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Clinical trials Medicine Personal Politics Popular culture Skepticism/critical thinking

Henry Ford Hospital hydroxychloroquine trial: Not good evidence that the drug works for COVID-19

Recently, Henry Ford Hospital published a study of hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 that showed a benefit. Unfortunately, it was a bias-prone retrospective study. That didn’t stop President Trump from touting the drug again.

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Bad science Clinical trials Medicine

Dexamethasone and hydrochloroquine: A tale of two drugs for COVID-19

Science by press release is never good. The press release claiming that dexamethasone is effective against severe COVID-19 is no exception.

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Bad science Clinical trials Medicine Politics Popular culture

The Surgisphere debacle

I got it wrong about something. It turns out that recent Lancet hydroxychloroquine study was likely fraudulent, thanks to a small, very dodgy company called Surgisphere. Here, I admit and explain my error and try to set things right.

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Bad science Bioethics Clinical trials Medicine Politics

The cult of hydroxychloroquine versus dangerous arrhythmias

A new study of #Hydroxychloroquine and #Chloroquine to treat #COVID19 was published this morning in The Lancet. The results? More deaths and arrhythmias in treated patients. [NOTE ADDENDUM: This study has been retracted. Here’s a link to my followup post.]

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Bad science Bioethics Clinical trials Medicine Popular culture Skepticism/critical thinking

Dr. Didier Raoult: Bad science on COVID-19 and bullying critics

Didier Raoult is the French “brave maverick doctor” who’s been promoting hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin to treat COVID-19. Like all true cranks, he’s now lashing out at critics as the science trends towards the conclusion that his treatment doesn’t work.