Virus treatment: Don’t write off controversial drug

I was shocked by local Health Department director Dr. Anthony Chen’s summary dismissal of hydroxychloroquine as a possible treatment for COVID-19. (TNT op-ed, 4/19.)

For example, Chen employed the 1960s thalidomide tragedy as a warning against hydroxychloroquine use against COVID-19. Whoa! Thalidomide was rushed into treatment of morning sickness before its disastrous side effects were known for expectant mothers.

Regarding hydroxychloroquine, its well-established therapeutic track record stretches back 65 years.

Chen then criticized the drug because of its side effects, but most drugs have side effects. Physicians already know not to prescribe it to patients with heart arrhythmia, retinal issues, etc. (For years, my wife has been successfully prescribed this inexpensive medication for her autoimmune disorder.)

He also claimed that “Conflicting reports already show it does not help.” In reality, substantial international anecdotal evidence demonstrates its remarkable effectiveness in multiple cases.

As Will Jones stated in his insightful counter-article, why not prescribe this possibly efficacious remedy for potential victims of COVID-19?

Chen would respond that “Controlled studies are underway, and we await their results.” But how many people will die needlessly in the meantime?

This story was originally published April 18, 2020 at 4:16 PM with the headline "Virus treatment: Don’t write off controversial drug."