Medical freedom group joins fight against California in Supreme Court case
The medical freedom group America’s Frontline Doctors (AFLDS) filed an amicus curiae brief with the US Supreme Court last month in Kory v. Bonta, a case where three doctors are suing California for targeting them over their opinions.
Dr. Pierre Kory, Dr. Le Trinh Hoang, and Dr. Brian Tyson have teamed up with Physicians for Informed Consent and Children’s Health Defense to stop the California Medical Board (CMB) from sanctioning physicians who oppose the government’s narrative on COVID-19. The CMB has been investigating and targeting doctors who caution patients against taking the experimental mRNA shots or wearing masks, and who recommend cheap, alternative early COVID-19 treatments like hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) or ivermectin. Although this guidance is backed by strong medical science, the CMB has been disciplining doctors who provide it. Physicians risk losing their licenses for providing such “medical misinformation.”
“The COVID pandemic showed the world that tyranny no longer operates in the dark,” AFLDS Founder and President Dr. Simone Gold said in a statement after the amici curiae brief was filed. “Those seeking to usurp power and trample on the rights of the American people are doing so in plain sight. Tyranny is not TAKING hold in California. It has TAKEN hold. And as California goes, so goes the Nation. This lawsuit is not only about the free speech rights of California doctors. It’s about the free speech rights of anyone who holds a state license. Like our Founding Fathers, all citizens have a duty and a moral obligation to take a stand against evil. AFLDS and I will always stand for free speech. This is not the time to sit on the sidelines. Join us in the charge. Censorship, no matter what form it takes - no matter who wields it - must be held accountable by We the People.”
Dr. Simone Gold
Dr. Simone Gold was one of the physicians targeted by the CMB, which launched investigations against her in 2021 for recommending ivermectin and HCQ. Although she was no longer practicing in California, Dr. Gold challenged the CMB to score a victory for free speech that could protect other physicians. At her three-day trial, CMB lawyers did not mention her remarks about ivermectin or HCQ, but rather interrogated her extensively about her political beliefs and her participation in the January 6th protest. Dr. Gold was slapped with an official reprimand. She appealed, and in January, a judge vacated that reprimand and ordered the CMB to pay Dr. Gold's legal costs.
Dr. Pierre Kory
The CMB is not the only medical body targeting physicians for free speech. Dr. Pierre Kory, one of the plaintiffs in Kory v. Bonta, was stripped of his certifications in internal medicine, pulmonary disease, and critical care medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) last year for recommending ivermectin as an early COVID-19 treatment. “What ABIM is doing is basically telling doctors that we need to take our orders from bureaucrats in Washington and certain medical journals instead of making treatment decisions based on our training and expertise,” he said.
Dr. Paul Marik
Dr. Paul Marik, a colleague of Dr. Kory’s, also had his certifications in internal medicine and critical care medicine revoked by the ABIM for promoting ivermectin.
Dr. Paul Thomas
In 2019, the Oregon Medical Board began targeting Dr. Paul Thomas after he wrote a bestselling book advocating for an alternative and slower vaccine schedule than the CDC’s. The OMB demanded that Dr. Thomas justify his approach, and he responded by publishing a peer-reviewed study that found that unvaccinated children were generally healthy, but illnesses and chronic conditions were skyrocketing among vaccinated kids. Within five days of the study’s publication, the OMB decided to revoke Dr. Thomas’ license for being a “threat to public health” and an “immediate danger to the public.” This also cost him his licenses in Washington and Hawaii, along with his practice and his marriage. The His lawsuit against the OMB, Thomas v. Harder, is currently before the US Supreme Court. The medical journal that published his paper retracted it, but the graphs from his paper demonstrating the different health outcomes in vaccinated and unvaccinated children continue to circulate online:
Dr. Mary Talley Bowden
In 2021, Dr. Mary Talley Bowden had her hospital privileges suspended by Houston Methodist Hospital for criticizing the mRNA shots. The Texas Medical Board (TMB) has spent two years trying to revoke Dr. Bowden’s medical license for her attempt to administer ivermectin to a patient. In an administrative hearing last month, the TMB scrutinized Dr. Bowden’s social media activity to find evidence that would support license revocation. Texas State Rep. Tony Tinderholt (R-Arlington) has slammed the TMB for its conduct, saying “she [Bowden] isn’t the only one the TMB abused and threatened.”
Dr. Ryan Cole
Last year, the Washington Medical Commission restricted Dr. Ryan Cole’s medical license for five years because he prescribed ivermectin to patients and dissented from the COVID-19 narrative. The Commission accused Dr. Cole of “COVID-19 disinformation” because he recommended vitamin D, dismissed face masks as ineffective, criticized the safety and efficacy of the experimental mRNA shots, and more.
Dr. Sherri Tenpenny
The Ohio State Medical Board launched an investigation against Dr. Sherri Tenpenny after she publicly criticized the mRNA shots. When she refused to comply, the board revoked her license. It was reinstated last year.
Dr. Mark Brody
In 2021, the Rhode Island Board of Medical Licensure suspended Dr. Mark Brody’s license for five years after he discouraged patients from taking the mRNA shots. Among other things, Dr. Brody correctly stated that the shots were experimental, had no long-term data, could disrupt DNA, and could impact fertility. After his Rhode Island license was suspended, the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine tried to take similar action.
Dr. Meryl Nass
In 2022, the Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine (BOLIM) suspended Dr. Meryl Nass’ medical license after she criticized the mRNA shots and prescribed ivermectin to patients. The board also ordered Dr. Nass to submit to a psychological evaluation.
Dr. Edward Hagen
In 2023, the Wisconsin Medical Examining Board reprimanded Dr. Edward Hagen after he prescribed ivermectin to COVID-19 patients and fined him nearly $4,000.
Dr. John Diggs
In 2022, the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine launched an investigation against Dr. John Diggs for “COVID-19 misinformation” and prescribing hydroxychloroquine, ivermectin, and azithromycin to COVID-19 patients.
Dr. Steven LaTulippe
In 2021, the Oregon Medical Board revoked Dr. Steven LaTulippe’s license for not complying with mask mandates. Dr. LaTulippe did not wear a mask and advised his patients not to wear masks unless they were sick.
Dr. Scott Jensen
Dr. Scott Jensen was subjected to five investigations by the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice after he publicly opposed COVID-19 policies.
Dr. Eithan Haim
COVID-19 is not the only government narrative that physicians are forced to adopt against their better medical judgment. Dr. Eithan Haim was targeted by the Biden Justice Department for opposing “gender-affirming care” for minors, or what independent doctors refer to as medical mutilation for kids. After Dr. Haim blew the whistle on Texas Children’s Hospital for secretly subjecting minors to medical mutilation, the DOJ tried to intimidate him and his wife, and aggressively prosecuted him despite having no evidence of wrongdoing. The DOJ dropped the case this year shortly after Trump assumed office.
Dr. Allan Josephson
In 2017, renowned psychiatrist Dr. Allan Josephson appeared on a panel where he publicly opposed medical mutilation for kids. The University of Louisville, where Dr. Josephson headed the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology, punished him with harassment, demotion, and eventual termination. The university recently paid Dr. Josephson a $1.6 million settlement.
