A Texas hospital has suspended the privileges of a doctor who spread dangerous COVID-19 misinformation, including promoting ivermectin for the treatment of COVID-19, vowing to only treat unvaccinated patients and criticizing vaccine mandates. Doctor Mary Talley Bowden, who claimed to be vaccinated, quit the Houston Methodist Hospital on Monday.
Bowden, a doctor of ear, nose, and throat, allegedly used her social networking accounts to communicate with patients. “express her political opinions about the COVID-19 vaccine and treatments,”Includes “dangerous misinformation … not based in science, representatives with the Houston Methodist Hospital told Inside Edition Digital.
“These opinions, which are harmful to the community, do not reflect reliable medical evidence or the values of Houston Methodist, where we have treated more than 25,000 COVID-19 inpatients, and where all our employees and physicians are vaccinated to protect our patients,”In a statement, the hospital stated.
Bowden wasn’t an employee of the hospital. She was granted privileges only recently at the hospital. Bowden has never admitted patients.
“I don’t think I’m dangerous … I’ve never said anything that’s considered dangerous,”Bowden stated in a radio interview Monday. Monday. a podcastBowden acknowledged criticisms, but claimed that they were valid. “on the other stream, people are calling me a hero.”
For weeks, Bowden has shared been sharing Tweets that deny vaccine efficacy and promote vaccine misinformation. Bowden also recently emailed patients to let them understand that she will not accept new vaccinated clients. “this is my way of taking a stand,”A Local conservative blog Bowden was closely associated, according to reports.
“Despite what she has posted, Houston Methodist does not and will never deny care to a patient based on vaccination status,”A representative from Houston Methodist Hospital stated this.
The hospital reported that Bowden had reported that she was vaccinated as required by Houston Methodist Hospital staff.
Bowden told the podcast Tuesday that she believes her recent suspension was due to her involvement in the treatment of one particular patient at another hospital, for whom she prescribed Ivermectin.
Tarrant County deputy Jason Jones, 48 has been admitted with COVID-19 from the end of September. He was placed on a ventilator in the ICU in mid-October. Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported. Bowden, who isn’t affiliated with the hospital where he was admitted, stated on Twitter that she prescribed Ivermectin to him.
Jones’ wife, Erin, is now suing the hospital to allow Bowden to administer Ivermectin as a treatment, and the hospital has filed an appeal to pause an order that would have granted Bowden temporary privileges at their hospital, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. The order was stayed pending appeal.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported the hospital claimed in their appeal that Ivermectin administration and prescription would be considered medically inappropriate. In the meantime, the appeal has been filed.
Ivermectin should not be used to treat COVID-19. Federal health officials warnIt is also used to treat animals with antiparasitic medication. Texas Poison CentersReports indicate that they received a surge in calls during August because of Ivermectin exposure.
Bowden and her support have not given up on their fight to give Ivermectin Jones. Bowden has even made calls to a nurse via Twitter “to put it in his feeding tube. Hospital refusing to let their nurse do it.”
She said on Twitter that hospital and police intervened when the independent nurse she hired attempted to administer the Ivermectin and that the hospital now has precautions placed at all times to prevent anyone from tampering with the patient’s care.
“Dr. Bowden stands by every word she has said in providing medical advice to her patients, and rejects the attempts by some media organizations to force her and other doctors into silence,”Inside Edition Digital spoke with a Bowden representative.