In a significant development for medical freedom in Texas, Attorney General Ken Paxton has intervened in a court case to support Dr. Mary Talley Bowden against the Texas Medical Board, refusing to defend the state agency and instead aligning the state's position with the physician.
On February 12, the State of Texas, through Paxton's office, filed an “Original Petition in Intervention” in Travis County district court. This move positions the Attorney General’s Office as an Intervenor-Plaintiff, directly opposing the Texas Medical Board rather than representing it as is customary.
Paxton declared, “I am intervening in the case against the Texas Medical Board in support of Dr. Mary Talley Bowden to ensure her lawful medical freedoms are protected.” The filing seeks to have the court declare the Board’s public reprimand against Bowden “void as a matter of law.”
Dr. Bowden expressed gratitude on X, writing, “Thank you @KenPaxtonTX for your support.” She added, “This is a win for me, but more important, a win for patients. No one should have to sue to get a second opinion, hospitals should not have the power to defy court orders, and doctors should not be targeted for trying to help their patients. Texas has been captured by the medical mafia, but this is a step in the right direction.”
The intervention marks a rare instance where the Attorney General has chosen not to defend a state regulatory body, instead leveraging the full weight of his office to challenge the Board's actions against Bowden.
This case highlights ongoing tensions between medical regulators and physicians advocating for patient-centered care, with Paxton's involvement signaling strong state-level support for Bowden's position.
