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Montana Attorney General Harasses Hospital Staff for Refusing To Administer Ivermectin to a Patient – Opinion

COVID-19 is a continuing to be ravage MontanaAt one of the lowest rates in the country doctors from one hospital face another crisis: intimidation and threats by state officials.

Doctors and staff from St. Peter’s Health, Helena’s state capital, were present earlier this month. Refused to give consent the anti-parasitic drug ivermectin—which, as Reason Has been reported, is not a safe or effective treatment for the virus—to an elderly COVID patient. Montana Department of Justice was contacted by the patient’s family. They accused the hospital of not only violating her right of treatment but of also withholding legal documents and restricting her text communication.

This is when the excess began to take hold.

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen was a Republican. He sent an officer from Montana Highway Patrol to the hospital in order to speak with his patient’s family. In the subsequent conference call, Knudsen participated and Knudsen joined. Three unnamed officials threatened and harassed hospital staff members to give them ivermectin.

These accusations, if they are true, show Knudsen’s will to use his office for partisan fights against his constituents.

Andrea Groom, spokesperson for the hospital, stated that “These officials don’t have any medical experience or training, but they insist our providers provide COVID-19 treatments that aren’t authorized, clinically-approved, or in accordance with the FDA and CDC guidelines.” ReasonIn a prepared statement. “In addition to that, they threatened their power to forcibly our nurses and doctors to deliver this care.

Knudsen’s Office declined to answer questions specific to the case, however, they did give a statement to ReasonKyler Nerison, spokesperson for the Department of Justice denied any harassment or threats. Instead, he claimed that the Department of Justice was concerned with “allegations the hospital mistreated or violated the rights of a patient” and that it did not target the family.

The Facebook group Montana Federation of Republican WomenThe hospital was also urged to join the fray by members who encouraged them to send letters. This is an InterviewWith Montana State News BureauThe group’s president mentioned the 2015 Montana. Right to Try ActJustification for the patient to have ivermectin. 

The fight was also joined by State Senator Theresa Manzella, R. She said, “If I am an adult of sound intellect and want to assume responsibility for my health if this awful virus strikes me, I feel I should be able to as a free American adult.” Telled The Daily Beast

But the hospital looks solidly legal: Montana law requires patientsTo receive experimental drugs they need to have their medical provider approve. If a patient does in fact want to be prescribed Ivermectin, they can choose to transfer their care to a doctor who will prescribe it—but they can’t tell their current doctors what medications to give them, nor can the attorney general.

The hospital was notified by Knudsen, the dispatched state trooper. Leo Gallagher, the Lewis and Clark County Attorney stated that there wasn’t any evidence for a crime.

The incident exposes not just the hostile relationship of the state with its health system, but Knudsen’s disregard for the limitations of his office. Montana State News BureauThe evidence included evidence that the hospital was outside the purview of the attorney General. He was It is not the rightNot to send a state trooper.

Knudsen was first reported earlier in the year. came under fireKnudsen intervened in the matter of a man that assaulted and threatened a restaurant worker with a concealed weapon he didn’t have a permit. Knudsen assumed control of the case and two charges were dropped. In a separate incident, Knudsen audaciously SubpoenaedAll of the Supreme Courts in New York State. Former attorneys He described his actionsTo Montana Free Press As an “embarrassing” and “breathtaking” to the legal field.

As an investigation continues, COVID in Montana isn’t likely to go away any time soon. Hospital workers are being pushed to their limits. Groom stated that harassing the care team places additional stress on them, and diverts their attention away from treating critically ill patients.