WA Medical Board: Idaho doctor peddled false claims of COVID-19

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OLYMPIA The Washington State Medical Board has charged an Idaho doctor with violating standards related to COVID-19 and patient care.

The commission said Wednesday it had issued a statement of disciplinary charges against Dr. Ryan Cole of Idaho, who is licensed in Washington state as a physician and surgeon. Cole lives in Idaho, holds a medical license there, and is currently one of Ada County’s appointed members of the Central District Board of Health, KTVB-TV reported.

Cole has made false and misleading statements regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccines, treatments and masks, according to the Washington Medical Commission’s statement of charges.

Coles’ public statements about COVID-19 were harmful and dangerous to individual patients, generated distrust of the medical profession and public health, and had a widespread negative impact on the health and well-being of our communities,” the commission wrote.

Coles’ wife told KTVB he was out of the country, but she will respond.

The commission also alleged that Cole provided negligent care to four patients to prevent or treat COVID-19 infections, saying he prescribed medications that are not indicated for COVID-19 infection, did not failed to properly document adequate rationale for treatment in the medical record, failed to perform a history or physical examination, and did not obtain appropriate informed consent.

Cole also provided inadequate opportunities for follow-up care, treated patients beyond his skill level, and failed to counsel patients on standard treatment guidelines and preventative measures, the charges allege.

The commission said it found Cole engaged in unprofessional conduct based on the facts alleged.

The Idaho Medical Association said in December 2021 that it had filed a complaint against Cole with the Idaho Board of Medicine, which is keeping investigative documents private pending an investigation. The Idaho Board of Medicine told KTVB that only formal disciplinary actions taken by the board are public knowledge. His online records show that no such action was taken against Cole.

Susie Keller, CEO of the Idaho Medical Associations, said when filing the lawsuit that the lies had caused their nurses and doctors to be verbally abused by patients who believed the misinformation was true.

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