Written by Steve Cannon for USSA News.
A Respected Physician Faces the Consequences of Disputed Treatment Choices
The American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM) has recently revoked the certification of Dr. John Littell, a distinguished Florida doctor and U.S. Army veteran. Littell gained notoriety for employing Ivermectin as a treatment for more than 3,000 COVID-19 patients.
“I was punished for administering Ivermectin, which helped a young mother leave the hospital in just three days, saving her life,” Dr. Littell stated, addressing reporters outside a Sarasota Memorial Hospital Board meeting.
Dispelling the Ivermectin Myth
First and foremost, let us address the misconception surrounding Ivermectin. Contrary to the portrayal by some public health authorities, Ivermectin is a safe and effective drug. Over the past three decades, 3.7 billion doses of Ivermectin have been distributed, earning it a place among the most widely used medications in history. The World Health Organization includes it on their list of essential medicines, emphasizing its importance and myriad applications.
Ivermectin has demonstrated antiviral properties, and COVID-19 is a viral infection. Numerous respected studies have shown the clinical benefits of Ivermectin usage in COVID-19 patients, such as a study conducted by the American College of Chest Physicians:
The study analyzed 280 patients, 173 of whom were treated with Ivermectin and 107 who were not. The mortality rate in the Ivermectin group was significantly lower (13.3% vs. 24.5%; OR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.22-0.99; P < .05), resulting in an 11.2% absolute risk reduction, and a number needed to treat of 8.9.
Despite the negative portrayal by the Food and Drug Administration, Ivermectin is not merely a “horse paste.” Its applications span both veterinary and human medicine, thanks to its widespread effectiveness and exceptional safety record.
Even if the efficacy of Ivermectin in treating COVID-19 remains contested, the use of a safe drug in a concerted effort to aid sick patients should not warrant the dismissal of a physician.
ABFM’s Stance on Dr. Littell’s Actions
The letter from ABFM states, “ABFM has determined that your Public Channels contain false, inaccurate, and misleading statements constituting health misinformation and disinformation about COVID-19, the COVID-19 vaccine, and the effort of public health officials to address the COVID-19 pandemic through vaccination and other mitigation measures.”
