

Steven LaTulippe had his license suspended in December 2020 for refusing to wear a face mask at his clinic and telling patients that masks were ineffective and dangerous. To date, only two doctors reportedly faced such sanctions. Keeping an eye on misinformation is somewhat down on the priority list.”
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“In many states, they have their hands full with doctors who have committed felonies, doctors who are molesting their patients. “The boards are relatively slow and weak and it’s a long, slow process to pull somebody’s license,” says Arthur Caplan, founding head of the department of medical ethics at New York University. Any member of the public can submit a complaint about a physician. Beyond licensing medical doctors, these panels investigate complaints and discipline doctors who engage in unethical, unprofessional or, in extreme cases, criminal activity. Traditionally, state medical boards have been responsible for policing physicians.

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Read more: How to Spot Coronavirus Misinformation Scott Atlas, who was an adviser to President Donald Trump, downplayed the seriousness of COVID-19, opposed state lockdowns, questioned the efficacy of masks and endorsed natural herd immunity as a way to combat the pandemic. While the coronavirus is a novel and complicated infectious disease, the physicians spreading misinformation have no particular expertise in infectious diseases. This is a very confusing time, and it can seem that if anyone knows what I should be doing in this situation, it’s a doctor.” “There is also a sense they have access to insider info that we don’t. “There is a sense of credibility that comes with being a doctor,” says Rachel Moran, a researcher who studies COVID-19 misinformation at the University of Washington. Public opinion polls consistently show that Americans have high trust in doctors. Whether promoting the use of ivermectin, which is an anti-parasitic drug for animals, or a mix of vitamins to treat the virus, doctors’ words can be powerful. Some physicians have gained notoriety by embracing coronavirus-related fringe ideas, quack treatments and other falsehoods via social media, on conservative talk shows and even in person with patients. According to a recent poll, more than 50% of Americans who won’t get vaccinated believe a conspiracy theory-for example, that the shot causes infertility or alters DNA. Many experts are adamant that these lies and misleading claims undermined efforts to get the pandemic under control. Since the onset of the pandemic, misinformation has been widespread on social media platforms. He said via email that “the science is clear and anyone who contests it, has a suspect agenda at best and/or lacks a moral compass.”

Buttar defended his stance that COVID-19 was planned and that those who got vaccinated would die. Mercola offered documents that he claimed rebutted criticisms of hydrogen peroxide treatment and took issue with the Center for Countering Digital Hate’s methodology. Two of the doctors that we’re naming in this article responded to requests for comment. Immanuel’s website currently promotes a set of vitamins, as well as hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin, as covid treatments. Stella Immanuel, a member of America’s Frontline Doctors, a group that has consistently made false statements about the virus, said in a video that went viral in July 2020 that masks weren’t necessary because the virus could be cured by hydroxychloroquine. PolitiFact rated his claim “Pants on Fire” false.ĭr. Dan Stock claimed the surge in cases this summer was due to “antibody mediated viral enhancement” from vaccinated people.

By combing through published fact checks and other news coverage, KHN identified 20 other doctors who made false or misleading claims about the coronavirus but have had no action taken against their medical licenses.įor example, at an Indiana school board meeting in August, Dr. The super-spreaders identified by the center’s report are not alone.
