Mayo Clinic Debunks Misleading Claim on Hydroxychloroquine as COVID-19 Treatment
A recent Instagram post claimed that the Mayo Clinic had updated its guidance to state that hydroxychloroquine is effective against COVID-19. However, this claim has been debunked by the Mayo Clinic itself. The hospital’s doctors do not recommend hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for COVID-19.
The claim originated from a screenshot of a blog post on conservative commentator Tim Pool’s website. The post showed a headline stating that the Mayo Clinic had updated its guidance on hydroxychloroquine. However, it was later discovered that the sentence suggesting the use of hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 had been part of the Mayo Clinic’s website for more than three years. The sentence had been added to the entry on hydroxychloroquine by May 22, 2020, and remained on the site until late September 2023, when it was removed after gaining attention on social media.
It is important to note that the Mayo Clinic’s website includes a directory of medications and their suggested uses, and the information provided should not be taken as medical advice. The sentence in question was sourced from the Micromedex medical research database, which is used by many healthcare institutions. However, the Mayo Clinic’s doctors do not recommend hydroxychloroquine as a COVID-19 treatment, and it was replaced by a story explaining why the drug should not be used for that purpose.
Hydroxychloroquine was authorized as a COVID-19 treatment by the FDA in March 2020 based on early studies suggesting its potential effectiveness. However, the FDA revoked its emergency use authorization two months later after concluding that the drug was likely ineffective and could cause heart complications.
Claims about the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine as a COVID-19 treatment have persisted on social media throughout the pandemic. It is essential to rely on information from trusted sources, such as healthcare professionals and reputable medical institutions like the Mayo Clinic, when making decisions about COVID-19 treatments.
In conclusion, the Mayo Clinic has clarified that it does not recommend hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for COVID-19. The claim that the Mayo Clinic updated its guidance to state otherwise is misleading. It is always advisable to consult with healthcare professionals for accurate and up-to-date information on COVID-19 treatments.
