Thousands of US COVID-19 deaths could have been avoided if not for misinformation from doctors – study
[ad_1]
The spread of misinformation about COVID-19 could have cost thousands of lives. According to a new study, 52 American doctors spread false information about the coronavirus. This includes the statement “the majority of those who received a vaccine against COVID will die by 2025,” writes Science Alert. The question was studied by public health researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. It is the first to identify the types of misinformation about the coronavirus spread by US doctors. Sahana Sule from the University of Massachusetts and colleagues concluded that of the 1 million deaths from infection, a third could have been avoided. Photo: Morsa Images/Gettyimages.com While studying media misinformation about COVID-19, her team identified 52 doctors who were spreading false claims. They are licensed in 29 states, but have been spreading medical misinformation for decades. The best “assistant” in this was Twitter. There, 37 doctors spread misinformation through the site to 9 million subscribers. Other social networks and news publications were also used. Misinformation was measured in 4 categories: medicines, vaccines, masks and distance, as well as other false statements. For example, some doctors have claimed that most cases of COVID-19 have been found in supposedly vaccinated people. Doctors also mentioned infertility, damage to the immune system. There was misinformation about chronic diseases in children and cancer allegedly caused by the coronavirus. Some information related to the advertising of ineffective drugs against the disease. Certain types talked about the impracticality of using masks. And some of the doctors spread conspiracy theories about the alleged concealment of important information by the government. Sule says the motivation of doctors requires more research. But colleagues found out that spreading misinformation has become profitable. America’s Frontline Doctors have made at least $15 million by prescribing the bactericidal drug hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin, which is used orally against worms, ticks and lice, to treat COVID-19 through its $90-per-consultation telemedicine service. Earlier we talked about how and in what ways the Russian Federation spreads disinformation. Read also: Where do fakes and misinformation come from, and how to protect yourself from them
[ad_2]
Original Source Link
