Washington health providers sue feds over deletion of vital medical data

MOUNTLAKE TERRACE, Wash. — When urgent care nurse practitioner Justin Gill tries to find vital information for his patients online, he comes up empty.

“These are essential resources for patients — to save and improve lives, and to make health care accessible and high quality for everyone,” said Gill, who is also president of the Washington State Nurses Association.

Dozens of federal health websites — covering vaccines, reproductive rights, HIV, and minority and LGBTQ health issues — have recently been purged, health advocates say.

Even less controversial topics, like data on children’s health in schools and the emerging risks of flavored nicotine delivery products such as Zyn, have been affected.

Some of the remaining sites now include ideological disclaimers. One Centers for Disease Control and Prevention link regarding HIV prevention reads: “This information is inaccurate and disconnected from the biological reality that there are two sexes.”

“It just creates confusion, distrust and, I think, chaos,” Gill said.