DOCTORS SLAM TRUMP'S POLITICAL STUNT

Walter Reed attending physician and multiple doctors criticize Trump for 'putting Secret Service agents' lives at risk' by saluting fans from an airtight SUV - while medical experts say his steroid treatment points to a 'severe' case of COVID

 

Daily Mail

October 4, 2020

 

Dr James Phillips, a doctor at Walter Reed, lead a furious reaction from medical professionals on Sunday night to Donald Trump's drive-by outside the hospital to wave at supporters, saying it was 'insanity' for the president to knowingly put others at risk while infected with COVID. 

Dr Phillips said that the design of the presidential SUV, which is hermetically sealed against chemical attack, made the threat to the Secret Service agents inside the vehicle even more serious. 

'Every single person in the vehicle during that completely unnecessary Presidential 'drive-by' just now has to be quarantined for 14 days,' he pointed out. 'They might get sick. They may die. For political theater. Commanded by Trump to put their lives at risk for theater. This is insanity.' 

Trump on Sunday evening thanked his supporters who had gathered outside the hospital and said he had a 'surprise' for them, before leaving Walter Reed to wave.

The White House insisted that the surprise trip to fans had been approved by his doctors and necessary precautions had been taken.

Dr Jonathan Reiner said the stunt was the 'height of irresponsibility' and put the agents at 'grave risk'.

Dr. Sean Conley, a Navy Commander and physician to the president, revealed during the briefing on Sunday that Trump was treated with the steroid dexamethasone after a drop in oxygen levels on Saturday.  

Dexamethasone is recommended only in patients who are extremely ill, according to many guidelines, but a number of hospitals routinely give the drug to any patient who requires supplemental oxygen, if only for a few hours. 

It has not been shown to benefit those with milder forms of the disease. 

A recent study found it tends to reduce deaths from the virus among those with severe cases, but nearly a quarter of infected patients getting it with supplemental oxygen — as Trump has — still died.

Steroids in high doses and over long periods of time also can lead to serious changes in mental status that include delirium, hallucinations and confusion. 

'The dexamethasone is the most mystifying of the drugs we're seeing him being given at this point,' said Dr Thomas McGinn, physician-in-chief at Northwell Health, the largest health care provider in New York State. 

The drug is normally not used unless the patient's condition seems to be deteriorating, he added.