Other LanguagesLawsuit sought to stop medical commission investigation of doctors spreading COVID misinformation
SPOKANE — A federal judge agreed with Attorney General Bob Ferguson today, dismissing a lawsuit filed by former basketball player John Stockton, two doctors accused of spreading COVID-19 misinformation and an organization founded by presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The lawsuit, filed in March in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington, attempted to stop the Washington Medical Commission from enforcing its unprofessional conduct regulations against the physicians.
The commission charged doctors Thomas Siler and Richard Eggleston with unprofessional conduct for spreading COVID misinformation in newspaper opinion columns and online. The doctors’ articles included false claims that vaccines are unsafe and COVID tests are inaccurate, as well as lauding alternative treatments that are scientifically proven to be ineffective and even potentially dangerous. Neither physician has been sanctioned by the commission, as its proceedings are ongoing.
U.S. District Court Judge Thomas O. Rice granted Ferguson’s motion to dismiss the case today.
“Adding famous names to a baseless lawsuit can’t change what it is,” Ferguson said. “If you want to practice medicine in Washington, you just play by the rules. These doctors must face the medical commission and answer for their actions.”
This lawsuit is not the first case attempting to stop the commission’s investigations. Eggleston was part of a lawsuit against the commission in 2023 before the same federal judge and seeking the same relief. Judge Rice also dismissed that case.
The previous case did not have Stockton or Kennedy’s organization as plaintiffs. A third doctor, Daniel Moynihan, who filings identify as a volunteer with Kennedy’s Children’s Health Defense organization, was also a plaintiff in the case. Kennedy was an attorney of record.
Case background
Following public complaints and an investigation, the Washington Medical Commission charged Eggleston with unprofessional conduct in August of 2022 related to newspaper articles he wrote about COVID-19. His articles minimized the deaths from the virus, falsely stated that COVID tests are inaccurate and that vaccines to combat the virus are harmful and ineffective, and claimed anti-parasitic drug ivermectin is a safe, effective treatment for COVID-19.
Eggleston has filed multiple unsuccessful lawsuits in state and federal court attacking the investigation. A hearing has not yet been held on the accusations against him before the commission.
The commission charged Siler with unprofessional conduct in October of 2023 after receiving complaints about his blog posts. Siler’s posts included false statements about the risk of contracting COVID-19, the effectiveness of ivermectin and antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine in treating the virus, that vaccines are unsafe and that children cannot spread COVID-19.
Siler’s case is ongoing, as well.
In March, plaintiffs filed the latest lawsuit against Washington Medical Commission Executive Director Kyle Karinen and Attorney General Ferguson, seeking to block the commission from pursuing its investigation against the doctors.
The Attorney General’s Office has successfully defended the state’s public health measures related to COVID-19 against numerous lawsuits since the beginning of the pandemic.
Assistant Attorneys General Andrew Hughes, Sarah Smith-Levy and Jon Guss, and paralegals Amy Hand and Christine Truong handled the case for Washington.
-30-
Washington’s Attorney General serves the people and the state of Washington. As the state’s largest law firm, the Attorney General’s Office provides legal representation to every state agency, board, and commission in Washington. Additionally, the Office serves the people directly by enforcing consumer protection, civil rights, and environmental protection laws. The Office also prosecutes elder abuse, Medicaid fraud, and handles sexually violent predator cases in 38 of Washington’s 39 counties. Visit www.atg.wa.gov to learn more.
Media Contact:
Brionna Aho, Communications Director, (360) 753-2727; Brionna.aho@atg.wa.gov
General contacts: Click here