Connect with us

Health

Doctor claims he was fired from a federal post following his stand against unverified hydroxychloroquine (Video)

Published

on

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:


  • A federal agency head who went against the use of anti-malaria drugs for COVID-19 was removed from his position.
  • The doctor believes he was fired due to the surrounding political influence on the prescription drug.
  • The former chief’s legal team asked for his reinstatement while investigation about the firing is underway. 

A federal office’s former chief claimed he was booted out of his post after he gave preference to science over unconfirmed coronavirus treatment.

The agency is in charge of the development of the COVID-19 cure.

The New York Times reported Rick Bright said that he was asked to vacate post as the director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). 

The move was for the reason that he did not support the use of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine, two prescription drugs that President Trump promoted as potential coronavirus treatment.

Bright was transferred to a smaller role at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The doctor believes that the move was because of his assertion to scientifically proven treatments rather than unproven vaccines, drugs, and other methods in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bright added he rejected initiatives to invest in possibly unsafe drugs pushed by those with political influences, also noting that chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine are not cure-all solutions and claiming that it was, clearly lacks scientific proof.

Hydroxychloroquine is a prescription drug mainly for malaria treatment and other illnesses such as arthritis and lupus. The drug, however, was not approved as coronavirus treatment.

On March 19, Trump has touted the drug as a solution against COVID-19, even if it did not yet prove anecdotally.

Advertisement

Bright clarified, though, that he is open to exploring options in finding effective medicines.

In 2006, BARDA was set up under the Department of Health and Human Services to help in investing in vaccine and drug advances projects for outbreak ailments like Zika and Ebola.

Today, the agency is utilized to take the lead of partnerships by public-private groups to find and develop a cure for COVID-19. The recent coronavirus stimulus bill provides the agency an extra $1 billion fund to study, develop, produce, and procure coronavirus-related items.

The former chief further remarked that pushing him away amidst the pandemic, and prioritizing politics and patronizing over science puts American lives at danger.

A representative from the NIH said on Tuesday that Bright would be assigned in the group that shall fast-track the development and utilization of new focused coronavirus testing methods.

BARDA, meanwhile, hasn’t replied yet when requested for their statement. 

Katz and Banks, Bright’s representative, said in a statement that the doctor’s removal was about retaliation, noting that Trump’s Administration’s rejection of its client who emphasizes on the lapses of the government’s COVID-19 response, will be disastrous for Americans.

Katz and Banks are to file for a request at the Office of Special Counsel, seeking the retention of Bright to his former position pending a review.

Advertisement

Source: The Hill

Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *