Dear BreatheMD Community,
Yesterday was a turning point for me as a physician. Earlier this week, I testified on behalf of a dying father of 6 who was being refused ivermectin by his treating physicians. The judge ruled in our favor, telling the hospital’s lawyer that I was to be granted temporary privileges and allowed to administer medications to my patient. I have never been denied privileges and have never been sued. My professional record is spotless with no grounds to not grant me privileges, but yesterday afternoon, Texas Huguley Hospital in Ft Worth, TX informed me that my request for privileges was denied.
I then received a call from a patient with a history of bladder cancer who was looking for a new urologist. Her current urologist works for Methodist Hospital. He called her to tell her that Methodist was discussing denying care for unvaccinated people, and she should start looking for a urologist who can see her.
The final straw was the email I received from one of the surgery centers I operate at. I was informed that in order to keep operating there, myself and my patients would need to provide proof of vaccination. I kindly told them that was not going to work for me, and I would operate elsewhere.
Given the current climate and the writing on the wall, I am shifting my practice focus to treating the unvaccinated. In order to make room for unvaccinated who cannot find care, I will not be accepting new patients with routine ENT problems who are vaccinated. I will continue to care for established patients, vaccinated or not, and would never turn anyone away with a life-threatening illness based on their vaccination status. But this is my way of taking a stand, and I hope other physicians will follow.
I am not anti-vaccination, but all the data I have collected suggests that the vaccine is not working. 42% of the patients we treated last month with IV monoclonal antibodies for symptomatic COVID-19 were fully vaccinated. I believe vaccination is a personal choice and like everything else in medicine, should be protected by HIPAA. I understand this alienates many of you, but all my opinions are based on my clinical experience and not the news.
Thank you for your understanding.
Best,
Mary Talley Bowden MD