In the continuing saga of what has become more than a medical fight over the use of hydroxychloroquine, a Los Angeles-based physician has lost her job because of her advocacy of the drug.
Dr. Simone Gold, one of the “Frontline Doctors” behind a viral video touting hydroxychloroquine’s use that has now been been blocked or removed by most social media outlets, told Fox News’ Tucker Carlson that she has “summarily been fired.” In the banned video, a clip of which is included in the Fox News interview, Gold said, “This is a treatment that’s very simple, and it should be in the hands of the American people. The difficult aspect of this is that at the moment, because of politics, it’s being blocked from doctors prescribing it, and it’s being blocked from pharmacists releasing it. … I’m in favor of it being over the counter. Give it to the people.”
The social media censoring must not have been enough for her employer, however. Gold said she has been a well-regarded, board-certified emergency physician for 20 years, adding “Until it seems like 5 minutes ago, I would be considered a hero, and people would be clapping and glad that I was doing what I was doing. And then the video came out, and I was summarily fired for appearing in what was told to me is ‘an embarrassing video.'”
She added that she and her fellow physicians “came to Washington because we’re so distressed. Frontline doctors like myself, we’re seeing patients not get what they need. We’re seeing the doctor-patient relationship being completely eroded, that the governors are empowering pharmacies to overrule doctors who had conversations with their patients. It’s really something that America should be alarmed about.”
Gold also said she was told the viral video featuring herself, physician Stella Immanuel and other Frontline doctors was the “most viral video of all time,” with more than 18 million views before social media giants pulled it. “It was all taken off; my own website was taken down, and it’s been interesting ever since,” she said. She posted a summary of the website takedown to her Twitter account, adding “This is outrageous.”
WOW: Our website host @Squarespace has just completely and arbitrarily shut down our website, claiming a violation of their terms of service.
We are a group of physicians advocating for a better understanding of COVID-19 and its available treatment options.
This is outrageous. pic.twitter.com/TNwvpbsBGC
— Dr. Simone Gold (@drsimonegold) July 28, 2020
Gold pointed out that although that video of the press conference in front of the Supreme Court “got the most attention,” the Frontline event itself was “seven hours of doctors teaching the American people. … We went through everything, the lockdown, masks, hydroxychloroquine treatment, other treatments, just how it affects older people, younger people. That was actually the majority of the summit.” She has now created a brand-new website to host the video of the summit and invited people to visit americasfrontlinedoctorssummit.com to watch it in full.
“I don’t want anyone to just believe me because I’m saying it,” Gold added. “We put together a white paper that has all the scientists, utterly irrefutable, that hydroxychloroquine is safe. That’s without question. … You have to wonder why we’re still talking about an FDA-approved medication.” {eoa}
