Hydroxychloroquine! Oh, Never Mind
May 15, 2020
Poor-quality research and media hype have disrupted the search for treatments for COVID-19, two medical analysts wrote in a recent Issues online exclusive, citing as a case in point the French microbiologist whose early studies and promotion of several drugs—especially hydroxychloroquine—prompted supporters, including President Trump, to call them “game changers.” Now, the New York Times adds a deep look at the controversial researcher, noting that experts are identifying fundamental flaws in his work and cautioning about drug studies that ignore normal scientific protocols.