hospital – for irregularities and illegal activities, the federal government set up its forces to go after people who exposed crimes and whistleblowers like me.
“And that’s outrageous. It’s something I never imagined in a million years would happen to me.”
He went on to say that he fears the use of federal agencies as a political weapon will continue under President Kamala Harris.
‘I believe the Justice Department has been used as a weapon against people of faith and against people who expose wrongdoing and illegal activity, not just in my case, but in many others.
“That’s why I’m deeply concerned that if she’s elected, nothing will change in that regard.”
Sivadge now claims he is the victim of political weaponization and plans to fight his dismissal in court.
Still, Sivadge said he “absolutely” feels God’s presence.
“Not only that, but I’ve felt tremendous support from God’s people,” she said, adding that “the people in the community who have reached out, sent so many messages, donated to my GiveSendGo, have ultimately made me feel like I’m doing the right thing, no matter what comes.”
“And ultimately, the biggest encouragement I receive is from the people who have donated and prayed for me.”
DailyMail.com has contacted Texas Children’s Hospital for comment.