Can we really trust what the media say about the coronavirus?

  • Thread starter Thread starter jesusmademe
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
Ridgerunner said:
Since “medicine” has nothing to offer at present that they all agree on, why not discuss some of them of their conjectures?
Click to expand...
Ask someone–anyone!!–who works in emergency medicine.

Really—you have no idea the kind of “self-treatments” people will try, with disastrous results.

That is why this forum doesn’t allow medical conjectures or advice, excepting something along the lines of “consider asking your doctor about X.” It can be very dangerous, because people will predictably self-medicate with stuff they read on the internet.
Ridgerunner said:
Like they won’t anyway? Probably his presentations, combined with the statements of the physicians that are part of it, keep at least some people from adopting folk remedy nonsense and quackery on a massive scale. The absence of clear remedies invites that.
Click to expand...
Well, if he were to say “I’m not a physician, don’t listen to anyone who is not,” what might that do? He has a lot of influence. If he were to use it to reinforce the notion that laypeople shouldn’t attempt to practice medicine, that would go a long way.
 
Last edited:
He has made the first statement, but not the second, which is foolish because most of what we hear about CV19 is NOT from a physician, but is mostly reasonably sourced. If, say, a governor or even a business speaks of or posts the “usual” preventives; washing hands, using antibacterials, maintaining distance, staying at home if one has comorbidities. Most of those things we hear, not directly from a physician but from secondary sources that are not physicians.

Would it really be better if the president of the U.S. got on tv and said “You know, various things have been tried, but none of them has been proved effective to a scientific certitude. They keep testing things, but the testers are all questioned as to their accuracy or scientific method. So, whenever some remedy or treatment is proved to a scientific certitude, we’ll let you know. But until then, don’t believe anything you hear or read. There’s no known cure for this. Not even a treatment proved effective by science. Some even say some of the remedies out there will kill you.”
 
Last edited:
How about he just says, “I’m finished with my comments on policy. Here are the great medical people I’ve hired, they’ll do the talking about medicine.”

See how easy that is? It sounds very sensible!

The things you’re talking about others saying is public health policy, not medicine.
 
Last edited:
farronwolf said:
if multiple reliable news sources are reporting the same thing [vs single source reporting differently] the multiple sources are probably more accurate.
Click to expand...
Or not…

The big 5 all report identical news…

Each and every day…

The same montage…

Fake news…
PetraG said:
It is the President who is most likely to come out with word salads…
Click to expand...
But "Plugs’ Joe Biden is not yet the President…

Ol’ Word Salad Joe, tossed not stirred!

But stumbled together loosely,
by hook or by crook, I say!

There are few his better…

The Gift that keeps on giving…

God help us if he gets elected…

The hoards will take over without supervision…

The results will be ugly…

geo
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
I don’t put much weight in main stream media. It is politically biased and sensational. I personally watch and read from many sources but I think the local newspaper is probably the best. We should be more locally minded anyways to foster stronger and more peaceful communities. We can’t really effect the world on our own. We can positively effect our own community.
 
PetraG said:
Really—you have no idea the kind of “self-treatments” people will try, with disastrous results.
Click to expand...
People will do all sorts of things, and undoubtedly have, because there’s no clear remedy for the virus.

But Trump was not recommending home remedies or voodoo. He discussed those treatments physicians have said are useful, and with physicians standing right there who did not contradict what he said, but only advised caution in accepting the efficacy of any particular treatment.
PetraG said:
because people will predictably self-medicate with stuff they read on the internet.
Click to expand...
Yes, like Remdesivir, which the media touted, but which now seems not to be effective.
PetraG said:
If he were to use it to reinforce the notion that laypeople shouldn’t attempt to practice medicine, that would go a long way.
Click to expand...
Again, he didn’t actually “recommend” anything. He stated that there were some things that showed some promise but admitted he isn’t a physician and had physicians of note address the situation.
 
Ridgerunner said:
Again, he didn’t actually “recommend” anything. He stated that there were some things that showed some promise but admitted he isn’t a physician and had physicians of note address the situation.
Click to expand...
TRUMP [Hydroxychloroquine is] a very strong, powerful medicine, but it doesn’t kill people. We have some very good results and some very good tests. You’ve seen the same test that I have. In France, they had a very good test. But we don’t have time to go and say, gee, let’s take a couple of years and test it out. And let’s go and test with the test tubes and the laboratories. We don’t have time. I’d love to do that.

FDA: The FDA is aware of reports of serious heart rhythm problems in patients with COVID-19 treated with hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine, often in combination with azithromycin and other QT prolonging medicines. We are also aware of increased use of these medicines through outpatient prescriptions. Therefore, we would like to remind health care professionals and patients of the known risks associated with both hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine. We will continue to investigate risks associated with the use of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine for COVID-19 and communicate publicly when we have more information.

Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine have not been shown to be safe and effective for treating or preventing COVID-19. They are being studied in clinical trials for COVID-19, and we authorized their temporary use during the COVID-19 pandemic for treatment of the virus in hospitalized patients when clinical trials are not available, or participation is not feasible,through an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). The medicines being used under the hydroxychloroquine/chloroquine EUA are supplied from the Strategic National Stockpile, the national repository of critical medical supplies to be used during public health emergencies. This safety communication reminds physicians and the public of risk information set out in the hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine healthcare provider fact sheets that were required by the EUA.

Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine can cause abnormal heart rhythms such as QT interval prolongation and a dangerously rapid heart rate called ventricular tachycardia. These risks may increase when these medicines are combined with other medicines known to prolong the QT interval, including the antibiotic azithromycin, which is also being used in some COVID-19 patients without FDA approval for this condition. Patients who also have other health issues such as heart and kidney disease are likely to be at increased risk of these heart problems when receiving these medicines.

https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safe...oroquine-covid-19-outside-hospital-setting-or
 
Yes. Hydrochloroquine has been used for decades and doctors are aware of, and presumably monitor, the risks.
 
Ridgerunner said:
Yes. Hydrochloroquine has been used for decades and doctors are aware of, and presumably monitor, the risks.
Click to expand...
Well, no, the FDA put out a warning because that’s not necessarily happening. (Besides, not a lot of doctors in the US treat malaria or lupus, do they?)
 
When one is dying, the possibility of heart issues is not a huge factor in deciding to try something to save the life… When it gets to the ventilator stage, doctors will monitor for adverse side effects… This is a classic case where “perfectly proven safe” is the enemy of “possibly life saving”… The side effects are known, as you have shown - They can be dealt with… New viral disease needs time to perfect treatments - Time not available to those dying…

geo
 
George720 said:
When one is dying, the possibility of heart issues is not a huge factor in deciding to try something to save the life… When it gets to the ventilator stage, doctors will monitor for adverse side effects… This is a classic case where “perfectly proven safe” is the enemy of “possibly life saving”… The side effects are known, as you have shown - They can be dealt with… New viral disease needs time to perfect treatments - Time not available to those dying…

geo
Click to expand...
You’re talking about a disease in which heart failure is often the cause of death. In other words, I don’t think you have any first-hand training in medicine whatsoever.
Ridgerunner said:
Apparently also for rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases.
Click to expand...
Yes, well, there is a concern there may be a shortage for patients who need it for its established uses.

 
Last edited:
As for the media I think some channels are alarmists and some downplay it.

I stay indoors except for grocery shopping and walking the dog. I social distance. I wash my hands.I stopped watching the news years ago but hear bits and blurbs from DHs tv. Better safe then sorry but I am neutral regarding who’s telling the truth.

From my newspaper there is a 5 percent rate that contract it here…1 in 20.

I am travelling to the epicenter of the virus in a few days for my moms funeral.
20 percent of people have it there. 1 in 5.
Please pray for me and family.
Thank you
Katie
 
PetraG said:
Yes, well, there is a concern there may be a shortage for patients who need it for its established uses
Click to expand...
Oh yes, a “concern”. Let me know when there’s “scientific evidence” to back it up.
 
I’m very sorry for your loss, Katie and will pray for you and your family.

Where is this (generally speaking) that you will be traveling to?
 
FDA shortage list. It is listed as currently in shortage.

The double standard about what speakers and statements get the highest benefit of the doubt and which are immediately dismissed as not only incorrect but “fake” with only the support of conjecture is beyond the pale here. The medical conjecturing with no clinical evidence is 1st on the list. (And by here I mean CA, not just this thread.)

There aren’t any balanced rational discussions going on here.
 
Last edited:
Seems a harsher judgment than deserved. But it must be admitted that CAF is subject to the same kinds of political disputations that are found in the society at large, and oftentimes with as little substance.

There appear now to be 156 drugs on the FDA “shortage list”. Apparently that’s a relative thing. But it still doesn’t give us any actual numbers or locations. But I have read that a lot of physicians have hoarded it for themselves, their families and colleagues.
 
PetraG said:
You’re talking about a disease in which heart failure is often the cause of death.
Click to expand...
Brought on by pneumonia type symptoms - eg Inability to breathe… If it can alleviate the respiratory issues, the heart issue ameliorates… Heart can be monitored in the medical environment of ventilation…
PetraG said:
In other words, I don’t think you have any first-hand training in medicine whatsoever.
Click to expand...
Yes…

geo
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top