Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City has taken legal action, increased security and locked down its intensive care unit in response to what it describes as online threats to the hospital, The Oklahoman reported.
On Feb. 11, Mercy Hospital filed a restraining order against the founder of an Oklahoma church group involved in a Feb. 8 protest outside the hospital, according to NBC affiliate KFOR.
"There have been many baseless allegations and attacks online this past week about our hospital and co-workers. We have done our absolute best to respond with dignity and respect toward people with a difference of opinion, but we must defend our co-workers," the hospital said in a statement shared with Becker's.
The church wanted the hospital to administer a certain dosage of a steroid, budesonide, for a church member battling COVID-19 in the hospital, according to court documents cited by The Oklahoman.
When the hospital did not meet the demand for a higher dosage of budesonide, the church member's wife filed a request for an injunction the day after the protest. The church member died Feb. 10, according to court records cited by the newspaper.
The hospital said claims were made during the protest outside the facility and online that the hospital had a "Fauci protocol" and that the hospital received government vouchers for using certain medications or treatments for COVID-19 patients.
"There is no such thing as a Fauci protocol. There are no government vouchers for using certain medications or treatments for our patients with COVID-19," the hospital said.
The founder of a Oklahoma church also alleged that the church member who died after battling COVID-19 at the hospital was "murdered," according to KFOR.
The hospital said it does not "make money from the heartbreaking deaths of our patients," and that "our co-workers are not murderers."
"Our co-workers are incredible, devoted caregivers who responded to a calling to dedicate their lives to being the hands and feet of Jesus and healing the sick. They follow evidence-based medicine and fight to save the lives of every patient in their care, and they're heartbroken when it's simply not enough. They have endured enough during the past two years, and we will not stand by and allow them to be attacked," the hospital said.
The church group's founder said on Facebook that his group does not encourage violence or threats but "did protest and desperately attempted to get the attention of hospital leadership," according to The Oklahoman.
As of Feb. 17, local police departments continue to provide extra security support at the facility. The ICU also remains on lockdown.
Editor's note: This story was updated Feb. 17.