Dr. Mary Talley Bowden has announced plans to appeal the Texas Medical Board’s decision to issue a public reprimand against her following a high-profile disciplinary case.
The ruling, which comes after years of investigation and contentious hearings, was made during a meeting Friday morning.
The TMB voted to adopt the findings of administrative law judges, who determined that Bowden engaged in unprofessional behavior by attempting to treat a hospitalized COVID-19 patient at a Fort Worth facility where she lacked privileges. Bowden had sent a nurse to administer ivermectin after obtaining a court order, and was unaware an appeals court had stayed the order.
The proposed final judgement, presented by Amy Swanholm, the director of litigation for the TMB, characterized Bowden’s actions as intentional and indicating a heightened potential for harm to the public.
Both Bowden and the TMB filed exceptions to the proposed decision, but the TMB ultimately moved forward with a public reprimand—the primary disciplinary action.
This outcome means Bowden must inform any hospital or healthcare entity where she works or seeks privileges of the reprimand, which will remain on her record indefinitely. Bowden’s medical license was neither suspended nor revoked.
Bowden stated emphatically that she plans to appeal, arguing that the administrative law judges are not directly answerable to elected officials and that the process violated her constitutional rights.
She has also pledged to pursue new legislation to prevent similar situations for Texas physicians in the future.
A significant portion of one prior hearing on “aggravating factors” focused on Bowden’s social media activity. Swanholm questioned Bowden about X (Twitter) posts, including threads discussing alternative COVID-19 treatments and criticizing vaccine mandates, as well as posts accusing the TMB of pursuing a political agenda.
Swanholm challenged whether Bowden’s online comments encouraged patients or families to circumvent hospital protocols or legal procedures.
Bowden and her attorneys have argued that this focus on her social media presence amounts to a chilling effect on physician free speech and that no evidence was presented showing actual harm to patients.
Bowden’s disciplinary case stems from a 2021 incident in which she attempted, with a court order, to have ivermectin administered to a dying COVID-19 patient. Although a nurse was ultimately blocked by hospital staff, the TMB pursued the matter as “unprofessional behavior.” Bowden has maintained she was acting at the patient’s family’s request and following legal advice.
The controversy has attracted national attention, with supporters and lawmakers raising concerns about the TMB’s transparency and the implications of sanctioning physicians over dissenting medical opinions and online speech.
The reprimand, while less severe than suspension, marks a significant precedent in medical regulation. Dr. Manuel M. Quiñones, Jr. put forth the motion to adopt the findings of the administrative law judges and issue a public reprimand, but specifically stated, “the public reprimand is the only term in the final order.”
His motion was seconded by Dr. David G. Vanderweide and adopted.
During public comments, Bowden noted that her lawyers had been unable to join the meeting with the provided link. In an email from her lawyers to the TMB, they wrote “we will contend that action [taken against Bowden] is void for lack of sufficient notice and/or providing what turned out to be false notice.”
Dr. Sherif Zaafran, TMB president, clarified later in the meeting that the action against Bowden had “no motive. The board initiated this process because the legislature requires it. When the board receives a complaint, it is legally required to evaluate it. We have no discretion in that.”
He emphasized, “The board has never, ever been concerned with the type of treatment the respondent was attempting to provide… TMB would have brought the same case against any other physician attempting to treat a patient in a hospital without privileges, regardless of circumstances or the treatment.”
The case remains ongoing, with Bowden preparing legal appeals and signaling continued advocacy for medical freedom and physician autonomy in Texas.
Members of the Texas Medical Board are appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott and confirmed by the Texas Senate.
