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taqato-alim · 9 months

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Analysis of report: Doctors who put lives at risk with covid misinformation rarely punished (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2023/07/26/covid-misinformation-doctor-discipline/

State medical boards failed to effectively discipline doctors who spread COVID misinformation promoting unproven treatments. Of many complaints against physicians, few faced serious penalties.

Doctors who spread false claims about masks, vaccines and remedies like ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine endangered patients by delaying proper care, leading in some cases to worsened health outcomes and deaths.

Medical boards struggled to monitor the rapid spread of misinformation online and via social media. Their complaint-driven processes could not keep up. New laws restricted their authority to crack down on off-label prescribing by some doctors.

Punishments varied widely by state, with penalties for the same physician differing greatly depending on location. Losing a medical license for spreading misinformation remains rare.

Widespread medical misinformation eroded public trust in the medical profession and health authorities. Patients and families sought accountability through wrongful death lawsuits against doctors accused of spreading misinformation.

The situation suggests state medical boards are ill-equipped for their role of protecting the public from unsafe physicians. Reforms may be needed to properly oversee the medical industry and tackle misinformation.

Disciplinary actions for COVID misinformation tended to be more common in states with Democratic governors, indicating potential political bias.

Logical fallacies evident in the situation included appeals to false authority, unsupported tradition, availability bias and normalcy bias that hindered objective responses.

Here is a summary of the key points in the document:

State medical boards failed to stop doctors spreading COVID misinformation during the pandemic. Of at least 480 complaints against doctors for misinformation, only around 20 doctors were penalized and 5 lost their licenses.

Many complaints were against doctors promoting ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine as COVID treatments, which health authorities say are ineffective and dangerous.

Medical boards struggle to monitor social media where misinformation spreads and are not equipped to oversee the medical industry. They typically require misinformation discipline to be linked to patient harm.

New laws in some states are limiting medical boards' authority to discipline doctors for COVID misinformation, but medical groups say this endangers patient care.

Doctors spreading misinformation faced few consequences from medical boards, which many critics say has eroded public trust in the medical profession.

The Federation of State Medical Boards warned doctors that spreading misinformation could cause license loss, but medical boards report increased misinformation complaints have not led to increased accountability.

Disciplinary actions for COVID misinformation tend to be more common in states with Democratic governors. Polls show conservatives are more likely to believe COVID misinformation.

Punishments for spreading COVID misinformation vary widely by state, even for the same doctor. Losing a medical license is a rare penalty.

Some doctors who prescribed ivermectin said they followed the protocols of groups like the Front Line COVID Critical Care Alliance, but state medical boards only regulate individuals.

Mask and vaccine misinformation spread by some doctors delayed proper COVID care for patients and led to wrongful death lawsuits against physicians.

Based on the content, style and structure, I would classify this document as an investigative news report or feature article. Some of the evidence that points to this genre:

The passage contains numerous facts, figures, quotes and details gathered from various sources to support its arguments and claims. This type of detailed reporting is typical of investigative journalism.

The writer refers to conducting a "review of more than 2,500 medical board documents, lawsuits and news stories as well as interviews with more than 130 current and former medical board staffers, physicians, patients, health officials and experts." This suggests an extensive research and reporting process.

The information is presented in an objective, impartial tone with some descriptive language for context. The writer cites both sides of the arguments but allows the facts and details to make the overall case. This is a common approach in news articles.

The passage contains named sources and quotes their comments to support the writer's claims. This lends credibility and authenticity to the report. Quotes from sources are a hallmark of news and feature writing.

The structure loosely follows the inverted pyramid style, starting with the broadest information and facts before narrowing to specific examples and details. This is a common news article structure.

The topic of doctors spreading COVID misinformation is one of broad public interest suited for a magazine or newspaper feature. The length and depth of detail also suggest a feature rather than a standard news brief.

In summary, based on the thorough research, impartial tone, layered structure, use of sources and details, I would classify this document as an investigative news report or feature article examining how medical boards have handled doctors accused of spreading COVID misinformation.

Here are the usual evaluation criteria for an investigative news report or feature article, along with an evaluation of this document based on each criterion:

Accuracy - The writer appears to have conducted extensive research, interviewing over 130 sources and reviewing over 2,500 documents. The facts, figures and details provided seem well-supported. I didn't notice any obvious factual inaccuracies. This suggests the report is likely accurate.

Objectivity - The writer cites sources on both sides of the issue and allows the facts and details to make the case, using an impartial tone. There are no overtly biased or opinionated statements. The focus remains on reporting the facts surrounding how medical boards have handled COVID misinformation cases. This indicates a reasonably objective approach.

Sources - The report cites numerous named sources to support its claims, including doctors accused of spreading misinformation, medical board officials, patients, experts and critics. This wide range of sources lends credibility and authenticity to the reporting.

Quotes - The inclusion of relevant, illustrative quotes from sources brings the story to life and provides specifics to back up the key arguments. The quotes help flesh out the larger picture the writer is trying to paint. The use of quotes is appropriate and effective.

Structure - The structure generally follows an inverted pyramid approach, moving from the broadest facts and context to specific examples and details. This helps orient the reader and build the story in a logical progression. The organization of information is clear and coherent.

Balance - While focused on documenting failures of medical boards to police misinformation, the report also includes the perspectives of doctors accused of spreading misinformation and lawmakers who argue for less regulatory oversight of physicians. This balanced approach presents a more fully formed picture of the complex issue.

Overall, based on these usual criteria for evaluating investigative news reports, I would rate this document as high-quality in terms of accuracy, objectivity, quality of sources, effectiveness of quotes, logical structure and balanced perspective. The thorough research and anchored details give this report the hallmarks of a well-crafted feature article or news investigation.

Based on its contents and style, I would classify this document as primarily factual, empirical, nonfiction and objective, though it does contain some anecdotal elements and subjective perspectives:

Science vs. Fiction: The document reports on objectively verifiable events and information gathered through research and interviews. There are no indications of fictional or imaginative elements. Overall, I would place this firmly on the nonfiction/science side of the spectrum.

Empirical vs. Anecdotal: While based largely on empirically grounded facts, figures and data gathered through extensive research, the document also utilizes some specific illustrative examples and patient anecdotes to bring the issues to life. However, anecdotal evidence plays a supporting role, with the primary focus on objectively verifiable facts about medical boards and COVID misinformation cases. Overall, I would categorize this as mostly empirical, with some anecdotal elements.

Fact vs. Opinion: The writer reports factual information about medical board investigations and disciplinary actions, relying primarily on documents, interviews and quotes from sources rather than expressing overt value judgments or opinions. While certain characterizations reveal an implicit criticism of medical boards and their perceived failures, the core focus remains on factual reporting. Overall, I would classify this as primarily factual, though with some subjective interpretations and implications.

Objective vs. Subjective: Though written in an impartial, descriptive tone with minimal emotional language, the writer's chosen examples, focus and framing of the issues reveal a subtly critical perspective toward medical boards and their handling of COVID misinformation cases. However, the overall approach relies heavily on objective facts, details and sources to make the case, rather than overtly opinionated or subjective statements. Overall, I would categorize this as leaning more toward the objective end of the spectrum, though with some implicit subjective shadings.

In summary, while containing some anecdotal elements, implicit criticisms and subtly persuasive features common to long-form journalism, this document fits most accurately into the categories of nonfiction, empirical, factual and relatively objective in its core approach and reliance on thoroughly researched details. The primary goal appears to be factual reporting on the issues, though the selection and presentation of facts reveal an implicit critical perspective.

Based on the details reported in the passage, I would evaluate the situation surrounding medical boards and doctors spreading COVID misinformation as follows:

Public safety and trust in the medical profession were put at risk. Many doctors who spread false or unproven claims about COVID treatments endangered patients by delaying or denying effective care. Some patients died after following the treatments doctors promoted. This eroded public confidence in health authorities.

State medical boards failed to adequately police misinformation and discipline offenders. Of the many complaints against doctors, very few faced serious penalties. This suggests the system for overseeing physicians is flawed and incapable of holding bad actors accountable.

Medical boards struggled to keep pace with the spread of misinformation online and via social media. The rapid rise of false COVID claims overwhelmed boards that typically rely on complaints to launch investigations. They faced a crisis they were unprepared to handle.

Laws limiting medical boards' authority, combined with politicization of COVID treatments, made disciplining doctors for misinformation more difficult. Many saw restrictions on prescribing off-label drugs as infringing on "medical freedom." This left patients in conservative areas with less protection.

Punishments for spreading misinformation varied widely depending on location. There seemed to be a disconnect between the severity of the issue and the weakness of many medical boards' responses.

With no real consequences from boards, some doctors continued promoting disproven treatments that ultimately harmed or killed patients. Families turned to lawsuits as the only recourse for seeking accountability and compensation.

Overall, the situation suggests state medical boards are unfit for their intended purpose of protecting the public from unsafe or unethical physicians. Reform and increased resources may be needed to properly oversee the medical profession and tackle misinformation.

In summary, based on the details in the passage, I would characterize the situation as problematic. Medical boards failed to fulfill their duty to discipline dangerous doctors and uphold professional standards, allowing misinformation to flourish with tragic consequences for some patients and their families. Reform appears necessary to adequately police the medical industry and safeguard public health.

The main stakeholders affected by the situation surrounding doctors spreading COVID misinformation and medical boards' inability to adequately discipline offenders would likely include:

Patients - Patients and their families suffered the most immediate and direct impacts. Some patients died after taking unproven treatments promoted by doctors. Others experienced worse health outcomes or delays in effective care. This impacted patients' quality of life, health and wellbeing.

Medical boards - State medical boards faced intense scrutiny and criticism for perceived failures to discipline doctors spreading misinformation. This damaged public trust in their ability to oversee the medical profession and protect the public. It may require them to implement reforms and expand their capabilities.

Responsible doctors - Ethical doctors who provide evidence-based care likely saw misinformation-spreading physicians as giving the profession a bad name. This may have impacted doctors' reputations and forced them to spend more time correcting patients' misconceptions.

Public health - The spread of medical misinformation during the pandemic undermined public health goals like increasing vaccination rates and breaking the chain of COVID transmission. This likely contributed to higher case numbers and deaths.

Hospitals/Insurance - Hospitals and insurers presumably faced increased costs and utilization from patients who delayed or avoided effective COVID treatments due to misinformation. This could have impacted their bottom lines and resource allocation.

Lawsuits - Wrongful death and malpractice lawsuits against doctors accused of spreading misinformation represent an escalation in how patients and families seek accountability and compensation outside the medical system. This could reshape liability for such cases.

Policymakers - Elected officials involved in passing laws limiting medical boards' authority over off-label prescribing may face public backlash if their policies are seen as enabling the spread of misinformation and endangering patients. This could impact reelection prospects.

Here are some of the logical fallacies evident in the situation surrounding doctors spreading COVID misinformation and medical boards' lack of disciplinary action:

Appeal to authority - Some doctors cited their affiliations with groups like America's Frontline Doctors to justify prescribing unproven treatments, assuming these groups' endorsement gave their claims more authority. However, the groups were not actually authorities on the medical issues.

Appeal to tradition - Some doctors argued that prescribing off-label drugs is a common medical practice, suggesting this justified their prescriptions of ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine for COVID. However, tradition alone does not determine what is medically sound or safe.

Availability heuristic - The prominence and availability of misinformation about COVID treatments likely made these claims seem more plausible to some doctors and patients. However, prevalence and ease of recall do not correlate with factual accuracy.

False dichotomy - Some lawmakers framed restrictions on off-label prescribing as an infringement on "medical freedom," presenting a simplistic choice between autonomy and oversight. In reality, more nuanced policies could balance both patient care and public health goals.

Normalcy bias - Medical boards were unprepared for the rapid spread of COVID misinformation, relying on traditional complaint-driven processes. They failed to adjust to the changed circumstances, assuming things would go back to "normal." But new approaches were likely needed.

Post hoc fallacy - Some doctors claimed patients got better after being treated with ivermectin or hydroxychloroquine, assuming the drugs caused the improvement. However, correlation does not prove causation, and the patients may have recovered on their own.

In general, the unchecked spread of COVID misinformation was fostered by fallacious reasoning, including appeals to false authority, unsupported tradition, selective anecdotes and simplistic policy dichotomies. Medical boards' failure to intervene likely stemmed in part from flawed assumptions and faulty inferences that hindered an objective assessment of the situation and needs of public health.

Based on the details reported in the passage, I would evaluate the situation surrounding doctors spreading COVID misinformation and medical boards' failure to discipline offenders in relation to America's supreme law, the U.S. Constitution, as follows:

Free speech: While doctors have First Amendment rights to free speech, the Constitution does not protect knowingly false and misleading speech that threatens public health and safety. Courts have held that speech integral to illegal conduct is not constitutionally protected. Medical boards were justified in seeking to restrict demonstrably false claims posing risks to patients.

Due process: Medical boards did provide some due process to doctors under investigation for misinformation, including notice of charges, opportunities to respond and disciplinary hearings. However, critics argue that boards were uneven and arbitrary in determining what constituted punishable "misinformation," requiring clearer standards and procedures to satisfy due process.

Equal protection: Disciplinary actions for COVID misinformation seemed more common in states with Democratic governors, indicating potential political bias in medical board appointments. This could run afoul of equal protection by subjecting doctors in conservative states to different standards. However, disagreement over vaccine and treatment claims is also inherently political.

States' rights: Laws passed by state legislatures to protect doctors from discipline for off-label prescribing assert states' sovereign powers to determine the scope of medical practice within their borders. However, critics argue such policies allow dangerous misinformation to endanger residents' constitutionally protected rights to life and health.

Public trust: Widespread spread of medical misinformation during the pandemic, and medical boards' failure to contain it, eroded public trust that institutions were fulfilling their duties under the Constitution to safeguard public health, safety and welfare. This could represent a constitutional failure if not adequately remedied through reform.

In summary, while doctors have free speech rights, courts have held demonstrably false or misleading speech endangering public health is not constitutionally protected. Medical boards struggled to provide consistent and objective due process when determining what constituted punishable misinformation. States' rights tensions also emerged. Overall, widespread medical misinformation and lack of physician accountability likely represent a failure to adequately protect the public trust - a core constitutional responsibility - requiring systemic reforms to medical oversight.

Based on the medical and scientific consensus regarding COVID-19 and its treatments, I would evaluate the situation surrounding doctors spreading misinformation and medical boards' failures to act as follows:

COVID misinformation: The false or unproven claims some doctors promoted about treatments like ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine directly contradicted the consensus of medical authorities, research studies and scientific evidence. This misinformation posed serious risks to public health by undermining effective treatment and prevention strategies.

Off-label prescribing: While off-label prescribing is common, medical experts agreed it should be evidence-based and weigh potential risks and benefits - not simply follow discredited guidelines from fringe groups. Many doctors who prescribed hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin for COVID did so against the larger consensus of the medical profession.

Masks: The claims made by some doctors that masks were dangerous or ineffective went against an enormous body of research showing masks reduced transmission of the coronavirus. These anti-mask views deviated sharply from the medical consensus on masks as a vital public health intervention.

Vaccines: Doctors who spread baseless doubts about the safety and efficacy of COVID vaccines directly contradicted the consensus of medical experts, regulators, researchers and scientists that the vaccines were life-saving and essential to ending the pandemic.

Treatments dismissed: Ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine as COVID treatments were dismissed by the vast majority of doctors and medical groups based on a preponderance of clinical trial evidence showing no benefits and potential harms. Doctors promoting these drugs as miracle cures acted against mainstream medical opinion.

Overall, doctors spreading COVID misinformation demonstrably acted against the clear consensus of the larger medical community and scientific evidence base regarding effective treatments, prevention methods and public health strategies to battle the pandemic. Medical boards' failure to crack down on such outlier views allowed misinformation to flourish despite running counter to established medical knowledge and expertise.

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thxnews · 9 months

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Malacañang Adopts Philippine Health Facility Development Plan

Government's Bold Step Towards Strengthening Healthcare Infrastructure

In a significant move to bolster the country's healthcare infrastructure, Malacañang issued Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 26 on Tuesday, formally adopting the Philippine Health Facility Development Plan (PHFDP) 2020-2040. The circular, authorized by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and issued by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, directs all government agencies and local government units (LGUs) to actively participate in the initiative by establishing health facilities to serve their constituents. Embracing the PHFDP 2020-2040 The circular explicitly endorses the PHFDP 2020-2040, which is attached as an annex to the document, making it an integral part of the government's healthcare strategy. It compels all concerned national government agencies, including government-owned or controlled corporations, to take proactive measures in support of the PHFDP's implementation, while strongly encouraging LGUs to follow suit and contribute to its success. Empowering the Department of Health The Department of Health (DOH) is at the forefront of this transformative effort. The circular instructs the DOH to collaborate with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and ensure effective communication of the PHFDP's objectives at the local level. Furthermore, the DOH has the responsibility to assist and support LGUs in formulating their long-term local health facility development plans, with a focus on establishing primary care provider networks and health care provider networks. Pursuing Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) To address any gaps in the PHFDP's implementation, the circular encourages LGUs to explore public-private partnerships (PPPs). By engaging with the PPP Center, LGUs can leverage private sector expertise and resources to enhance the effectiveness of the development plan for local health facilities. Guidelines for Successful Implementation The DOH is charged with the responsibility of crafting comprehensive guidelines to ensure the smooth execution of the circular's directives. This process may involve seeking assistance from relevant government agencies and offices to ensure a well-rounded and inclusive approach. Fostering Private Sector Investment In a bid to attract private sector investment in the healthcare sector, the circular mandates the DOH, in collaboration with the Department of Trade and Industry-Board of Investments and the Fiscal Incentives Review Board, to formulate and implement policies that encourage both domestic and international enterprises to invest in health facilities. Such investments aim to bridge gaps in the PHFDP and fortify the nation's healthcare infrastructure. Funding and the Universal Health Care Act Crucially, the respective agencies and LGUs will finance the implementation of the circular using their existing appropriations. This ensures that the government's commitment to the Universal Health Care Act of 2019, Republic Act (RA) No. 11223, remains unwavering. RA No. 11223 emphasizes a comprehensive, people-oriented approach to the delivery of health services, fostering a whole-of-system, whole-of-government, whole-of-society framework.

The PHFDP in National Development Plans

The PHFDP aligns with the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, specifically focusing on promoting human and social development. By establishing an accessible, efficient, and strengthened healthcare system, the plan aims to ensure that every Filipino has access to a robust primary care and integrated health system.

Conclusion

The Philippine Health Facility Development Plan sets the stage for a more equitable, accessible, and efficient healthcare system in the country. Moreover, by fostering cooperation and emphasizing a people-centered approach, the Philippines aims to create a healthier and more resilient nation, where every citizen can thrive with the assurance of quality health services. As the journey has begun, the future looks promising as the nation moves towards realizing its vision of a stronger and more integrated healthcare system for all. With determination and collective effort, this transformative path holds the potential to shape the future of health and well-being in the Philippines, leaving a lasting impact on the lives of millions. Sources: THX News & PCO. Read the full article

#DepartmentofHealth #governmentsupport #healthcaresystem #healthfacilitydevelopment #healthcareinfrastructure #localhealthfacilities #PHFDP2020-2040 #Primarycareprovidernetworks #public-privatepartnerships #UniversalHealthCareAct

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