Is anyone at all concerned that the leader of the free world...against all recommendations...is taking hydroxychloroquine as a preventative measure...despite having high cholesterol?
Or that a doctor felt OK prescribing such to the leader of the free world despite said concerns? I mean HOLY COW!?!?!? How many will be banging down doors now to follow suit???
Quote
Several doctors questioned the wisdom of taking the unproven drug, given the possible risks.
“I think it’s a very bad idea to be taking hydroxychloroquine as a preventive medication,” said Dr. Eric Topol, a cardiologist and the director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute in La Jolla, Calif. “There are no data to support that, there’s no evidence, and in fact there is no compelling evidence to support its use at all at this point.”
Dr. Topol said that the risk of developing a potentially fatal arrhythmia because of hydroxychloroquine could come without warning and did not happen only in people with heart conditions. “We can’t predict that; in fact, it can happen in people who are healthy,” he said. “It could happen in anyone.”
Dr. David Maron, a cardiologist and the chief of the Stanford Prevention Research Center, said in an interview that in his opinion “the risk-benefit ratio doesn’t make sense.”
Are there NO repercussions for this kind of insanity??? Sorry...but WOW!!. Am good and would get the hell out of this field if I could for sooo many reasons right now...but opening a restaurant right now is out and that's what I'd wanna do...rofl.
Trump lies. It is unknown whether he actually is taking the drug. It is known that a few Americans will take the dog because they believe Trump when he says that it's safe to take to prevent COVID infection.
I don't care and am not concerned about Trump's health. I am concerned about the health of gullible and simple thinkers among us who are potentially swayed by the irresponsible remarks of the POTUS.
I understand. However, I also strongly believe in personal responsibility. As healthcare workers, we cannot forcibly save those who make poor choices. When the gullible come to prescribers with media-inspired requests, the prescribers can counsel them on the pros and cons of therapies in question. The prescribers don't have to hand out scripts for unproven prophylactics. If that forces some folks to seek out aquarium cleaners etc. to circumvent medical advice, then that's on them. I'm not a Trump supporter. However, I can't blame someone's choices on presidential remarks, and I feel no responsibility for those who wilfully disregard personalized medical advice.
I don't care and am not concerned about Trump's health. I am concerned about the health of gullible and simple thinkers among us who are potentially swayed by the irresponsible remarks of the POTUS during a national health emergency. The economy cannot boom if the people are dying. We just buried tens of thousands of workers and customers.
Why can't people be accountable for themselves and their own choices? If Trump jumped off a bridge, then others did the same thing, is it his fault those people made their own choice to also jump off a bridge? Everyone knows people should not be taking any prescription drug without discussing it with their MD, and without a valid prescription which is exactly what Trump did. If people visit their physicians and the physician decides to write them a prescription for hydroxychloroquine and they have ADR's I fail to see how that is Trump's fault.
Yes, people generally are accountable for themselves and their own choices. But that choice includes the advice we choose to give others, the information/disinformation we choose to spread and the example we set through our behavior. In my opinion this is especially true for people in position of authority. And doubly so in a time of crisis.
If I was to call one of my patients scheduled for surgery the following morning, and offer them advice on next day’s breakfast... If I told them to make sure to drink a quart or three of cream, eat a large jar of peanut butter (not the jar itself, that might be pushing it.. Just the contents),smoke two packs of cigarettes and rummage through grandpa’s medicine cabinet and try to find 150 or so Warfarin pills to wash down with the cream... you’d all think I’m a pretty crappy nurse. (Hopefully the poor patient who was unfortunate enough to get me as his (soon-to-be revoked license) nurse would recognize this too and wisely ignore my insanely stupid and dangerous advice).
It’s my belief that even if I as a nurse wasn’t legally accountable for the advice I give, which of course I am, I think most of you would agree that I’d still be morally accountable for giving advice that has a very real potential to harm another human being, should they follow it.
Trump isn’t a licensed medical professional so he can’t be held legally accountable for setting a bad example by promoting a medication that hasn’t been proven to work as a Covid-19 prophylactic or treatment, but has side effects.
I personally don’t care if he takes the medication. It doesn’t matter to me if he doesn’t have a clue what QT prolongation or Torsades des Pointes is. Taking whatever he pleases, if legal, is his prerogative.
If he wants to experiment on himself in a trial of n=1 on the efficacy of intrapulmonary UVC treatment, I guess he could do that too. Although I’d strongly recommend against it because that would quite obviously be hazardous to a person’s health. (Don’t do it!)
But... He is the President. As such, he is an authority figure and his words carry weight (well, with some folks). What he does to himself is one thing. What he chooses to share is in my opinion something entirely different.
We’re in the middle of a pandemic. People are dying. Many people are afraid of this virus.
Nurses, physicians and yes, even Presidents, have a responsibility to only share facts and sound advice. Scared people are likely more susceptible to disinformation, because fear often impacts rational thinking negatively.
When I Googled something Covid related just now, I saw that a frequently asked question is ”is Corona virus a bacteria or a virus?” That might be an indication of the level of medical knowledge some/many? of the population possess.
So, yes. We all need to think about what advice and information we choose to share.
(And, no. I don’t think he’s actually taking the drug in question).
Why can't people be accountable for themselves and their own choices? If Trump jumped off a bridge, then others did the same thing, is it his fault those people made their own choice to also jump off a bridge? Everyone knows people should not be taking any prescription drug without discussing it with their MD, and without a valid prescription which is exactly what Trump did. If people visit their physicians and the physician decides to write them a prescription for hydroxychloroquine and they have ADR's I fail to see how that is Trump's fault.
A good approach to explaining to your child why he or she should not bend to peer pressure.
But, the president of the United States holds more influence than the knuckleheaded 13 year old down the block. Whether or not he he has more sense can certainly be debated, but I think we can agree that The Leader Of The Free World yields some influence.
And, the entire point of speaking publicly is to influence the thoughts and actions of others.
Clearly, trained and educated nurses are not going to change their approach to their own health based on Trump's actions. The overwhelming majority of well educated Americans who understand concept of expertise and evidence will ignore political posturing when it comes to their own health. No more likely to take Plaquenil base on his recommendations than they were to buy Trump steak, water, or wine or pay money to the scam known as Trump University. Most of the people on this forum are not the gullible dupes sought after by con men.
But, think of the folks who go to Trump rallies. Think of people who believe in birtherism, and deep state, and other complete nonsense. Trump could have just as easily taken the med and kept his mouth shut but he spoke publicly, which will obviously have consequences.
And, in answer to your question about Trump jumping off a bridge: If it ever happens, Faucci will be the prime suspect.
Trump is a businessman and a politician. He is not an all-around guru we should emulate outside of business and political wisdom he may spare. He has no medical expertise or cred. Any prudent person should be looking for MEDICAL guidance from medical professionals and sources, not from a businessman/politician. If that's not understood, I am reminded of Darwin's awards. I'm sorry if this doesn't sound nice.
Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
So it sounds like a number here think that personal accountability regarding what comes out of your mouth applies to everyone except the most powerful mam in the country with the loudest amplification. Isn't that interesting.
Is anyone at all concerned that the leader of the free world...against all recommendations...is taking hydroxychloroquine as a preventative measure...despite having high cholesterol?
Or that a doctor felt OK prescribing such to the leader of the free world despite said concerns? I mean HOLY COW!?!?!? How many will be banging down doors now to follow suit???
Are there NO repercussions for this kind of insanity??? Sorry...but WOW!. Am good and would get the hell out of this field if I could for sooo many reasons right now...but opening a restaurant right now is out and that's what I'd wanna do...rofl.
Do you believe he really is taking it. Or another lie
Specializes in Psychiatry, Community, Nurse Manager, hospice.
Am I concerned that Trump could develop a fatal arrhythmia? Hmmm.... I suppose that's one way this hell could be over. But then there's Pence and who knows what damage he'd do.
As far as being leader of the free world, he's not. The world no longer looks to us.
Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
7 minutes ago, Sirjohnknot said:
I believe we would have more truth with Pence
Maybe? Is difficult to judge since Pence has demonstrated a clearly willingness and ability to lie to the American people over the past 10 years or so. Trump has likely outmatched all other politicians in the dishonesty category. Of course, he's also demonstrated that lies don't matter.
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BlessYourHeartt
26 Posts
I understand. However, I also strongly believe in personal responsibility. As healthcare workers, we cannot forcibly save those who make poor choices. When the gullible come to prescribers with media-inspired requests, the prescribers can counsel them on the pros and cons of therapies in question. The prescribers don't have to hand out scripts for unproven prophylactics. If that forces some folks to seek out aquarium cleaners etc. to circumvent medical advice, then that's on them. I'm not a Trump supporter. However, I can't blame someone's choices on presidential remarks, and I feel no responsibility for those who wilfully disregard personalized medical advice.