Despite warnings from health officials that it shouldn’t be used to treat patients infected with Covid, an Ohio judge has ordered a local hospital to move forward with treating Covid patient Jeffery Smith, 51, with Ivermectin, WCPO reports.
Judge Gregory Howard wrote that doctors treating Smith “shall immediately administer Ivermectin,” according to court documents. Going forward, Smith will receive 30mg of the drug for three weeks.
From WCPO:
The case was brought to court by Smith’s wife and guardian, Julie, after Smith was hospitalized with COVID-19 and placed on a ventilator in West Chester Hospital.
After Smith was on the ventilator for 19 days, Julie reached out to Dr. Fred Wagshul about Ivermectin usage to treat COVID-19, according to court documents. Wagshul prescribed 30mg of Ivermectin to Smith, but the hospital staff refused to administer this prescription.
Ivermectin has shown antiviral effects in extremely high doses, but it has never been proven to effectively treat or prevent viral infections in humans. As WCPO points out, the FDA has approved the drug to be used in patients with intestinal strongyloidiasis and onchocerciasis, which are two conditions caused by parasitic worms, as well as head lice.
“Anything we give in a hospital, you have to know that that has been pharmacy-vetted, approved, is the benefit exceeds the harm,” Dr. Steve Feagins, chief clinical officer with Mercy Health, told WCPO. “But I could tell you, if something works and is approved and authorized, we will do it.”
“Anything we give in a hospital, you have to know that that has been pharmacy-vetted, approved, is the benefit exceeds the harm,” Feagins added. “But I could tell you, if something works and is approved and authorized, we will do it.”
“I absolutely understand desperation when your loved one is in the hospital, and they’re doing everything they can and you hear about something that you want to use it,” he said.
