Phyisicans are hoarding medications touted as possible adjuncts for treating the novel coronavirus.
Pharmacists around the country have been swapping stories on social media about the spike in prescriptions written by doctors for themselves or their families. “I have multiple prescribers calling in prescriptions for Plaquenil for themselves and their family members as a precaution. Is this ethical?” one person wrote on Sunday in a Facebook group for pharmacists, referring to a brand name of hydroxychloroquine. Others weighed in — some noting similar experiences — and expressed their hesitancy to dispense such prescriptions.
Ethical? I’m not sure that’s the appropriate argument. Well, probably indirectly; because, these physicians who took an oath to “first do no harm” are doing just that … by alingning thoughts of POTUS who not only wants to break down the effective barrier of social distancing, but also wants to profit those entities that would gain from such irresponsible prescribing. State medical boards should be and are taking action.
