Hospital suspends doctor who defended ivermectin's safety as COVID-19 treatment, criticized vaccine mandates: Guilty of spreading 'dangerous information' that is 'not based in science'

Administrators at Texas' Houston Methodist Hospital have suspended the privileges of a doctor who defended ivermectin's safety as a viable COVID-19 treatment and who was outspoken against COVID-19 vaccine mandates.

What are the details?

In a statement on the decision, a spokesperson for the hospital said that Dr. Mary Bowden — an otolaryngologist at the hospital — spread "dangerous misinformation" that was "not based in science" after she spoke out on her personal social media accounts against COVID-19 mandates and defended ivermectin's safety in treating COVID-19.

According to a report from NBC News, Bowden currently no longer "has the power to admit or treat patients at the hospital" as an investigation into her remarks continues.

Bowden — who is not anti-vaccine and is vaccinated in compliance with the facility's requirements — is accused of "using her social media accounts to express her personal and political opinions about the COVID-19 vaccine and treatments."

The outlet reported that as late as Nov. 10, Bowden tweeted, "Ivermectin might not be as deadly as everyone said its as. Speak up!"

She also stated that she believes vaccine mandates are wrong.

Administrators added that Bowden's opinions are "harmful to the community" and "do not reflect reliable medical evidence of the values of Houston Methodist."

'People should have a choice'

Steve Mitby, an attorney for the doctor, told the Washington Post that she has treated more than 2,000 COVID-19 patients.

"Like many Americans, Dr. Bowden believes that people should have a choice and believes that all people, regardless of vaccine status, should have access to the same high quality health care," he told the outlet.

Mitby added that Bowden supports combining monoclonal antibody treatment in conjunction with "certain experimental drug treatments" when treating the majority of COVID-19 patients.

He added, "[Bowden's] early treatment methods work and are saving lives. If America had more doctors like Dr. Bowden, COVID outcomes would be much better."

'I don't consider myself dangerous'

In a statement to the Houston Chronicle, Bowden said that all of her comments are "backed by clinical experience."

She told CBS News that she only learned of her suspension when the Chronicle reached out to her for confirmation.

"No one from Methodist bothered to pick up the phone and talk to me about their concerns," she said. "I've been very disappointed with how Methodist has handled this."

"I don't consider myself dangerous, and I submitted my letter of resignation to them this morning," Bowden added. "I have been overwhelmed by the positive support I've received from my patients and from people around the world thanking me for standing up for my beliefs. This will not alter my practice and I will continue to treat COVID early and aggressively."

What else?

The Post reported that Bowden is embroiled in a second dispute with another Texas hospital that previously declined to prescribe ivermectin to a Tarrant County Sheriff's Office deputy who was hospitalized with COVID-19 last month.

The deputy's wife recently sued the hospital, demanding that the hospital allow Bowden to treat her husband with ivermectin.

"Bowden has used her Twitter account to repeatedly post pictures of medical providers working at that hospital whom she says have declined to give the man the unproven drug," the outlet reported. "Texas Health Huguley Hospital has argued in court documents that prescribing ivermectin to the patient 'is outside of the standard of care.'"

“Even if [the deputy] had a legal right to take ivermectin, there is no authority ... that such a 'right' compels a physician or health care provider to administer it to him," the hospital said in a statement on the case.