Four inmates at an Arkansas jail have filed a federal lawsuit after they said they were unknowingly prescribed an anti-parasitic drug to treat their COVID-19.The American Civil Liberties Union on Thursday filed the lawsuit against the Washington County jail, Sheriff Tim Helder and jail physician Dr. Robert Karas. The four inmates that the ACLU is representing said they were prescribed ivermectin to treat COVID-19 without them even knowing. “They were told they were getting vitamins or steroids to make them feel better. They weren’t told about any side effects. Basically, they were used as guinea pigs,” Gary Sullivan, legal director at ACLU of Arkansas said. Sullivan said last summer, the four inmates in the lawsuit were given ivermectin to treat COVID-19. All four inmates reported side effects.”Some have had diarrhea, severe stomach pain,” he said. “What we have determined from the dosages that we saw in our clients’ medical records they were given much higher doses of this drug that you should even get for conditions that the FDA has approved this drug for treatment.”Ivermectin is approved for use by people and animals for some parasitic worms, head lice and skin conditions. The drug is not approved for treating COVID-19.”In the records we have obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, probably as early as 2020, was when ivermectin was used,” Sullivan said. According to the lawsuit, “As of August 25, 2021, Dr. Karas stated publicly that there had been 531 confirmed covid-19 cases at WCDC, Dr. Karas has admitted publicly to administering Ivermectin to such confined persons.”Sullivan said now they are asking the court to enter an injunction to Washington County Sheriff Helder and Dr. Karis to stop the administration of ivermectin in the jail.”The sheriff has a constitutional duty to make sure the people in the jail receive adequate medical care and so far he’s violated those constitutional mandates,” Sullivan said. Arkansas sister station 40/29 reached out to Sheriff Helder’s office. His spokesperson said they can’t comment due to the pending litigation. Helder in August revealed the prisoners had been prescribed ivermectin to treat COVID-19. Dr. Karas’s spokesperson said they did not have any comment on the lawsuit. The inmates in the lawsuit are still in this jail according to the ACLU.
Four inmates at an Arkansas jail have filed a federal lawsuit after they said they were unknowingly prescribed an anti-parasitic drug to treat their COVID-19.
The American Civil Liberties Union on Thursday filed the lawsuit against the Washington County jail, Sheriff Tim Helder and jail physician Dr. Robert Karas.
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The four inmates that the ACLU is representing said they were prescribed ivermectin to treat COVID-19 without them even knowing.
“They were told they were getting vitamins or steroids to make them feel better. They weren’t told about any side effects. Basically, they were used as guinea pigs,” Gary Sullivan, legal director at ACLU of Arkansas said.
Sullivan said last summer, the four inmates in the lawsuit were given ivermectin to treat COVID-19. All four inmates reported side effects.
“Some have had diarrhea, severe stomach pain,” he said. “What we have determined from the dosages that we saw in our clients’ medical records they were given much higher doses of this drug that you should even get for conditions that the FDA has approved this drug for treatment.”
Ivermectin is approved for use by people and animals for some parasitic worms, head lice and skin conditions. The drug is not approved for treating COVID-19.
“In the records we have obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, probably as early as 2020, was when ivermectin was used,” Sullivan said.
According to the lawsuit, “As of August 25, 2021, Dr. Karas stated publicly that there had been 531 confirmed covid-19 cases at WCDC, Dr. Karas has admitted publicly to administering Ivermectin to such confined persons.”
Sullivan said now they are asking the court to enter an injunction to Washington County Sheriff Helder and Dr. Karis to stop the administration of ivermectin in the jail.
“The sheriff has a constitutional duty to make sure the people in the jail receive adequate medical care and so far he’s violated those constitutional mandates,” Sullivan said.
Arkansas sister station 40/29 reached out to Sheriff Helder’s office. His spokesperson said they can’t comment due to the pending litigation. Helder in August revealed the prisoners had been prescribed ivermectin to treat COVID-19.
Dr. Karas’s spokesperson said they did not have any comment on the lawsuit.
The inmates in the lawsuit are still in this jail according to the ACLU.
