Less than a year later, I was standing in front of a man who was about to die from COVID-19. Even though I was his doctor and he was on antiviral and anti-inflammatory drugs, his lungs were failing.
One day, as I was watching the news and hooked up to an unspeakable amount of oxygen, he looked me in the eye and said: Anthony Fauci is a scammer.
He went on to say that vaccines are a government conspiracy. He wanted to keep talking, but his efforts exhausted him.
Today, we rarely see patients in such serious condition with COVID-19. We are in a completely different space with effective vaccines and antivirals. Dr. Anthony FauciDirector of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
End an incredible career with a strong backlash
Many consider Fauci, the government’s most prominent spokesperson for public health messages, a hero. Others, like my late patient, see him as a phony or a criminal.
Fauci, 81, has been NIAID’s director since 1984. recently announced retirement From that role, and from his role as Chief Medical Advisor to President Joe Biden. In doing so, he leaves a fantastical legacy of incredible medical achievements and intense public backlash.
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It’s still hard for me to understand this hatred of Fauci. Throughout his career, he has worked to understand and limit the damage caused by several infectious diseases. From HIV/AIDS to bird flu And now, COVID-19. His efforts saved countless American lives. But over the past two years, Fauci and his work have faced intense politicization and condemnation.
Perhaps to the disagreement between former President Donald Trump and his own advisers, or to the fact that he advocated what could be seen as restrictions on personal liberties through masks, public closures, and social distancing. Spurred on, Fauci became a conservative lightning rod of hate. Unfortunately, this sentiment was reflected in all of the government’s public health recommendations, including effective vaccines.
According to a Pew Research Center study, as of December, Only 29% of US adults They had great confidence in medical scientists acting in the best interest of the public. Given the divisive political climate, perhaps not a surprisingly low number.
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Had I listened to his guidance, I would have lived longer
This anti-Fauci line of thinking was anti-intellectual and dangerous.When Over 1 million deaths from COVID-19So many people today would be alive if they listened to leading doctors and scientists instead of giving up masks and accepting unproven treatments such as: hydroxychloroquine.
now we are at a point we can live with the virus – and we must also accept our previous choices.
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When even our elected officials direct their nonsense and hatred toward Fauci, it can certainly be difficult to cut through the political turmoil. murmured“Undoubtedly, his resignation will not stop investigating his role and the origins of the #COVID19 pandemic.”
We need to look inward and turn to our trusted public health authorities. We need to stop looking at all recommendations through a political lens. Infection doesn’t just affect the red or blue component. They can devastate all Americans. Fauci’s messages weren’t always clear and decisive, but his intention was always to save lives.
As a frontline healthcare worker, I would like to thank Dr. Fauci for his work over the past two years. Our wards were overrun with patients who contracted the virus just 12 months ago, and it could have been much worse without a steady voice advocating for data-driven public health policy and science. I am sure there is.
Deaths still occur today, but testing positive for COVID-19 is usually more accidental than the cause of hospitalization. So thank you to Dr. Anthony Fauci for guiding us this far. Maybe stay away from Twitter to avoid the bitterness and enjoy your retirement.
Dr. Thomas K. LuA member of USA TODAY’s board of contributors, is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine and a Physician in Hospital Medicine at Stanford Healthcare Tri-Valley. All opinions expressed here are his own. Follow him on Twitter. @ThomasLewMD
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY. Amid COVID policy pushback, Dr. Fauci announces resignation