Pennsylvania Physician Accused of Prescribing Ivermectin for Covid Is Fired

A Pennsylvania physician accused of prescribing ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine to deal with Covid-19, two medication that regulators have known as not secure for treating the illness, was fired this week, a regional well being system mentioned.

The physician, Edith Behr, who labored for Tower Well being, was accused of writing prescriptions for the medication, that are not approved for the prevention or treatment of Covid, the corporate mentioned. The well being system mentioned it grew to become conscious of the allegations towards Dr. Behr on Wednesday.

“We investigated the matter and, consequently, Dr. Behr’s employment with Tower Well being Medical Group has been terminated efficient instantly,” the well being system mentioned in a press release on Friday.

Dr. Behr couldn’t be instantly reached for touch upon Friday. Information of her termination was reported by PennLive.com on Thursday.

Tower Well being is a Pennsylvania-based regional well being system that consists of a number of hospitals, together with Phoenixville Hospital, about 30 miles northwest of Philadelphia, and Pottstown Hospital. Dr. Behr was on employees at Phoenixville and Pottstown hospitals, in accordance with Tower Well being.

She is licensed as a health care provider and a surgeon, in accordance with the Pennsylvania Division of State. Tower Well being mentioned Dr. Behr had failed to satisfy the necessities, together with consulting sufferers’ medical histories, for prescribing drugs for “off-label” functions.

The Meals and Drug Administration is evident that ivermectin — which is accredited for human use to treat head lice, rosacea and infections caused by some parasitic worms — shouldn’t be used to forestall or deal with Covid.

Equally, the F.D.A. cautions that hydroxychloroquine, which is accredited to deal with or stop malaria and autoimmune situations resembling rheumatoid arthritis, has not been proven to be secure and efficient towards Covid.

In Could 2020, President Donald J. Trump introduced that he had been taking hydroxychloroquine as a safety measure for the coronavirus. On the time, the F.D.A. had warned that the drug might trigger critical coronary heart issues for coronavirus sufferers. (Months later, Mr. Trump was hospitalized with the coronavirus.)

Utilizing ivermectin for Covid “could be extremely harmful,” according to the agency.

“Presently obtainable information don’t present ivermectin is efficient towards Covid-19,” the F.D.A. said. “Scientific trials assessing ivermectin tablets for the prevention or remedy of Covid-19 in persons are ongoing.”

In its assertion, Tower Well being mentioned it “encourages all eligible people to get vaccinated towards Covid-19 and to observe acceptable masking and social distancing.”

The corporate added, “We are going to proceed to observe suggestions from the F.D.A., C.D.C., and different well being authorities within the remedy of the Covid-19 virus.”