Court Overturns Dismissal of Claim Brought by Physician Terminated for Prescribing Ivermectin
The Kentucky Court of Appeals overturned a trial court’s decision dismissing a lawsuit brought by a physician against a Staffing Company. The Staffing Company had terminated the physician’s employment after she prescribed Ivermectin for two COVID patients even though the drug had not been approved as a treatment option. State law generally allowed for the termination of “at‑will employees” for good cause or no cause. However, the physician argued that her case fell within an exception to this rule because the termination violated a well-established public policy.
The court ruled: “factual issues remain as to whether [the Staffing Company’s]…disagreement with [the physician’s] application of the treatment protocols constituted an improper interference with her protected right to exercise her professional judgment with regard to these two patients.” The case was remanded to the trial court for further action. Caudill-Engle v. Quantum Healthcare Assocs., PSC