If Washington recognizes Dr. Ryan Cole for what he is, why can’t Idaho? | Opinion

The Washington Medical Commission didn’t mince any words with regard to the irresponsible behavior and words of Idaho pathologist Dr. Ryan Cole:

“It is apparent that (Cole) has disregarded the body of COVID-related evidence found in the medical literature. He then misrepresented that evidence when he presented only one side of it to the public.

“(Cole) has also engaged in a pattern of dishonesty. In particular, (Cole) has made numerous demonstrably false and/or misleading statements in these presentations regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 vaccines, the use of ivermectin to treat COVID-19, and the effectiveness of masks.

“(Cole’s) public false and misleading statements regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 vaccines, the use of ivermectin to treat COVID-19, and the effectiveness of masks are harmful and dangerous to individual patients, generate mistrust in the medical profession and in public health, and have a wide-spread negative impact on the health and well-being of our communities.”

The commission on Thursday banned Cole from practicing primary care or prescribing medications in the state of Washington.

It raises the question: Why can’t Idaho do the same thing?

Now that the commission has filed its ruling after a lengthy and detailed investigation, the Idaho Board of Medicine should come to the same conclusion for the sake of public safety.

Further, Cole clearly should be removed from the board of the Central District Health department, to which he was foolishly appointed by Republican Ada County Commissioners Rod Beck and Ryan Davidson two years ago.

The facts of the case and the investigation are clear.

The Washington Medical Commission listed 19 instances in which Cole made false or misleading statements, including claims that ivermectin decreases the COVID-19 death rate by 68% to 90% and acquisition by 86% to 88%, and that the COVID-19 vaccines can lead to cancer and infertility.

Further, the commission documented four instances in which he “treated” patients through a website in which he merely chat-messaged them and prescribed ivermectin. In each case, Cole did not document a detailed history or an appropriate medical decision-making process, or a sufficient rationale, for prescribing the medication.

In every case, Cole simply prescribed ivermectin. It’s reminiscent of the “pill mills” — unethical doctors who prescribed opioids over and over, landing some of them in prison.

“With regard to the care provided to (Cole’s patients), there can be no reasonable dispute that the care provided was insufficient,” the commission concluded. “What makes this worse is that (Cole) was dishonest about his education and experience in family medicine in presentations that he gave.”

The commission also called out Cole for suggesting that a Boise surgeon died from the vaccine, and dinged him for providing a false statement to the commission itself, in which he said that he never advised people not to take the vaccine.

“The behavior in (Cole)’s presentation raises concerns that (Cole) may use his professional position as a physician to harm members of the public,” the commission admonished.

The commission easily saw through Cole’s attempts to mislead.

Cole defended himself, in part, by claiming he made statements that he “believed to be true at the time.”

That’s no defense. That would be like trying to defend against a speeding ticket by claiming you truly believed the speed limit to be 80 mph on a city road where it’s 30. Ignorance is no defense, and in this case, a doctor can’t simply plead ignorance.

Lest we think this is a freedom of speech issue, Cole most certainly can spread misinformation all he wants — but that doesn’t mean the state of Washington has to continue to give him its stamp of approval as a doctor. Cole is in the “find out” phase of his words and actions.

Why is all of this important?

The Washington Medical Commission states it well:

“Due to their specialized knowledge and training, licensed physicians possess a high degree of public trust,” the agency wrote. “That public trust is essential to the effective delivery of medical care. Knowingly false statements or those made in reckless disregard of the truth erode the public’s trust in physicians and their medical treatment and advice. As a result, public health is injured.”

So, we ask, why is Cole still on the Central District Health board, and why hasn’t Idaho’s state medical board taken the same action against him?

If the state of Washington can recognize what a danger Cole poses to public health, why can’t Idaho?

Statesman editorials are the unsigned opinion of the Idaho Statesman’s editorial board. Board members are opinion editor Scott McIntosh, opinion writer Bryan Clark, editor Chadd Cripe, newsroom editors Dana Oland and Jim Keyser and community members Mary Rohlfing and Patricia Nilsson.