Doctors’ Pushback on Hydroxychloroquine Narrative Scrubbed [OPINION]
A group of doctors on the frontline of the battle against COVID-19 held a news conference in Washington, D.C. on Monday to essentially warn the American people that they are being lied to and misled by the media about the coronavirus that has stalled the economy and most of our lives since late winter.
The "White Coat Summit" was organized by America’s Frontline Doctors, a group founded by Dr. Simone Gold, a board-certified physician and attorney. The group says the debate over COVID-19 treatment is a "misinformation" campaign being driven by "so-called experts and media personalities."
Breitbart says Houston's Dr. Stella Immanuel told reporters studies that say hydroxychloroquine does not work when treating COVID-19 patients are “fake science.” Dr. Immanuel says all 350 patients she treated with hydroxychloroquine recovered. Immanuel is not the first doctor to challenge the narrative on hydroxychloroquine since President Trump first sang its praises early on in the pandemic. The media appears hell-bent on discrediting the drug – and Trump.
What is startling is just how little media coverage the "White Coat Summit" was given by the mainstream media. Shouldn't such an event be given coverage, even if some find it to be controversial? Doesn't the public have a right to know that the conventional view is being challenged?
A video of the press briefing presented by Breitbart on Facebook was suddenly removed, preventing folks from hearing what the frontline doctors had to say about COVID-19. Facebook spokesman Andy Stone stated, “We’ve removed this video for sharing false information about cures and treatments for COVID-19.”
Breitbart says it was disturbed by Facebook's actions. "The company did not specify what portion of the video it ruled to be “false information,” who it consulted to make that ruling, and on what basis it was made," it said.
Following Facebook's decision to remove the video of the press conference, YouTube and Twitter followed suit and also removed it.
The American people have been hoodwinked and bullied on the subject of COVID-19. The number of cases alone has been exaggerated and misrepresented to fit a political narrative in order to stoke fear and to guide public opinion.
The American people deserve to hear the whole story about COVID-19 and not just what works to drive political and cable news agendas.
Barry Richard is the host of The Barry Richard Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. Contact him at barry@wbsm.com and follow him on Twitter @BarryJRichard58. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.