Pharmacists’ refusal of Ivermectin prescriptions raises ethical concerns, says doctor.

The Battle⁢ Over COVID Medications: Who Controls Patient Care?

The refusal of pharmacists nationwide to fill prescriptions for controversial COVID‍ medications has sparked a ⁢debate over medical autonomy and patient​ care control, according to⁣ Dr. Mary Talley Bowden, a prominent doctor and founder of ​the‍ Coalition of Health Freedom.

Despite the FDA affirming doctors’‍ right to prescribe ivermectin for COVID treatment, many pharmacists across the country continue to reject filling these prescriptions. Dr. Bowden argues that this situation raises ⁣concerns ‍about pharmacists ‍practicing medicine without a license and dictating patient care ⁤without accountability.

“This needs to ⁢come to an end. In telling my⁣ patients what medicines they can and cannot have access​ to, we effectively have a large group of pharmacists practicing medicine without a license,” said Dr. Bowden. “They have no accountability⁣ for this yet they are allowed to dictate⁣ patient care.”

“I see it every single day. Enough is enough,” Dr. Bowden​ added.

Ivermectin,⁢ a medication that has been in use for​ decades, became a topic​ of controversy in 2020 due to divided medical opinions on its effectiveness against ‍COVID. As a⁢ result, ⁤many pharmacists refused to fill prescriptions for the drug.

In 2023, the‌ issue reached the courtroom, where a lawyer representing the FDA confirmed that doctors were⁣ indeed ⁤free to‍ prescribe ivermectin for COVID treatment.

“FDA explicitly recognizes that doctors do have the authority to prescribe ivermectin to treat COVID,” stated Ashley Cheung Honold, a Department of Justice lawyer representing the FDA,⁣ during the U.S. Court of‌ Appeals for the 5th Circuit.

The‍ FDA, ⁢however,‌ continued to⁤ discourage the use of ivermectin for COVID ​treatment,‌ stating on social media, “You⁣ are not a horse. You are not a cow. Seriously, y’all. Stop it.”

In a subsequent clarification, the FDA affirmed that while it had approved ivermectin for certain uses in humans and animals, it had not issued any statement regarding its‌ safety or effectiveness for treating ​COVID. Nevertheless, the agency‌ emphasized that ​individual doctors have ​the discretion to prescribe the medication ‍for ⁣COVID treatment.

Although the National ⁢Institutes of Health COVID-19 treatment guidelines advise against ‌using ivermectin for COVID, citing a lack of evidence, other studies have‍ found ⁤it to be effective.

Dr.​ Bowden, one of the plaintiffs in the case, ​had hoped that the FDA’s acknowledgment would put an end⁣ to objections at the pharmacist counter. However, just this‍ week, another one of her patients was denied service. This situation further complicates the ongoing battle over COVID medications and raises questions about who ultimately controls ⁢patient care.