AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has intervened in a lawsuit filed by Houston physician Dr. Mary Talley Bowden against the Texas Medical Board, escalating a legal dispute rooted in COVID-era treatment controversies. Bowden was formally reprimanded in October for attempting to administer ivermectin to a hospitalized COVID-19 patient in 2021 at a Fort Worth facility where she did not hold privileges.
After the board upheld its reprimand in December, Bowden sued to overturn the decision. On Thursday, Paxton filed a petition to intervene, accusing the board of violating her constitutional rights and acting without proper expert consultation. He described Bowden as a “champion for health freedom,” stating his office would ensure administrative agencies do not overstep their authority.
The 19-member board, appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott, includes 12 physicians and seven public members. It cited concerns that Bowden knowingly attempted to bypass hospital credentialing rules.
Political analysts note Paxton’s intervention comes just before early voting begins in his Republican primary challenge against Sen. John Cornyn. Ivermectin became a symbol of the medical freedom movement during the pandemic, despite federal health agencies warning against its use for COVID-19 outside approved contexts.
Bowden welcomed Paxton’s support, calling the dispute a “four and a half year fight.”
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