NBA legend and Hall-of-Famer John Stockton has sued Washington state officials for allegedly censoring free speech of doctors who spoke out against the mainstream COVID-19 narrative. The lawsuit names Washington Medical Commission Executive Director Kyle S. Karinen and Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson as defendants. Stockton and other plaintiffs are challenging the state’s policy to discipline doctors who spread alleged misinformation. They “argue the state’s disciplinary policy for doctors spreading COVID misinformation is unconstitutional and doctors’ free-speech rights were violated because they spoke ‘against the mainstream COVID narrative‚'” NewsNation reports. The Blaze noted independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is one of Stockton’s lawyers. 'It just has to be done': NBA legend John Stockton sues Washington state over COVID censorship with RFK Jr. as his lawyer https://t.co/7PLqfVLbrY pic.twitter.com/70vAVO5O6C — TheBlaze (@theblaze) March 18‚ 2024 “The purpose of this lawsuit is to protect the right of physicians to speak‚ and the right of the public to hear their message‚” the lawsuit states‚ according to USA Today. “The goal is to stop the Commission from investigating‚ prosecuting or sanctioning physicians who speak out in public against the so-called `mainstream Covid narrative’ i.e.‚ the succession of public health edicts put out by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and repeated by the primary news outlets‚ which has caused the public to lose trust in the public health authorities‚ which has caused the CDC to repeatedly apologize and promise to do better‚” it added. The Blaze reports: Children’s Health Defense‚ a nonprofit started by RFK Jr.‚ is also reportedly listed as a plaintiff. Other plaintiffs included a retired ophthalmologist named Dr. Richard Eggleston who faced state sanctions after he wrote an article in the Lewiston Tribune questioning COVID policies and death tolls‚ which was reported by a reader‚ attorney Jaffe stated. “The only thing we’re interested in is the First Amendment issue‚” Jaffe said. “Does the medical board have the constitutional authority to investigate‚ prosecute‚ and sanction doctors for writing articles‚ posting blogs on websites‚ and speaking out in public‚ even if the government or the medical board thinks what they’re saying is wrong or dangerous?” “Most other states in the country don’t go as far as Washington. In my view‚ Washington is an outlier‚” he added‚ the Spokesman-Review reported. God bless ⁦@12Johnstockton⁩ Basketball Hall of Famer John Stockton sues Washington officials in defense of doctors | Fox News https://t.co/BKjNcVWXdt — Nick Searcy‚ iNSURRECTIONAL FILM &; TELEVISION STAR (@yesnicksearcy) March 16‚ 2024 Per Fox News: Stockton‚ who got his Gonzaga season tickets suspended over the school’s mask mandate in 2022‚ joined “Fox &; Friends First” alongside one of his attorneys‚ Rick Jaffe‚ to discuss why he filed suit and what is at stake regarding Americans’ First Amendment rights. “I think it’s pretty simple. It’s freedom. Even though we talk about medical freedom and things‚ it’s freedom and freedom to speak. It’s our First Amendment‚” the longtime Utah Jazz point guard told Todd Piro when asked what the ultimate goal is. “It’s really important… to our government and the lives that we’ve come to love in the United States of America. “So if the doctors can’t speak… these brilliant people that we have in our culture‚ can’t speak when they know truths‚ their truths‚ and now we’re deprived of that opportunity to hear… the… wisdom they have to share‚ I think that’s a big deal‚” he continued. The suit claims the defendants investigated‚ prosecuted‚ and/or sanctioned approximately 60 physicians since September 2021. Additionally‚ the commission allegedly punished a doctor who prescribed Washington-based patients ivermectin. WATCH: NBA legend John Stockton is part of a new lawsuit against Washington state officials who cracked down on COVID misinformation from doctors. Rick Jaffe‚ one of Stockton’s attorneys on the case‚ said it’s ultimately about free speech. | Morning in AmericaSource: NewsNation… pic.twitter.com/iSTARiRcVv — Camus (@newstart_2024) March 17‚ 2024 From NewsNation: Eggleston‚ a retired ophthalmologist‚ is being investigated by the Washington Medical Commission for what the suit calls “the public dissemination of information contrary to the government-approved COVID narrative‚” according to KXLY. Eggleston had an active medical license when his opinion columns were published in the Lewiston Tribune questioning the existence of COVID-19 and the accuracy of COVID-19 death counts. The Washington Medical Commission served notice on COVID misinformation in 2021‚ warning that “treatments and recommendations regarding this disease that fall below standard of care as established by medical experts‚ federal authorities and legitimate medical research are potentially subject to disciplinary action.” The commission disciplined an Illinois doctor who‚ via telemedicine‚ prescribed four Washington patients ivermectin. Jaffe said the suit is ultimately about free speech‚ suggesting the courts would decide that the government has “no rule” in stopping licensed medical professionals from “voicing their opinion on public.” “If the medical commission wants to say you can’t prescribe ivermectin‚ that’s sort of within the heartland of what medical boards can do‚” he said. “But in this country‚ we do not have a tradition or a history of sanctioning people‚ professionals‚ for speaking out in public against what the government says is true doctrine. This is the first time they’ve ever tried to do this.”