Thread by @juliacarriew, I wrote an article unpacking the flaws in a small scientific study [...]

Julia Carrie Wong

juliacarriew

I wrote an article unpacking the flaws in a small scientific study and showing how it spread misinformation about a drug’s efficacy. This is some of the email I’m getting in response.

These are the hyper-charged politics of hydroxychloroquine. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/06/hydroxychloroquine-trump-coronavirus-drug?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

If I thought someone was trying to take away a coronavirus cure from my family, I would probably be angry too.

Here’s how we got to this point - with shoddy science and irresponsible amplification leading to false hope for a “cure” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/06/hydroxychloroquine-trump-coronavirus-drug?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Hydroxychloroquine: how an unproven drug became Trump’s coronavirus miracle cure

With help from Fox News and Elon Musk, a misleading French study prompted a wave of misinformation that made its way to the president

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/06/hydroxychloroquine-trump-coronavirus-drug?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

(My point in tweeting the email was not to complain. It’s fine.

My point was that people are rationally scared and angry and the misinformation being spread by the president is damaging the general public’s ability to understand what is actually going on with this drug.)

alright this one actually sucks

read my article to find out why this fervor is potentially misguided! https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/06/hydroxychloroquine-trump-coronavirus-drug?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

You can follow @juliacarriew.

Tip: mention @twtextapp on a Twitter thread with the keyword “unroll” to get a link to it.

Latest Threads Unrolled: