Downing Street distanced itself from Donald Trump’s decision to self-medicate with the to protect himself against coronavirus today, saying it was not a good idea.
The US president, 73, astounded the world last night when he revealed he began taking the drug ‘a week and a half’ ago because ‘good things are being said about it’, including by medics who have written to him. The admission at a White House press conference led to a wave of criticism from medical experts and politicians around the world, who said the leader was being irresponsible.
Even the closest ally to the current Trump administration in the current geopolitical context, that is Boris Johnson’s British government, has turned their backs on Donald Trumps erratic decision to self-medicate with the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine against preventing coronavirus.
They have officially said this was, and will be a bad idea. The president previously announced to the world that he have been congesting the drug since a week and a half ago. This is causing tumultuous media sensations, particularly from accounts of First Responders and Doctors alike.
Asked about the claim this morning the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: ‘It is not something which our own medical experts are recommending.
’ Pushed on whether Mr Trump was setting a bad example, he added: ‘I can only set out what the UK’s advice is, it is not something we recommend doing.’ Mr Trump has often touted hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for coronavirus, even going so far as to call it a ‘cure’ after a few early studies showed positive results in patients.
But repeated experiments since then have showed it has only limited or no effect on the virus, and can cause serious side effects including potentially-fatal heart arrhythmias.
This morning former UK government adviser Sir David King, who said ‘every word’ of the president’s advice on coronavirus should be ignored. Meanwhile the Chinese state-run newspaper Global Times accused Trump of ‘using witchcraft to lead the COVID-19 fight’ – suggesting that is why 90,000 Americans have died from the virus.
In an editorial it said: ‘To be re-elected, will the Trump administration do more outrageous things, posing more serious threats to the world? We suspect there is nothing Washington dare not do right now.
After all, what will it care if it doesn’t care about tens of thousands, and even hundreds of thousands of lives? We sincerely hope the US political system can restrain the Trump administration’s recklessness and prevent it from throwing the US and the world – which are suffering a catastrophe – into a deeper abyss.
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Speaking about hydroxychloroquine to Good Morning Britain, Dr King said: ‘I think [Trump] speaks from the top of his head and every word he says should be ignored in terms of advice.
I’m sorry but this is not the pronouncements of a person who is listening to the scientists. He is making it up as he goes along.’ Dr Stephen Griffin, an associate professor at the School of Medicine, University of Leeds, added: ‘This is a staggering, irresponsible act that could very well amount to self-harm.
The president seems either unaware or unconcerned that his actions will have profound influence amongst his supporters and perhaps the wider US or world population. Hydroxychloroquine is not licensed for the treatment or prevention of COVID19 by the FDA, or any other agency.
In fact the weight of evidence from most recent patient trials shows it to be ineffective, with the potential for adverse side effects including those affecting the heart.’
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