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A former Houston Methodist doctor is pursuing legal action against the hospital after they suspended her for allegedly "spreading misinformation" regarding COVID-19 in 2021.
Dr. Mary Bowden, a River Oaks ear, nose and throat specialist, claims she initially enjoyed her professional relationship with Methodist until the hospital raised concerns about her social media posts regarding vaccine mandates and treatments, according to Click2Houston.
“I do not believe the vaccine is a one-size-fits-all solution, nor do I believe unvaccinated Houstonians should be treated by medical doctors as second-class citizens, but to the government and Methodist Hospital it's one size fits all no matter what,” Bowden said in a statement, according to Houston Daily. “If you voice any concerns then you are attacked, you are bullied. I am not intimidated by the bullying. I am just trying to save the lives of my patients.”
Bowden also shared her opinions on Twitter.
“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,” Houston Methodist said in a Nov. 2021 tweet.
Bowden tendered her resignation from Methodist on Nov. 15, 2021. She has seen patients who have been turned away for not being vaccinated at her private practice, according to Houston Daily.
"I do not want to be part of an institution that treats its doctors the way they do,” Bowden said in a statement, according to Houston Daily. “They have tried to paint me as dangerous simply because my views may be different than theirs about the efficacy of vaccines and possible treatment decisions. That is what is dangerous. I want the best for my patients.”
Houston Methodist said it “does not and will never” deny care to a patient based on their vaccination status, according to Fox40 News.
Bowden's lawsuit announcement came right before the CDC on Jan. 19 changed their tune on vaccinations and finally addressed natural immunity in COVID-19. The CDC results show that individuals who have previously been infected by COVID-19 are better protected against the delta variant than those who were vaccinated alone.
The final results of a peer-reviewed study published by scientific journal Cureaus on Jan. 15, showed that ivermectin provides a 44% reduction in COVID-19 infection, a 56% reduction in COVID-19 hospitalization and a 68% reduction in death from COVID-19.