After a judge ordered Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville to give a critically ill COVID-19 patient ivermectin, the hospital says the drug caused the patient’s heart rate to plunge twice.
Leslie Pai, 68, of Cook County, was admitted to NorthShore Glenbrook Hospital with COVID-19 symptoms on August 31, according to a report by the Chicago Tribune.
The woman was already taking ivermectin as a preventive measure and brought it to the hospital with her.
The Tribune reported that hospital staff threw out the drug, saying it was not allowed.
Pai’s daughter, Tiffany Wilson, had her mother transferred on September 11 to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville.
Pai was put on a ventilator and into a medical-induced coma at Advocate Condell, the Tribune reported.
Wilson filed a lawsuit in DuPage County against Advocate Condell Medical Center after they also refused to administer ivermectin to Pai.
On Friday, DuPage County Judge Anne Hayes granted a temporary injunction allowing an outside physician to administer the drug to Pai.
Dr. Harvey Friedman, a pulmonologist, said in a court affidavit that Pai did not react well after she received ivermectin.
After one dose of the drug, Pai’s heart rate dropped to 28 beats per minute, requiring hospital staff to give her norepinephrine, the Tribune reported.
“In my expert medical opinionโฆ without the intervention of Advocate Condell Medical Center ICU staff, Ms. Pai was at risk of heart failure, stroke, death and other significant harm,” Friedman said.
In a second affidavit, Dr. Dipul Patadia said Pai experienced a drop in heart rate again after a second dose of ivermectin was administered, requiring hospital staff to give the woman norepinephrine again.
Pai’s attorneys said her medical records do not show the pulse drop and claim her condition has improved, the Tribune reported.
A court hearing in the case is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.