key: cord-0902214-z3rngu9e
authors: Silva, Heslley Machado
title: Medicines and Illusions in the fight against COVID-19 in Brazil
date: 2021-01-01
journal: Ethics Med Public Health
DOI: 10.1016/j.jemep.2020.100622
sha: d8bd5649d7579cfb90f852c2f98a6a8361ee7eee
doc_id: 902214
cord_uid: z3rngu9e

nan

The Brazilian government's response to the pandemic is notoriously chaotic. President Bolsonaro has spoken and acted erratically, often encouraging fearful behavior among the population [1] . As an example, one can mention the confusion in the Ministry of Health in the middle of the pandemic, without a definitive incumbent for months, after the dismissal of two ministers for their virtues, in favor of social isolation and against the indiscriminate use of chloroquine [2] .

Thus, it is not surprising the whole Brazilian outcry about the use of drugs ranging from the miraculous hydroxychloroquine, through antibiotics, to vermifuge [3] , irresponsibly indicated in a preventive and treatment manner for a viral disease [4] . Even contaminated by COVID-19, Bolsonaro did not abandon his fate with the medicine against malaria [5] , but the novelty in the tragic Brazilian battle against the pandemic is the position of many doctors 1 and other health professionals in favor of a cocktail of drugs without any scientific basis against the coronavirus [6] , but with known side effects [7] . There have been "lives" on the Internet, led by journalists indicating these drugs, with the participation of respected doctors in the Brazilian health field 2 .

In this context, social networks [8, 9] , with strong presence in Brazil [10] , show mayors and several health authorities, celebrating the arrival of this combination of drugs for use in their cities, composed of drugs with potential risk, especially when combined [11] .

They present supposed results of cure and decrease of dead and sick people, wrongly attributed to this senseless cocktail, forgetting that it is known that the great majority of those affected by COVID-19 will not develop severe consequences of the disease [12] .

The sanity of the Brazilian government will hardly be recovered during the pandemic, but it is necessary that doctors and other health professionals direct their energy to the fight with tools that are scientifically proven.

Jair Bolsonaro isolates himself, in the wrong way. Econ

COVID-19 in Brazil: "So what?

Potential use of hydroxychloroquine, ivermectin and azithromycin drugs in fighting COVID-19: trends, scope and relevance

Chloroquine paradox may cause more damage than help fight COVID-19

Do we have enough evidence to use chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine as a public health panacea for COVID-19?

COVID-19 treatment: Much research and testing, but far, few magic bullets against SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus

Genotoxic and Immunomodulatory effects of Hydroxychloroquine and Chloroquine: a review to evaluate its potential to use as a prophylactic drug against COVID-19

The covid-19 social media infodemic

Covid-19: how to be careful with trust and expertise on social media

Using misinformation as a political weapon: COVID-19 and Bolsonaro in Brazil. Harvard Kennedy Sch Misinformation Rev 2020

Pharmacologicaltreatment of COVID-19: lights and shadows

The epidemiology and clinical information about COVID-19