A literally poisonous sociopath

Since you already know them, I won't bore you by rehashing all the reasons why this Associated Press story has been a head-shaker waiting to happen:

A malaria drug widely touted by President Donald Trump for treating
the new coronavirus showed no benefit in a large analysis of its use in U.S. veterans hospitals. There were more deaths among those given hydroxychloroquine versus standard care, researchers reported.

About 28% who were given hydroxychloroquine plus usual care died, versus 11% of those getting routine care alone. Hydroxychloroquine made no difference in the need for a breathing machine, either.

Researchers did not track side effects, but noted a hint that hydroxychloroquine might have damaged other organs.

At yesterday's briefing, a reporter asked Dr. Don about the AP story. He gave the usual political answer — he wasn't aware of it — repeated that other "studies" have revealed different results, then hastened to another reporter.

No doubt he'll go right on prescribing a useless, organ-damaging drug before ever conceding that the snake-oil question he put to the nation — "What have you got to lose?" — was correctly answered by the AMA's president a couple weeks ago: "Your life."    

Comments

[Peter G]

And he doesn’t know and never met whoever said this drug worked really well.

[ren]

"What have you got to lose?" Now where have I heard that before?

[shsavage]

Since only his drooling fanboyz will believe him, only his drooling fanboyz will try it. Like the premature opening of the red states, it's going to be a stampede of stupid. And trying to stop it would be as silly as standing in the middle of a street in Pamplona. It's becoming more clear every day; it's time to thin the herd. And, thankfully, the herd has self selected for thinning.

[Anne J]

My only problem with that is that these geniuses will infect others who are trying to do all the right things to protect themselves. My preexisting heart condition means that these selfish assholes are making life more difficult for people like me than it already is.