Trump defends his use of unproven treatment as prevention against coronavirus

By Steve Holland and Jeff Mason

 

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks about the nation’s food supply chain during a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic response event in the Roosevelt Room at the White House in Washington, U.S., May 19, 2020. REUTERS/Leah Millis

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday defended taking a prescription malaria drug to try to ward off the novel coronavirus despite medical warnings about its use.

 

"People are going to have to make up their own mind," Trump said about hydroxychloroquine during a visit to the U.S. Capitol. "I think it gives you an additional level of safety."

 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned about potential serious side effects with the use of the drug in COVID-19 patients.

 

Weeks ago, Trump had promoted the drug as a potential treatment based on a positive report about its use against the virus, but subsequent studies found that it was not helpful.

 

U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday defended his use of a prescription malaria drug to try to ward off the novel coronavirus despite medical warnings, saying it was up to individuals to make their own decisions, but some lawmakers and researchers are cautioning against the use of the drug as a way to prevent people from contracting COVID-19. Colette Luke has more.

 

The White House physician, Sean Conley, said in a memo released late on Monday that he and the president had discussed the evidence for and against taking the drug and had agreed that "the potential benefit from treatment outweighed the relative risks."

 

Vice President Mike Pence, whose press secretary, Katie Miller, has contracted the coronavirus, told Fox News Channel in an interview that he was not taking the drug.

 

"I'm not but I would never begrudge any American taking the advice of their physician," Pence said, according to a transcript of the interview. He noted the FDA had approved "off-label use" of the drug when prescribed by a physician.

 

"My physician has not recommended that but I wouldn't hesitate to take the counsel of my doctor. Any American should do likewise," he said.

 

At a meeting later at the White House, Trump's cabinet members also defended the drug's efficacy in treating coronavirus infections.

 

"I think it's worth it as a line of defense and I'll stay on it for a little while longer," Trump said at the meeting. "It's gotten a bad reputation only because I'm promoting it."

 

(Additional reporting by Tim Ahmann and Susan Heavey; Editing by Tom Brown)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-05-20

 

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Unproven by who?  Certainly not those who have benefited from it's use.  To the main stream media hydroxychloroquine will always be unproven.

4 minutes ago, webfact said:

"It's gotten a bad reputation only because I'm promoting it."

I disagree. It has a bad reputation as dozens of qualified medical personnel have stated as a result of scientific evidence that it is useless in fighting covid, especially if you have a serious case. The fact that Trump can't let it go and admit he was wrong is pathetic.

He cares if he gets it. Useless drug

He doesnt care if he spreads it. No mask.

2 minutes ago, ThreeEyedRaven said:

I disagree. It has a bad reputation as dozens of qualified medical personnel have stated as a result of scientific evidence that it is useless in fighting covid, especially if you have a serious case. The fact that Trump can't let it go and admit he was wrong is pathetic.

Agreed. If Trump, who is BMI obese, focuses on his dietary regime instead, he'd be a lot healthier. Keep up high levels of Zinc, Vit C and D3 to combat corona viruses, and forget this malaria drug.  As for the overpaid US physicians - as in other western societies - they are only capable of treating symptoms, not the cause of disease.

 

Sometimes, I wonder what planet he's on?  

38 minutes ago, webfact said:

the evidence for and against taking the drug and had agreed that "the potential benefit from treatment outweighed the relative risks."

There is no need for Trump to take any risks. He should immediately switch to the drug " Strychnine ", this used in the right amounts has a 100% success rate.

42 minutes ago, ThreeEyedRaven said:

I disagree. It has a bad reputation as dozens of qualified medical personnel have stated as a result of scientific evidence that it is useless in fighting covid, especially if you have a serious case. The fact that Trump can't let it go and admit he was wrong is pathetic.

And lots of doctors who show proof that it works.  Perhaps not effective in serious cases but otherwise found to be effective.

56 minutes ago, webfact said:

"It's gotten a bad reputation only because I'm promoting it."

Just like his talking about injecting bleach and disinfectants.  If you didn't try you have nothing to say. 

C'mon, give him the benefit of the doubt.  Good Americans put trust in their president.  Also we need comparisons between Lysol, Mr Clean, and the other brands.  Did Clorox work better than the Dollar Store bleach?

 

 

I wouldn't be bother with what Trump said about hydroxychloroquine. His views are only for Fox viewers and still only 70% believe the drug is very or possibly effective. Those are the folks who also believed that UV light is effective against corona virus. The wider well read Americans don't support that notion.  

First, it is unlikely he is actually taking it. The evidence of its harmful side effects long predates his time in office, so his comment about the one study he cited as being 'against him' is just his usual whiny nonsense. No doctor who follows the Hippocratic Oath---or in his case Hippo Oaf---would prescribe it to someone his age and with his morbid obesity. Of course he doesn't care if some gullible people follow him and subsequently die.

 

His comment about the veterans who died after having it administered was disgusting: "old guys almost dead already". Those are men who served the nation in war, something he escaped with a fake doctor's letter, and insults all who served. They earned and deserve more respect, even from a bone spurs coward.

 

Worse still is that since his initial comment, prescriptions for hydroxychloroquine jumped 4600%. That not only puts members of his cult in danger---since other people have the good sense not to take medical advice from someone who knows nothing about anything---it has made it more difficult for people suffering from Lupus---for which the drug has been prescribed---from getting their prescriptions re-filled.

36 minutes ago, Tippaporn said:

And lots of doctors who show proof that it works.  Perhaps not effective in serious cases but otherwise found to be effective.

Only combined with a HIV drug and Zinc, the latter considered to be the main immune booster, and which is being studied in depth by scientists. 

1 hour ago, Tippaporn said:

Unproven by who?  Certainly not those who have benefited from it's use.  To the main stream media hydroxychloroquine will always be unproven.

Well then, as a show of devotion all you Trump  disciples should follow his example and take that medicine. What do you have to lose?

5 minutes ago, Walker88 said:

First, it is unlikely he is actually taking it. [...]

 

His comment about the veterans who died after having it administered was disgusting: "old guys almost dead already". [...]

 

I agree, he's not taking it, you can tell by the way he said it initially.  One of his spur of the moment things.

Put it this way: the people who will do what he says are the ones who would vote for him, so he's killing off his own voters.

Another thing is he keeps changing what he says, sometimes in the same day, and for people who don't follow the news so closely their information stops at the last thing they heard.  E.g. at the beginning he said the virus was a hoax, as did his bootlick Hannity, but a few weeks later backtracked and both said they would never say such a thing blah blah.  But along the way they cause casualties like this poor chump: 

https://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/20200518/coronavirus-florida-jupiter-farms-man-was-virus-skeptic-until-it-infected-him

 

The second line in the abbreviated quote could well be the epitaph of many in the Republican leadership before this is over.  Are these supposed to be consoling words for the bereaved?

 

 

I have maintained having an mocha frappe from 7/11 every morning. Good results so far, no virus ????

 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday defended taking a prescription malaria drug to try to ward off the novel coronavirus

Defended??? Yeah! Good Job Donald! Based on what educational skills or what knowledge or facts?

Maybe soon he say ricin is really good treathment. 

 

 

Edited May 20, 20206 yr by metisdead
Trolling meme removed.

2 hours ago, webfact said:

"I think it's worth it as a line of defense and I'll stay on it for a little while longer," Trump said at the meeting. "It's gotten a bad reputation only because I'm promoting it."

No, it’s not got a bad reputation, as it is a tried and tested drug. 
 

What you have chosen to believe is it getting a bad reputation, is medical research showing it has not been proven to act as a prophylaxis,  as you imagine it does. 
 

There are genuine risks associated with its use and therefore it should only be used when absolutely necessary. Again, that’s medical advice, based on research, not a “bad reputation”. 

Edited May 20, 20206 yr by Bluespunk

5 hours ago, Sujo said:

He cares if he gets it. Useless drug

He doesnt care if he spreads it. No mask.

Or he's been receiving other useful treatments that he won't admit to.  Plasma transfusions?    

5 hours ago, Tippaporn said:

Unproven by who?  Certainly not those who have benefited from it's use.  To the main stream media hydroxychloroquine will always be unproven.

"Unproven by whom" would be the correct way to say that - just trying to help!

To be clear, hydroxychloroquine is not at all unproven; it's a drug widely used for a variety of purposes including malaria prophylaxis. However, despite working in remote forest areas, I still chose not to take it because of the well-known side effects. These include:

 

• feeling that others are watching you or controlling your behavior
• feeling that others can hear your thoughts
• feeling, seeing, or hearing things that are not there

So, while I didn't want to experience these feelings (which others who had used the drug had also warned me about), I can understand why the President wouldn't mind. After all, this is his usual state of mind so it wouldn't probably affect him so much.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I still can't get over the democrat speaker of the house of representatives calling Trump "morbidly obese" because he is taking measures to protect himself from coronavirus. I mean what are her own team members like Jerry Nadler and Stacy Abrams thinking when she speaks like this? Trump's stature has nothing to do with the Chinese virus and his taking of anti-virals, so I do not understand the relevance of her comments. Moreover, considering she looks like a cadaver with fake eyebrows, she should not be mocking anybodies personal appearance. Another disgraceful chapter in the book of democrat bad behavior.

5 hours ago, webfact said:

"People are going to have to make up their own mind,"

but the majority of the people has no mind of their own, they elected you after all..., so please make it up for them.

4 hours ago, AtlasAus said:

I have maintained having an mocha frappe from 7/11 every morning. Good results so far, no virus ????

 

My morning Chai tea is also highly effective!

6 hours ago, ThreeEyedRaven said:

I disagree. It has a bad reputation as dozens of qualified medical personnel have stated as a result of scientific evidence that it is useless in fighting covid, especially if you have a serious case. The fact that Trump can't let it go and admit he was wrong is pathetic.

We don't know whether he is right or wrong, because nobody knows for sure. At least Trump recommended we make up our own minds.

 

What a welcome change from having them made up for us by so-called experts - most of whom can't even agree among themselves even what day it is.

 

2 hours ago, TopDeadSenter said:

I still can't get over the democrat speaker of the house of representatives calling Trump "morbidly obese" because he is taking measures to protect himself from coronavirus. I mean what are her own team members like Jerry Nadler and Stacy Abrams thinking when she speaks like this? Trump's stature has nothing to do with the Chinese virus and his taking of anti-virals, so I do not understand the relevance of her comments. Moreover, considering she looks like a cadaver with fake eyebrows, she should not be mocking anybodies personal appearance. Another disgraceful chapter in the book of democrat bad behavior.

You can't "get over" it because you avoid reality? She did not call him "morbidly obese" because he is taking measures to protect himself from coronavirus." Measures? I wish I could have everyone around me wear masks and be tested, etc etc so I wouldn't do the simplest thing aka wearing a mask. Has he tried the injections of disinfectant yet? The light? Who knows?

Has he considered exercising? Not that we know of. Eating healthy food? That ain't gonna happen. She said he is morbidly obese because he is (in technical terms) a tub of lard. BMI might not be 35, but who believes what he or his minions claim regarding his weight?

"I mean what are her own team members like Jerry Nadler and Stacy Abrams thinking..." I'll tell you what they are thinking "Yeah, we're fat but we're not stupid like the Donald. We aren't taking that stuff, in spite of "many good stories" Trump says. We like science".

1 hour ago, Krataiboy said:

We don't know whether he is right or wrong, because nobody knows for sure. At least Trump recommended we make up our own minds.

 

What a welcome change from having them made up for us by so-called experts - most of whom can't even agree among themselves even what day it is.

 

Yes, what sage advice! Don't listen to the experts, make up your own mind. If you discover a lump in your throat that keeps growing don't seek advice from the experts - make up your own mind. If you discover a funny looking patch of skin make up your own mind as to whether you should head back to the beach without any sun screen or make an appointment with a dermatologist.

If the experts say don't use a prescription malaria drug to treat Covid-19 don't listen to them, make up your own mind. And while you're thinking about it why not try injecting some form of disinfectant and shove a UV light up your butt? Why not, it might work!

Make up you're own mind because your opinion is just as informed as these so-called experts, with their fancy degrees and years of research!

 

On a more serious note; One guy (can remember who) recently said that this presidency reminds him of one continuous episode of Jackass. He was absolutely spot on.

 

Edited May 20, 20206 yr by Phoenix Rising

4 minutes ago, Phoenix Rising said:

Yes, what sage advice! Don't listen to the experts, make up your own mind. If you discover a lump in your throat that keeps growing don't seek advice from the experts - make up your own mind. If you discover a funny looking patch of skin make up your own mind as to whether you should head back to the beach without any sun screen or make an appointment with a dermatologist.

If the experts say don't use a prescription malaria drug to treat Covid-19 don't listen to them, make up your own mind. And while you're thinking about it why not try injecting some form of disinfectant and shove a UV light up your butt? Why not, it might work!

Make up you're own mind because your opinion is just as informed as these so-called experts, with their fancy degrees and years of research!

 

On a more serious note; One guy (can remember who) recently said that this presidency reminds him of one continuous episode of Jackass. He was absolutely spot on.

 

A long-winded ramble around the mulberry bush for nothing. Trump checked with the White House's chief physician before taking the medication. Besides. . . 

 

An international poll of thousands of doctors rated the Trump-touted anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine the best treatment for the novel coronavirus.

 

https://nypost.com/2020/04/02/hydroxychloroquine-most-effective-coronavirus-treatment-poll/

 

As for trusting health "experts. . . did you know that medical negligence is the third most common cause of death in the US after heart disease and cancer?

 

Ah, well, I guess you can't make an omelette . . . 

 

https://aeelaw.com/medical-negligence-the-third-largest-killer-in-the-us/

 

Killing off his own voters,,, can that be a bad thing ????

36 minutes ago, Krataiboy said:

A long-winded ramble around the mulberry bush for nothing. Trump checked with the White House's chief physician before taking the medication. Besides. . . 

 

An international poll of thousands of doctors rated the Trump-touted anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine the best treatment for the novel coronavirus.

 

https://nypost.com/2020/04/02/hydroxychloroquine-most-effective-coronavirus-treatment-poll/

 

As for trusting health "experts. . . did you know that medical negligence is the third most common cause of death in the US after heart disease and cancer?

 

Ah, well, I guess you can't make an omelette . . . 

 

https://aeelaw.com/medical-negligence-the-third-largest-killer-in-the-us/

 

"A long-winded ramble around the mulberry bush for nothing. Trump checked with the White House's chief physician before taking the medication. Besides. . . 

An international poll of thousands of doctors rated the Trump-touted anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine the best treatment for the novel coronavirus.

https://nypost.com/2020/04/02/hydroxychloroquine-most-effective-coronavirus-treatment-poll/"

 

So you do listen to medial health care experts (i.e. doctors). Good for you!

 

"As for trusting health "experts. . . did you know that medical negligence is the third most common cause of death in the US after heart disease and cancer?

Ah, well, I guess you can't make an omelette . . . 

https://aeelaw.com/medical-negligence-the-third-largest-killer-in-the-us/"

 

Hold it....or don't you? I guess you're having a hard time making your mind up.

Asked if a White House doctor had recommended that Trump take the drug, Trump said (allegedly), "I asked him, 'Well, what do you think?' And he said, 'Well, if you'd like it.' 'I said, 'Yeah, I'd like it.'" 

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hydroxychloroquine-donald-trump-taking-drug-covid-19-prevention/

Hardly a ringing medical prescription. 

They already have a long-serving therapy that would be perfect for him. In fact it carries his name. It's called 'leeches'.