I initially was going to only discuss the discrepancies discovered regarding the escape of COVID-19 from Wuhan, China; the dismal failure of the COVID-19 models, e.g. Imperial College epidemiologist Neil Ferguson, who predicted two million casualties in the USA. These flawed ‘models’ triggered the lockdown of the whole country destroying the economy, producing 30+ millions of unemployed. To appreciate the serious effects on medical care in St. Louis and the region, see “Hospitals, a buffer for St. Louis in last recession, now share economic pain,” from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, May 24, 2020, by Annika Merrilees, and Jacob Barkerand. This COVID-19 lockdown produced policies, some irrational, that restrict the freedom of citizens, ignore the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
This crisis quickly became political. Contradictory opinions were given daily by putative experts; disparate treatments were discussed by the media; divides along political ideologies became obvious. The COVID-19 Wuhan virus was a battlefield where politicians fought a war of blame.
I wish also to express my belief that what was reported as facts by newspapers, networks, internet sites, etc., were really just opinions. These media reports are too numerous to be referenced, and can be found in newspapers, cable TV, networks, etc. They are obvious to anyone that watches an hour of pandemic coverage.
What disturbed and worried me most was the use of medical science to achieve political goals. Contradictory “data,” “studies,” “opinions of scientists” were used to support political ideologies that went against common sense, such governors and health officials mandating admission of COVID-19 patients to state nursing homes, and leaving packed subways running. The sad part was the involvement of medical professionals in this political never-ending conflict.
These activities showed the transformation of good intentioned physicians and scientists into partisans interested in promoting political views from either side of the enormous political divide. This manipulation of facts and opposing opinions/ recommendations may diminish the respect medicine has earned by centuries of selfless care of patients, our search for valid research for cures to save lives, heal, remove pain, bring smiles and happiness to patients.
It is harmful to abuse the faith that people have in the integrity of a profession based on science. Controversy has always existed in scientific research; the experimental method was the foundation that provided the tools to analyze reality. Claude Bernard reminded us, “We must alter theory to adapt it to nature, but not nature to adapt it to theory.”
It is dangerous when a society stops trusting our profession, science, and true knowledge. The side taken by the professional is irrelevant, what counts is when people start suspecting the motives and the moral integrity of the experts. It is sad to see intelligent people trusted with carrying the flame of the noblest calling abandon the honorable tradition of our profession and become partisan political advocates.
We need to return to the roots of our profession. We need to work together having always present why we decided to devote our lives to serve our patients. Our calling is sacred, we have the great privilege to be able to heal, give hope, and sometimes cure. We need to distinguish between opinion and science.