I have been asked what is the motivation for the restriction of HCQ only for use in Covid pts.
If we have a Covid pt who is already on HCQ for lupus or other reason, we presumably could continue it.
However, we haven't had any Covid pts on HCQ for lupus or other reason.
In the past 10 months, we have taken care of several pts on HCQ for Lupus or rheumatoid arthritis.
They were admitted with a non-Covid infection and we continued them on HCQ for their lupus or arthritis.
No one even asked us to check a single ECG.
On the other hand, we checked each Covid pt's ECG each day they were on HCQ. If there was any significant change to the ECT, we held the HCQ dose until Dr. Dobesh cleared the pt to be continued on HCQ. He almost always cleared the pt to stay on HCQ.
I cannot figure out why, especially with the vaccines already out, that Saint Barnabas banned a drug for a specific indication.
I do know that it is a very bad precedent. Big brother has affected Medicine in many areas. Now, Big Brother is controlling medication use in a new way.
Why the docs on the Committee didn't see this as a huge problem for the future? I have no idea.
But this move came from the top down. Most of the docs on the Committee are partially or fully employed by Barnabas. None have a dog in this fight personally, but the precedent is an obvious threat to all doctors and many medicines.
Why establish this precedent for restricting a physician's use of an FDA-approved drug? It makes no sense, unless if you are worried about pissing off your boss.
The irony is "safety concerns". We have used HCQ in several hundred Covid pts at Saint Barnabas. They should not have safety concerns; they should have data by now on HCQ's safety record at Saint Barnabas. From what I have learned, they do, that's why they cannot say that safety problems, only concerns.
Anyhow, the vaccines are here.
But this intrusion by a hospital into the practice of Medicine is just one more on a long list of Big Brother interfering with how doctors treat you.
It may, however, be the most serious threat to the practice of Medicine.
SMS
You confirm what I felt was the problem.