Reality TV host? Tick. Real estate mogul? Tick. POTUS? Tick. Doctor and/or pharmacist? Not the last time I looked.
Yet here was Donald Trump offering to the world his insights about medications that might — MIGHT — work for COVID-19. The results were predictable. People rushed to buy it, patients who needed it couldn’t get it and, inevitably, someone died.
How can someone in a position of such responsibility behave with such monstrous irresponsibility? Trump, of all people, knows the power of the half-fact; how people who are desperate and scared will latch onto any crumb of hope.
It only took a whiff of pandemic for toilet rolls to disappear from shelves worldwide. What did Trump think would happen when he named Chloroquine, and its close cousin Hydroxychloroquine, as possible treatments for COVID-19?
“Hey, Martha, the Don says this might work. But let’s wait until we know for sure. And I reckon we should leave it for those that really need it. Gee, wish we’d got some sanitiser…”?
No, didn’t think so.
Also, just for the record, old does not equal safe. Barbiturates are old. So is shock therapy. The side effect list for (hydroxy)chloroquine is extensive and scary.
It’s also a drug with what’s called a low therapeutic index, meaning the gap between the dose that works and the dose that’s dangerous is small. This is especially true for kids. People naturally tend to think “if some is good, more must be better”, which makes this drug particularly risky.
How was the man in Phoenix, Arizona, who died after taking fish tank cleaner that included chloroquine phosphate, to know?
Pharmaceutical companies have huge back catalogues of drugs, with databases of their actions and possible uses. There are multiple compounds, including some known anti-virals, that are showing promise for COVID-19.
Let the scientists do the research, the pharmacologists and doctors do the advising. Then let them tell us what, if anything, is worth trying.
For the president of the USA to jump the gun and name the drug was foolish. For him not to foresee the result of his apparent endorsement is unforgiveable.
Nick Carr is a Melbourne based GP, author and broadcaster.
Delusional and dangerous demagogue. America currently battles two catastrophes and he is one.
As if Trump has any morality?
Well, I suppose the argument could be made that Darwin was doing his bit when the guy took fish tank cleaner, rather than just the specified chemical.
Similar if someone thought that taking bleach was a good idea.
On the other hand, Donald Trump is in a position of power so may have some culpability? We know he won’t take responsibility, but imagine if he was the leader of a church group, or seniors club, that gave advice that led to death. Would he be charged with manslaughter, or negligence, or similar.
Perhaps Michael Bradley could do an article on such situations?
How was the man in Phoenix, Arizona, who died after taking fish tank cleaner that included chloroquine phosphate, to know?
Cough cough yes I’m inclined to agree with you Wayne, this dude was clearly gonna die of something stupid at some stage!
Maybe he was just poor and sick and desperate and couldn’t access anything else?
And yet his approval rating goes up??
A lot of people like rock apes.
As I noted elsewhere, here, Plonko, when those latest poll results showed Trump had hit peak popularity, because of his ‘response’ to thuh VIRUS!!, the commentariat was said to be “astounded”.
To reiterate further, I’m freakin’ astounded they continue to be astounded!
Trump is a sociopath at best and a psychopath more likely. HE doesn’t care who does what as long as he gets the throwaway line out.
Problem is, who is there to replace him? Some other revolving-door political mediocrity? There’s plenty of them but the fact remains that the dearth of progressive political leadership in that place is far worse than even here. The country is in its decadent phase of historic collapse. Quite a show though. Make some more popcorn and watch.