Cardiologist sued by former employer for using its name when discussing COVID-19 with media
Baylor Scott & White Health has sued a cardiologist for allegedly misrepresenting himself as a Baylor employee long after he stopped worked there.
Cardiologist Peter A. McCullough, MD, gained notoriety during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic for sharing his opinions about vaccines, potential COVID-19 medications and the medical community as a whole.
Many of McCullough's stances related to the pandemic have been viewed as controversial. In a testimony in front of the Texas Senate, for instance, he said that that healthy adults under the age of 50 years old should not need to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. This statement goes against what numerous other healthcare providers and organizations have said about the importance of being vaccinated since vaccines first started being used in late 2020.
In the lawsuit, which can be read here, Baylor and HealthTexas Provider Network said that McCullough falsely affiliated himself with Baylor “dozens, if not hundreds, of times” after reaching a “bargained-for confidential separation agreement” back in February 2021.
“As the parties expressly contracted in the separation agreement, injunctive relief is appropriate to address a breach by McCullough,” according to the lawsuit. “Accordingly, Baylor Scott & White Health and HealthTexas Provider Network ask for temporary injunctive relief to prevent McCullough from further misuse of titles and claimed affiliations in addition to damages as stated herein.”
Baylor Scott & White Health is seeking more than $1 million, in addition to “non-monetary relief,” from McCullough.
“This is a politically motivated attempt to silence Dr. McCullough as he saves countless patient lives from COVID-19 and from ancillary actions related to COVID-19,” Clinton Mikel, McCullough’s attorney, said in a statement shared with MedPage Today.
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Michael has more than 18 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.