Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against Epic Systems Corporation, a major electronic health records vendor, alleging unlawful monopolization of the EHR industry and deceptive practices that restrict parental access to minor children’s medical records. The privacy-related claim asserts Epic automatically hides children’s medication lists, treatment notes, and provider messages from parents when a child turns 12, violating Texas law guaranteeing parents unrestricted access to their children’s medical records. The action is part of broader efforts to ensure EHR vendors comply with Texas parental access requirements and promote market competition.
In-house legal teams should review contracts with electronic health records (EHR) vendors and health data processors to ensure they do not include terms that restrict parental access to minor children’s medical records, particularly for children aged 12 and older. Clauses related to data access rights, proxy access, and restrictions on data sharing or portability should be updated to comply with state laws requiring unrestricted parental access to minor health data. Additionally, teams should verify that vendor agreements do not include exclusionary terms that limit competition or data interoperability, as such terms may trigger antitrust and privacy scrutiny.
Entity
Epic Systems Corporation
Also known as: Epic Systems
Industry
TechnologyOfficial Press Release
https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/attorney-general-ken-paxton-sues-major-medical-record-database-gatekeeping-data-and-restricting
Petition 4
https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/default/files/images/press/Petition_4.pdf
Texas Attorney General Enforcement Page
https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/consumer-protection/privacy
"Epic Systems Corporation (“Epic”)"
"December 11, 2025"
"Texas"
"Tex. Health & Safety Code § 183.006"
"restrict parental access to their minor children’s medical records"
"children’s medication lists, treatment notes, and provider messages from parents"
$1.0B
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