About this episode
A subpoena from the Department of Justice isn’t just paperwork, it’s a powerful tool that can drain resources, intimidate providers, and threaten patient care.
In this eye-opening episode of Succeed In Medicine, host Dr. Bradley Block welcomes back Dr. Crystal Beal, along with Adrian Levitt from the ACLU of Washington. In June 2025, Dr. Beal’s small private practice received one of over 20 identical DOJ subpoenas targeting providers of gender-affirming care for adolescents. While large institutions like Boston Children’s, Seattle Children’s, and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia also received subpoenas, the impact on a solo practitioner is uniquely daunting. Dr. Beal describes the anti-climactic moment the subpoena arrived via their accountant and the immediate decision to fight it with pro bono support from the ACLU, Arnold & Porter, and Perkins Coie.
The conversation unpacks the broader context: the Supreme Court’s decision in United States v. Skrmetti, executive actions, funding cuts, and the federal government’s stated goal of ending gender-affirming care for minors. Adrian explains how the DOJ is using the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) in a novel way, traditionally applied to drug manufacturers, to investigate individual physicians. The subpoena demanded extensive records, including patient names, addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, training materials, and communications with pharmaceutical reps.
Throughout the episode, they emphasize their ethical obligation as a physician to provide evidence-based, life-saving care and reflect on the deeper moral questions raised by this moment in history.
Three Actionable Takeaways:
Know your rights and secure legal support early: If you receive a government subpoena or face regulatory pressure, contact organizations like the ACLU or the Abortion Defense Network immediately. Do not assume you must comply right away.
Document and practice ethically, but prepare for scrutiny: Continue providing medically necessary, evidence-based care while understanding that political targeting of certain specialties is increasing. Build relationships with legal counsel before crises hit.
Speak up and combat misinformation: Physicians have a unique platform in their communities. Learn about gender-affirming care if it’s within your scope, talk openly with colleagues and patients, and stand against efforts to criminalize or restrict legitimate medical practice.
About the Show:
Succeed In Medicine covers patient interactions, burnout, career growth, personal finance, and more. If you're tired of dull medical lectures, tune in for real-world lessons we should have learned in med school!
About the Guests:
Dr. Crystal Beal is a board-certified family medicine physician and founder of Queer Doc, providing expert, individualized queer and gender-affirming medical care. A nonbinary femme with
