In January, the state of Indiana introduced a bill supporting “increased patient access to ivermectin for off label treatment of SARS-CoV-2 or Covid-19.” The bill enables health care providers to prescribe the “controversial drug” for treatment of coronavirus prohibits banning the medication. The bill also takes a hard stand against sanctioning doctors who prescribe ivermectin. It also prohibits employers from enforcing mandates, specifically vaccine mandates if an employee rejects the covid vaccination for either religious or medical reasons.
The Indiana Attorney General, Todd Rokita, has issued a letter of opinion regarding “off label prescription of medications for treatment and prevention of Covid-19.” In Rokita’s “official opinion,” the attorney general reinforces the idea that doctors and health care providers (HCP’s) licensed in the state of Indiana can prescribe off-label medications for the treatment of Covid-19. “Off-label prescribing and use of medications is a common and widespread practice in health care and falls within the standard of competent care unless additional circumstances would otherwise qualify it as malpractice.” Rokita does add the caveat: “The provider should consider informing the patient that the use is not an FDA-approved use to reduce the provider’s potential legal liability should a negative medical reaction occur.”
Indiana Medical Community Responds
Rokita’s opinion was met with pushback by Indiana’s medical community. Dr. Gabriel Bosslet of the Indiana University School of Medicine believes the attorney general issued the letter for “political purposes.” “Ivermectin is not standard of care at this point for COVID-19,” Bosslet said. “And so for a physician like me, it’s a confusing statement, because it implies that it is within the standard of care. And it’s not.” The Indiana bill takes into account the objections of the mainstream medical community and says, “the Medical Licensing Board of Indiana, the Indiana State Board of Nursing and the Indiana Board of Pharmacy may not deny, revoke, suspend or take disciplinary action against physicians, nurses or pharmacists who issue ivermectin to people.” The bill also stipulates, as the attorney general wrote, the patient should be informed about the drug and recommends the importance of “follow up care.”
A Trend Among Attorneys Generals
Indiana is in step with the attorney general of South Carolina and some U.S. senators. The federal trend is being led by Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and the state direction by Attorney General Alan Wilson of South Carolina. The difference between the South Carolina AG’s letter and Todd Rokita’s letter is the South Carolina letter doesn’t address the contractual obligation between a doctor and the health care provider who employs the physician. Wilson simply affirms a doctor has a right to prescribe ivermectin. Some doctors in other states have done so and then been fired by their employers because the medication is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Subscribe to the Trialsitenews "SARS-CoV-2" Channel
No spam - we promise
The Indiana attorney general never mentions the relationship between doctor and employer. Though Todd Rokita’s letter seeks to enforce a doctor’s right to prescribe off-label medication, the AG concludes by saying: “The decision to prescribe a medication off-label is one that is best left to consultation between the patient and HCP in consideration of the medical circumstances of each situation. The OAG does not wish to interfere with such issues confined to the patient-doctor relationship. Rather, the OAG’s conclusion provides clear legal guidance to HCPs as well as Hoosiers under their care”. This is guidance for doctors and patients but not for hospitals and doctors. Some hospitals in Indiana have prevented the use of ivermectin to treat patients, which has resulted in lawsuits by families.
In both Indiana and South Carolina, even though doctors can prescribe the one-time “miracle drug” and not suffer legal consequences, they may still be hampered by hospitals conforming to the rules of the FDA.