Texas AG Intervenes in Support of Dr. Bowden Against Medical Board

Detected February 12th, 2026

Summary

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has intervened in a case supporting Dr. Mary Talley Bowden against the Texas Medical Board (TMB). The AG's office is challenging a TMB administrative penalty and public reprimand issued to Dr. Bowden concerning her prescription of Ivermectin.

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What changed

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed an intervention in support of Dr. Mary Talley Bowden in her legal challenge against the Texas Medical Board (TMB). The TMB had issued an administrative penalty and public reprimand to Dr. Bowden related to her actions in prescribing Ivermectin to a COVID-19 patient, despite a court order and family request. The AG's intervention argues that the TMB's actions violated Dr. Bowden's constitutional rights, ignored due process, and failed to consider expert testimony or her reliance on legal advice and a court order.

This action by the Texas AG signals a significant challenge to the TMB's disciplinary authority and may embolden other healthcare providers facing similar actions related to treatments like Ivermectin. Healthcare providers in Texas, particularly those involved in controversial treatments or facing disciplinary actions, should be aware of this intervention and its potential implications for professional licensing and due process. The AG's office is declining to represent the TMB in this matter, indicating a direct opposition to the board's disciplinary action against Dr. Bowden.

Source document (simplified)

Attorney General Ken Paxton has taken legal action to support Mary Talley Bowden, M.D., in her case against the Texas Medical Board (“TMB”).

In 2021, the family of a hospitalized first responder sought a court order directing Dr. Bowden, or a nurse under her supervision, to administer Ivermectin to the patient, who was on a ventilator and in a medically induced coma due to severe COVID-19 complications. A state district court granted the order. However, shortly before Dr. Bowden’s nurse was set to arrive at the hospital, an appeals court blocked the district court’s order. Dr. Bowden was not aware of this stay. Dr. Bowden continued efforts to prescribe Ivermectin, and when the nurse appeared at the hospital, hospital staff refused entry and law enforcement was called.

However, despite acting in good faith to provide medical care to a potentially dying patient at the request of the patient’s family—and while under the assumption that she was acting in full accordance with the law—the Texas Medical Board issued an administrative penalty and public reprimand of Dr. Bowden. Dr. Bowden has now sued the TMB to reverse the reprimand. Attorney General Paxton is not only declining to represent TMB in the case, but he has now filed an intervention in the case in support of Dr. Bowden. Further, Attorney General Paxton—in support of Mary Talley Bowden—is also declining to represent TMB in another case brought by Dr. Bowden.

“I will not stand by as Dr. Bowden has her Constitutional rights trampled and ability to serve her patients impeded with an illegal reprimand,” said Attorney General Paxton. “Dr. Bowden has been a champion for health freedom, selflessly served her patients, and acted in full accordance with the law. That’s why I’ve filed this intervention in support of Dr. Bowden and to ensure administrative agencies don’t violate the rights of licensed professionals in Texas.”

The intervention notes that TMB’s reprimand was done with no consideration of medical expert testimony, ignored the fact that Dr. Bowden was acting in reliance upon both a court order and advice of counsel, and ignored due process during the hearing on the reprimand.

To read the intervention in support of Dr. Bowden, click here.