Bowden's Defamation Suit Against Houston Methodist Tossed

A judge dismissed a $25 million defamation lawsuit filed against Houston Methodist Hospital by otolaryngologist Mary Talley Bowden, MD, court records show.

Bowden had alleged that the hospital damaged her reputation when it posted on social media that her comments about COVID-19 amounted to misinformation. Bowden has been a vocal opponent of COVID-19 vaccines and mandates.

Houston Methodist reiterated in a statement after the ruling that Bowden had spread "false information that was dangerous to the public." It also noted that "in her lawsuit, Bowden claimed that she was defamed by Houston Methodist for correcting her admittedly false statement that the hospital turned away unvaccinated patients."

Marc Boom, MD, president and CEO of Houston Methodist, also released a statement, saying the hospital "can now put this behind us and continue our focus on our patients, employees and community. As health care workers, we have a sacred oath to 'do no harm,' and part of that oath means doing everything possible to prevent the spread of misinformation that is harmful to our community."

Bowden was suspended from practicing at Houston Methodist Hospital in November 2021 after promoting the use of ivermectin and expressing concerns over the "potential dangers" of the COVID-19 vaccines on her Twitter account.

After being suspended, Bowden resigned from her position and filed a lawsuit seeking to gain access to the hospital's financial records. She implied during a press conference at the time that the hospital had used its COVID vaccination program to generate profits.

Bowden tweeted that she plans to appeal the decision. She also tweeted, "Doctors, based on yesterday's ruling, be warned that any hospital can now disagree with your medical views, launch a worldwide PR campaign to cast you as dangerous, and walk away with no consequences. A legal precedent has been set, but I intend to fight it."

Bowden's Twitter account was suspended in July 2022, but was reinstated on Christmas day. She has resumed using the account to promote anti-vaccine messages, using hashtags such as #StoptheShots.

The hospital's attorney argued for the dismissal based on the Texas Citizens Participation Act, which protects free speech, according to the Houston Chronicle. The attorney also emphasized that Methodist had spoken publicly about Bowden's claims because it was a matter of "intense public interest" and Bowden should be considered a public figure after "inserting herself" into a public debate on COVID-19 measures, according to the article.

The judge also ordered Bowden to pay the hospital's attorney fees, according to the Chronicle.

This was not the only lawsuit Bowden is involved with. She was one of three doctors who filed a lawsuit against the FDA over ivermectin prescribing for COVID-19.

That case was dismissed in December 2022 after a judge ruled that the FDA cannot be sued for recommending that ivermectin should not be used to treat COVID-19. Paul Marik, MD, and Robert Apter, MD, had joined Bowden in the lawsuit.

Bowden has maintained her medical license with the state of Texas, according to the state medical board website.

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