The COVID-19 pandemic opened fault lines in the American medical system. And what seems to be suffering is the doctor, patient relationship as well as the regulations between the government and the medical community. The patient becomes the ultimate victim.
The most glaring chasm appears to be over the controversial drug ivermectin in its use as an off-label treatment for COVID-19. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has come out repeatedly with strong statements condemning the use of ivermectin as a “horse de-wormer”. The FDA warns there is a lot of “disinformation” about the medication, and it should never be taken as a treatment for COVID-19, unless in a clinical trial. The statement from the FDA is strong and unambiguous and is contrasted by many states who are rebelling against the restrictions of the FDA concerning the pandemic. The FDA, traditionally considered the Gold Standard regulatory body followed by other comparable national agencies, succumbed to trickery online in a bid to attack the drug as reported by TrialSite.
The Oklahoma Attorney General issued a statement reassuring doctors in his state that they will not be punished for prescribing ivermectin or another controversial medication, hydroxychloroquine, to treat the Covid-19 virus. The pronouncement was issued despite the FDA’s warning against both drugs. Sonia Elijah writing for TrialSite chronicled for example how the FDA’s leadership became involved in the ivermectin disinformation war.
Legislative Protections?
John O’Connor, the attorney general for the state, went further in his news release saying there is no “legal basis” for the state licensing board to prevent a licensed physician from prescribing either drug. Oklahoma isn’t the only state defying the FDA’s guidelines. Several states governments, besides Oklahoma, are trying to advance legislation preventing doctors from being penalized for prescribing ivermectin. This has turned into a split between the federal and state governments, doctors and administrators, doctors and the federal and state health regulators. Thrown into this are pharmacists some of whom are now hesitant to fill prescriptions for ivermectin.
Online Ordering
This has led to many prescriptions being filled online. Because of the COVID pandemic usage of online pharmacies has increased. Not only is ivermectin bought online but, last year, 56% of drugs bought online were narcotics as well as 52% of the purchases were for stimulants.
This is another instance of consumers “self-medicating” to a certain degree as well as relying on prescriptions issued by doctors who prescribe online and not in person. Some doctors who are not licensed in a state are prescribing medication for patients in that state and doing it through “telemedicine”. Those doctors must navigate a complex myriad of state law and medical society requirements as well as adhere to ethical guidelines.
Perhaps the most blatant use of online pharmacies, besides ivermectin, is the advertisements for buying Viagra discreetly so as not to suffer the “embarrassment” of purchasing the medication in person. Warnings from the Canadian government over the danger of ordering online claim there are many risks. The warnings include disclaimers involved with not seeing a doctor in person prior to prescription. This adds to the divide which seems to be inherent and intensifying in the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients who’ve been diagnosed with the virus are going to doctors online seeking a prescription for ivermectin. In some cases, the drug has seemingly worked but only after it’s been administered by a doctor.
Definition of a Crisis
The fault lines have been drawn. There appears to be “disinformation” on both sides as well as no clear governmental oversight and politicians using the pandemic to further their agenda and careers.
Add to the mix are new treatments being introduced yet in short supply. These pharmaceuticals will come with a bigger price tag. In the middle of a world health crisis health authorities and medical leaders lack a consistent messaging while significant numbers of physicians have felt the need to break away and challenge what they suspect is a corrupted system. During this pandemic crisis an active federal government disrupted common practices, including the local doctor to patient relationship. Any treatment that deviated from vaccination, such as early treatment with repurposed drugs, was considered blasphemous yet that was common practice just the year before.