Judge Orders Hospital To Treat Patient With Ivermectin, Despite CDC Warning

A judge in Ohio ordered a hospital to treat a patient with COVID-19 with ivermectin, a controversial drug that is commonly used as an animal dewormer.

The order was the result of a lawsuit filed by the man's wife after the hospital refused to give him the drug. Julie Smith filed a lawsuit on behalf of her husband Jeffrey, who has been on a ventilator for the past 19 days. She said that he had been treated with Remdesivir, plasma, and steroids but only had a 30% chance of survival.

Julie sought alternative treatments and met with Dr. Fred Wagshul, who prescribed ivermectin for her husband. Despite have a prescription, doctors a West Chester Hospital refused to administer the drug, which is not FDA approved to treat or prevent COVID-19. Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a health advisory warning people not to use the drug.

"Adverse effects associated with ivermectin misuse and overdose are increasing, as shown by a rise in calls to poison control centers reporting overdoses and more people experiencing adverse effects," the CDC said.

The hospital said it plans to follow the judge's order and will treat Smith with 30 milligrams of the drug every day for three weeks.

"Hospitals follow FDA and CDC guidelines, have never used ivermectin and have no experience with ivermectin and if not for a court order would not be using ivermectin; it's that simple," Dr. Wagshul told WKRC.