Hundreds of scientists from the SPILF (French Language Infectious Pathology Society) have lodged a complaint against Professor Didier Raoult. What are the motivations that prompted SPILF to file a complaint with the Departmental Council of the Order of Physicians of Bouches-du-Rhône? What risks the Marseille professor? Let’s take stock of the situation.
The question of treatment with hydroxychloroquine
According to the SPILF (which brings together more than 500 specialists in infectious diseases), Didier Raoult would have violated nine articles of the code of ethics of the profession of medicine. The scientific community accuses him of having taken strong positions that would have harmed the public health message. Professor Raoult would have, among other things, disclosed false information about the coronavirus epidemic.
The complainants recall that the code of ethics of medicine forbids any health professional to describe as ” beneficial or harmless a remedy or a process illusory or insufficiently tested “. And that’s what the Marseille professor did because he promoted a treatment based on hydroxychloroquine whose effectiveness has still not been demonstrated. The practitioners explain that the professor would have administered this treatment “ without any scientifically acquired data being clearly established on this subject, and in violation of the recommendations of the health authorities “.
The other charges
Beyond having promoted a medical treatment whose effectiveness has not been proven, Professor Raoult is also accused of having disseminated false information to the general public, carried out clinical trials at the limit of legality or again to have failed in the duty of brotherhood. Indeed, the Marseille professor would have made virulent remarks towards the scientific community. Among the words cited as an example, he would have described as ‘crazy’ any doctor who would not prescribe his treatment to defeat the coronavirus.
A conciliation must be proposed between Professor Raoult and the French Language Infectious Pathology Society. If the conciliation proves to be unsuccessful, the regional disciplinary chamber will have to examine the case. The penalties that the professor may incur can range from a simple warning to permanent radiation. Doctor Raoult can also receive a reprimand, be prohibited from practicing medicine with or without a suspension of up to three years. In the meantime, the investigation process may take around 10 months.
