Doctors gave disinformation about corona
In recent months, the Health and Youth Care Inspectorate sent 60 corrective letters to doctors who gave incorrect information about the coronavirus or corona vaccines. This is what the inspectorate writes on its website.
It mainly concerned general practitioners, according to the medical journal Medisch Contact. The doctors involved had contradicted generally accepted scientific information, promoted drugs that are not in the standard or actively advised against vaccination. Ten of the letters were a little more stern – the inspection indicated that there would be a sanction if the doctor continued to spread incorrect information. A doctor has been fined 3000 euros, others have been warned about another measure or possible disciplinary case. It concerned statements on social media and direct contact with patients.
Dissenting opinion
Not everyone agrees with the approach to the coronavirus or with the analysis of the problem of the corona outbreak. Among the critics, there are also doctors with a dissenting opinion. Is that no longer allowed? The Inspectorate writes about this that everyone has freedom of expression, but that doctors must adhere to the views of the profession. ‘Their information must be factual, verifiable and understandable. Giving obviously incorrect information or even spreading conspiracy theories certainly does not fit in with that’, according to the inspectorate.
Malaria medicine
In March, the inspectorate already indicated that doctors will be fined if they continue to prescribe the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine or the scabies drug ivermectin against corona. There is no evidence that it works, and it can cause dangerous side effects, the inspectorate said. In the meantime, 200 reports had been received by the Inspectorate about disinformation by doctors.
Doctors also appeared in the media who vitamin D advised against corona, while the Health Council concluded that there was not enough evidence for this. It is not known whether these doctors have also been reprimanded, because vitamin D is already advised in women over 50 and all over 70s.
Off label
Can a doctor not make his own choices when prescribing medicines? Or is he totally bound by the package leaflet and guidelines? Not that either. The so-called ‘off label’ use is allowed, if certain conditions are met, such as consultation with a pharmacist.
The professional organization KNMG supports the action of the inspectorate. The KNMG emphasizes that there are 70,000 doctors in the Netherlands and that this is a relatively small group of doctors. ‘The development of medical knowledge, such as about the coronavirus, in the Netherlands is done via the medical scientific associations,’ according to the KNMG. ‘All doctors can contribute to this.’
The organization itself prefers to conduct this debate internally and not through the public domain, in order to avoid confusion and disinformation.
