Doctor prescribing ivermectin for COVID is fired, Pennsylvania health system says
A doctor accused of prescribing ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine — drugs not approved as a treatment for COVID-19 — to patients with the coronavirus has been fired, a Pennsylvania health system said.
Tower Health says it learned of allegations involving the prescriptions written by doctor Edith Behr on Wednesday, Feb. 2 and proceeded to investigate.
“While a licensed physician may prescribe approved medications for ‘off-label’ purposes, the prescribing process must adhere to the requirements of medical licensure, as well as Tower Health Medical Group policies, including the physician conducting an appropriate patient history and assessment, including allergies and potential medication interactions, and documenting dosage amount, timing, etc. in the patient’s medical record,” Tower Health said in a statement to McClatchy News.
“Our investigation determined Dr. Behr did not meet these requirements and, as a result, Dr. Behr’s employment with Tower Health Medical Group has been terminated effective immediately.”
Behr was a surgeon at Phoenixville Hospital, one of many hospitals and medical facilities under Tower Health, PennLive reported.
She could not be reached for comment for comment by McClatchy News.
Ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for COVID-19 has been a source of continued controversy amid the pandemic, though neither is approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
“Given the number of deaths that have occurred from the disease, it’s perhaps not surprising that some consumers are turning to drugs not approved or authorized,” the FDA says.
Treating COVID-19 with ivermectin can be dangerous, the FDA says, and available data does not show it to be an effective treatment. Likewise, experts say hydroxychloroquine has not been proven save or effective at treating COVID-19. Clinical trials are ongoing for both drugs as a COVID-19 treatment.
“Tower Health encourages all eligible individuals to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and to practice appropriate masking and social distancing,” the system said in a statement. “These are the best options for discouraging the spread of the virus, and to minimize risk of serious illness, hospitalization, and death. We will continue to follow recommendations from the FDA, CDC, and other health authorities in the treatment of the COVID-19 virus.”
Phoenixville is about 30 miles northwest of Philadelphia.
This story was originally published February 3, 2022 at 6:06 PM with the headline "Doctor prescribing ivermectin for COVID is fired, Pennsylvania health system says."