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Clinical trials Medicine Popular culture Quackery

Did hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) really kill 17,000 COVID-19 patients?

A recent study concludes that the rampant use of HCQ early in the pandemic could have resulted in 17,000 excess deaths. But did HCQ really do that? Possibly, but it’s complicated.

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Antivaccine nonsense Cancer Medicine

Epidemiologist Harvey Risch promotes the false narrative of “turbo cancer”

Last week, I discussed Dr. William Makis’ false claims of “turbo cancers” due to COVID-19 vaccines. Now it’s hydroxychloroquine-promoting epidemiologist Harvey Risch’s turn.

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Antivaccine nonsense Medicine Quackery

Just because medical consensus evolves does not justify your quackery

Quacks have long tried to portray themselves as “innovators” challenging an ossified medical consensus for the good of patients. This tradition continues among COVID-19 quacks, in particular the Frontline COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance and its founders.

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Antivaccine nonsense Medicine Quackery

The ABIM acted against COVID-19 antivax quacks…or did it?

Recently, two COVID-19 antivax quacks, Drs. Paul Marik and Pierre Kory of the COVID-19 quack group FLCCC, announced that the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) had informed them that their board certifications were in jeopardy, which they promptly used to portray themselves as “persecuted.” What’s going on?

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Antivaccine nonsense Medicine Politics Quackery

State medical boards have always been toothless

A recent report in The Washington Post last week reveals just how badly state medical boards have been failing when dealing with physicians spreading COVID-19 misinformation and using quackery to prevent and treat the disease. None of this is anything new, unfortunately. The pandemic has merely stress tested state medical boards, and most have failed because of political choices made long ago.