A Texas doctor who had her privileges revoked by Houston Methodist hospital last year due to her support of ivermectin and opposition to vaccine mandates sued the hospital on Jan. 17.
“Two months ago in November Houston Methodist launched me into the public spotlight by telling the world that they were suspending my privileges for supposedly spreading dangerous misinformation about COVID. The Houston Chronicle joined in in that effort. Since then I’ve had a lot of people comment publicly that I should lose my license,” Bowden said outside her clinic in Houston on Monday.
Houston Methodist declined a request for comment.
“Ivermectin might not be as deadly as everyone said it was. Speak up!” Bowden wrote.
After the hospital provided “unconvincing explanations” for why it targeted Bowden, she decided to “follow the money,” the lawsuit states. Under Texas law, non-profit corporations like the one which controls Houston Methodist must make their records available upon request from the public.
Flanked by staff from her clinic on Monday, Bowden spoke of her arduous journey to obtain a medical license and how it has taught her to not blindly trust pharmaceutical companies and to view new treatments and vaccines through a critical lens.
Bowden highlighted that her clinic has no financial ties to the government, hospitals, pharmaceutical corporations, or insurance companies.
“I do not contract with insurance companies. I don’t contract with the government. I don’t take Medicare. I have no financial ties with hospitals,” Bowden said. “The only people I work for are my patients and I treat them the way I would want to be treated.”
Bowden’s attorney, Steven Mitby, said the doctor is not pursuing the lawsuit for financial gain.
“She is not seeking a penny for any of this,” Mitby said. “She’s simply asking for transparency and following the law.”
Bowden sought the information from the hospital prior to filing the lawsuit but did not receive a response, Mitby said.