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Raoul’s retraction of his research on the coronavirus and other topics makes him an anomaly among those who promoted hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for COVID-19. President Trump and those who helped promote the idea that this drug could or would be a game-changer have almost universally moved forward without people remembering their claims from four years ago. I’ve been doing it.
President Trump’s interest in the drug lasted for about 40 days (predictably in hindsight) shortly after elements of the tech community were included. Elon Musk — began promoting papers based on Raul’s research. The paper, written by physician James Todaro and attorney Gregory Rigano, flatly referred to chloroquine as an “effective treatment” for COVID-19. The New York Times later reported that Mr. Raul had approved Mr. Todaro and Mr. Rigano’s contracts ahead of a report on the findings.
Mr. Rigano began making rounds with members of the media who were friendly to President Trump. His first appearance was on Laura Ingraham’s Fox News show. Ms. Ingraham later visited the White House with two doctors who were regulars on her show and made the case for the drugs. Rigano also joined Sean Hannity, who at one point told viewers that if he contracted the coronavirus, he would be “done for it” because of the drugs. Mehmet Oz, who would become President Trump’s Senate candidate two years later, also promoted the drug on Fox News.
President Trump began repeatedly discussing the drug’s potential. In late March and early April 2020, his focus was on mitigating the economic damage the pandemic had already inflicted on the country ahead of the looming November elections. A drug that could magically cure the coronavirus was not only a medical miracle, but also a political miracle. It was a ray of hope that even if it didn’t save lives, it might convince people that lives could be saved and life could return to normal.
At some point in early April, a reporter asked Anthony S. Fauci, the country’s top infectious disease expert, what he thought about hydroxychloroquine. Rather than let experts answer, Mr. Trump intervened and answered questions.
Trump’s promotion of the drug has made it a cult among his supporters and a broader right-wing community, much like not wearing a face mask. A subsequent study found that counties that voted for Trump that November had statistically higher prescriptions for hydroxychloroquine during the pandemic.
But as other researchers began looking into the drug, they found that the drug had no proven benefits or could even pose risks to patients when used as part of a drug combination.
President Trump said on April 13, 2020, “If anyone but me recommended it, it would be used everywhere, to be honest with you.” I think the fact that I recommended it probably set it back quite a bit. But a lot of good things have happened because of it. There were a lot of good tests. ” A few days ago, news broke that a study in Brazil had been stopped early due to concerns about side effects.
By the end of April, the Department of Veterans Affairs had released a study showing higher mortality rates for patients treated with hydroxychloroquine, a study that President Trump and Fox News hosts dismissed as isolated or incomplete. was. However, the federal government officially recommended against its use. Further research has confirmed that the drug is ineffective as a treatment for covid-19.
“I think history will decide who’s right in this debate,” Trump adviser Peter Navarro said when Trump began touting the drug. “But I don’t think Trump is right on this issue. “I want to bet on the president’s intuition.” Instead, history (and more specifically research) has been against the former president.
Raul’s defense led to a widespread reconsideration of his research and was to his professional detriment. However, most of those who promoted his cause did not face any professional setbacks. Ingraham’s show has changed time slots. Musk has bought the social media platform that first promoted the idea. Trump is the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.
Todaro, an ophthalmologist who co-authored the paper that revealed Raul’s initial research, continued: increase skepticism Regarding the results of the 2020 presidential election, hype virtual currency and join the board of directors This is an organization centered on AI.
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