HARRISBURG (TNS) — A Pennsylvania surgeon accused of prescribing unproven drugs to treat COVID-19 to people referred to her through social media has been fired.

Dr. Edith Behr, a former surgeon with Phoenixville Hospital, is accused of issuing prescriptions for ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine coordinated by a woman with a Facebook account in Lebanon County.

“Tower Health became aware yesterday of the allegations involving Dr. Edith Behr prescribing Ivermectin and Hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of COVID-19. We investigated the matter and, as a result, Dr. Behr’s employment with Tower Health Medical Group has been terminated effective immediately,” according to an emailed statement from Tower Health, which is the owner of Phoenixville Hospital.

Attempts to reach Behr at multiple phone listings were unsuccessful.

Behr has been linked to an effort coordinated by Christine Mason and the Facebook account Taste of Sicily restaurant in Palmyra to provide individuals seeking COVID-19 treatments with certain drugs.

Ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine are approved drugs, but not for treating COVID-19. Studies so far are inconclusive about whether they help. Federal authorities and most doctors warn against using either of them for COVID-19.

Tower Health operates multiple hospitals in eastern Pennsylvania.

Tower Health said it “encourages all eligible individuals to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and to practice appropriate masking and social distancing. These are the best options for discouraging the spread of the virus, and to minimize risk of serious illness, hospitalization, and death. We will continue to follow recommendations from the CDC and other health authorities in the treatment of the COVID-19 virus.”

Mason has been posting daily Facebook videos for the last week discussing how she was trying to help people seeking unapproved COVID-19 treatments who were stymied by doctors and pharmacists. In the comment section of her posts the drugs were referred to as “I and H.”

She didn’t respond to interview requests from PennLive.

Speaking on the conservative Wendy Bell radio show Thursday, Mason described how she came into contact with a doctor to whom she passed along names of people who wanted prescriptions for hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin. “I’m not a doctor, I caHer social media posts have drawn the attention of many people who dispute the benefits of COVID-19 vaccine and the standard treatments. One pleaded for help, describing a family member who was seriously ill, and the family’s reluctance to go to the hospital.

They have also drawn many who were appalled at the idea of potentially-illegal prescriptions, and reported Mason to law enforcement authorities. The Lebanon County District Attorney referred the allegations to the state attorney general, saying they potentially spanned multiple counties.

Mason referred to Behr as a “hero” and an “angel,” and urged other doctors to break the law if necessary in prescribing hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin.

In a recent social media video, she referred to being investigated, said she has no fear because she did nothing wrong.