A legal fight between the Texas Medical Board and Dr. Mary Bowden escalated Thursday as both sides issued public statements following Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s intervention petition.

The Texas Medical Board said February 19 it “intends to vigorously contest” claims raised after the Attorney General intervened in Bowden’s lawsuit, accusing the Office of the Attorney General of making “numerous inaccurate statements” in recent pleadings and press releases.

“The Texas Medical Board is aware of intervention by the Attorney General in a lawsuit filed by Dr. Mary Bowden,” the Board said in a statement released February 19. “In pleadings and press releases, issued after the OAG previously undertook representation of TMB, OAG made numerous inaccurate statements. TMB has provided ample justification for disciplining Dr. Bowden for attempting to treat a patient at a hospital in which she did not have privileges. TMB intends to vigorously contest these claims and will stand firm to ensure hospitalized Texans receive care from doctors who are authorized to be on hospital premises.”

The statement follows a petition in intervention filed earlier this month by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton supporting Bowden’s challenge to a public reprimand issued by the Board. Paxton has said he would decline to represent the Board in the matter and instead back Bowden’s lawsuit seeking to void the disciplinary order.

The reprimand stems from a November 2021 dispute at Texas Health Huguley Hospital, where Bowden attempted to treat a hospitalized patient during litigation over the use of ivermectin. The Board previously upheld its disciplinary action, alleging she sought to treat a patient at a hospital where she lacked privileges. Bowden has argued she relied on a court order and legal advice at the time.

“Bring it TMB. I’m backed by the best lawyers in the country…. @barnes_law, Steve Mitby and now @KenPaxtonTX. More important, I will never give up. I will keep fighting until I cremate you. I don’t care how long it takes,” Bowden wrote February 19 on X in response to a screenshot of the Board’s press release.

“Dr. Bowden has been a champion for health freedom, selflessly served her patients, and acted in full accordance with the law. That’s why I’ve filed this intervention in support of Dr. Bowden and to ensure administrative agencies don’t violate the rights of licensed professionals in Texas,” Paxton said in a prior press release.

The case remains pending in state district court. A judge will decide whether to set aside the Board’s final order and block further action related to the November 2021 incident.