An Ohio judge has overturned a previous court ruling that forced a local hospital to administer ivermectin to a COVID-19 patient after the man’s wife filed a lawsuit asking him to give her the antiparasitic drug.
Butler County Judge said Monday that while “it’s impossible not to feel sympathetic” to the patient’s wife, not a single public health body in the U.S. supports the use of the drug to treat COVID- 19.
“While this court is supportive of the plaintiff and understands the idea of wanting to do anything to help her loved one, public policies should not support or allow a doctor to try“ any ”kind of treatment on humans Common Common Judge Michael Oster Jr. said. in its resolution.
NurPhoto via Getty Images The tablets of the drug ivermectin are shown. Ivermectin is commonly used to treat parasitic worms, but it has recently developed an unfounded reputation as a coronavirus treatment for humans.
A judge last month issued an interim order ordering West Chester Hospital, about 18 miles north of Cincinnati, to administer the drug to 51-year-old patient Jeffrey Smith after having been prescribed by a doctor not affiliated with the hospital. On the other hand, doctors at the hospital had refused to administer the drug, against requests from Smith’s wife, Julie Smith, who filed a lawsuit against the health facility on behalf of her husband.
Ivermectin, when prescribed to humans, is commonly used to treat parasitic worms, but has recently developed an unfounded reputation as a coronavirus treatment for humans. Some Republican politicians, Fox News personalities, and comic podcaster Joe Rogan have talked about its use to treat COVID-19. Federal health officials have repeatedly urged not to take the drug as a COVID-19 treatment, but have warned that it is not an effective treatment and that people have required medical attention, including hospitalization, after self-medication. .
With the judge’s instruction, the drug was administered accordingly to Smith, and his wife later stated that he believed it would improve accordingly. The doctor who prescribed the drug, Fred Wagshul, has not seen Smith, but also stated that Smith “seems to” improve after receiving ivermectin, but that he did not offer supporting evidence. Wagshul also said he does not know if continued treatment against Smith will help, according to Oster’s resolution.
“When the evidence presented in this court is taken together, the plaintiff has simply failed to present the requirements that show that there is a strong or substantial probability of success on the merits,” Oster said.
The judge suggested that if Julie Smith still wants the drug given to her husband, she has the right to transfer it to a health center that supports the administration of the drug for COVID-19.
A lawyer representing Smith’s family told HuffPost that they are “disappointed” with the judge’s decision, but continue to hope to improve his condition.
“Fortunately, Mr. Smith was able to receive 14 days of treatment with Ivermectin, during which his condition improved. Although he probably received his last dose at UC West Chester Hospital, we can only hope that his condition continue to evolve positively, ”lawyer Jonathan Davidson said in an email Tuesday.
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