From the Mississippi Free Press:
State Medical Board May Revoke Licenses of Mississippi Physicians Who Spread COVID-19 Misinformation
Only MAY? Why not SHALL? Anyway, here some of the announcement:
Physicians who spread misinformation about COVID-19 in person or on social media may have their medical license suspended or revoked after a strong statement from the Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure.
“Physicians who generate and spread COVID-19 vaccine misinformation or disinformation are risking disciplinary action by state medical boards, including the suspension or revocation of their medical license,” the licensure board explained in its new policy, which is in part a restatement of the same policy state medical boards are adopting across the country. The state board licenses and regulates a broad range of medical professionals across Mississippi. This new policy directly threatens the ability of physicians who spread COVID-19 disinformation to practice in medical environments across Mississippi.
The board has taken the position that the education and social role of physicians demands a higher measure of accuracy and ethical behavior with regards to vaccination efficacy and safety. Doctors who spread conspiracy theories and unfounded speculation about the vaccine violate their ethical and professional responsibilities, the board explained.
“Due to their specialized knowledge and training, licensed physicians possess a high degree of public trust and therefore have a powerful platform in society, whether they recognize it or not,” it wrote. “They also have an ethical and professional responsibility to practice medicine in the best interests of their patients and must share information that is factual, scientifically grounded and consensus-driven for the betterment of public health.”
“Spreading inaccurate COVID-19 vaccine information contradicts that responsibility, threatens to further erode public trust in the medical profession and puts all patients at risk,” the board’s statement concludes, additionally suggesting that a broad range of COVID-19-related misinformation could be grounds for license revocation. “These principles are not limited to COVID-19 vaccine issues.”
I think this could be stronger with a shall or will instead of “may.” My only other problem with this announcement is, “It has taken you this LONG to make such a statement? WTF have you been the last year and a half?”
In MS’s defense, I have not seen a lot of doctors from that state on Fox or some other rightwing propaganda site. But given how there are quacks in every state, especially in ruby red states who put ideology over medicine, I figure there must be some in MS spreading the Gospel Of Trump.
It’s really long past time for any state medical board to pull the license of medical professionals who have spread disinformation about COVID-19. They are killing people.