Doctor’s license suspended for criticizing COVID-19 vaccines.
A Doctor’s License Suspended for Criticizing COVID-19 Vaccines
A state medical board has taken action against Dr. Sherri Tenpenny, a doctor who has been vocal in her criticism of COVID-19 vaccines. The Ohio Medical Board has suspended her license and imposed a $3,000 fine, citing her alleged failure to respond appropriately to complaints that arose after she testified before Ohio lawmakers.
The suspension is indefinite, leaving Dr. Tenpenny unable to practice medicine for the time being.
“In short, Dr. Tenpenny did not simply fail to cooperate with a Board investigation, she refused to cooperate. And that refusal was based on her unsupported and subjective belief regarding the Board’s motive for the investigation,” Kimberly Lee, a state official, said in the suspension order.
“Licensees of the Board cannot simply refuse to cooperate in investigations because they decide they do not like what they assume is the reason for the investigation,” Ms. Lee added.
According to state law, medical professionals can be disciplined by the board for “failure to cooperate in an investigation conducted by the board.”
Dr. Tenpenny, in a video statement following the suspension, claimed that she had indeed cooperated with the board.
“We cooperated at every level. We carefully reviewed the letters, provided appropriate and legal responses,” Dr. Tenpenny stated.
“My lawyers … drafted responses appropriately, and sent them back. However, the board claimed that we did not cooperate. It seems they simply did not like our answers. But that does not mean we failed to cooperate,” she added.
Dr. Tenpenny, a graduate of Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, has been practicing medicine since 1984. Her Ohio license is for osteopathic medicine and surgery.
Testimony Sparks Investigation
The medical board initiated an investigation into Dr. Tenpenny following approximately 350 complaints received after her testimony to the Ohio House of Representatives Health Committee in June 2021. During her testimony, she made controversial claims that the COVID-19 vaccines were causing people to become magnetized.
“They can put a key on their forehead and it sticks,” Dr. Tenpenny asserted at the time.
She also expressed concerns about side effects, including heart inflammation, which U.S. officials have since acknowledged as potential risks associated with the vaccines.
The board’s investigation focused on whether Dr. Tenpenny violated the state’s Medical Practices Act.
According to the law, the board is obligated to investigate any evidence suggesting a violation of the act, including making false or misleading statements related to the practice of medicine.
Board attorney Marcie Pastrick stated that the complaints made against Dr. Tenpenny alleged violations of the law, if proven true.
Ultimately, the suspension was imposed due to Dr. Tenpenny’s alleged refusal to cooperate, rather than the specific allegations made against her.
Thomas Renz, a lawyer representing Dr. Tenpenny, argued that she declined to cooperate with what he described as “the board’s bad faith and unjustified assault on her licensure, livelihood, and constitutional rights.” He emphasized that her testimony was based on ”factual reports by third parties,” including peer-reviewed studies.
Dr. Tenpenny later contended that the board was investigating her without any evidence of a violation of state law. However, the board pointed to the volume of complaints received and the law’s requirement to investigate any evidence suggesting a violation.
If Dr. Tenpenny wishes to have the suspension lifted, she must submit an application for reinstatement, pay the fine, and cooperate with the board.
Mr. Renz stated that Dr. Tenpenny and her legal team intend to challenge the suspension in court.
“The board was mad because when they sent
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