Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

HipChick

(25,485 posts)
Fri Apr 17, 2020, 09:52 PM Apr 2020

Family of New York woman blames hydroxychloroquine combo for fatal heart attack..


A New York woman with coronavirus symptoms died last week after being prescribed a drug cocktail with known cardiac side effects, and family members say she was not tested for COVID-19 or for heart problems before receiving the medication.

The family’s experience suggests that at least some physicians are prescribing hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin — drugs President Donald Trump has promoted to treat the coronavirus — outside of hospital settings, underscoring why major medical organizations including the American Heart Association have issued warnings about the drug’s potential to trigger heart arrhythmia in some patients.

In early April, Ligia, a 65-year-old Queens resident, was given the drug by her general practitioner after she reported having a bad cough, fever and shortness of breath. While Ligia’s symptoms were consistent with those of COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus, she was never tested for the virus, her brother-in-law, Lee Levitt, told NBC News. Ligia received the drug after speaking by phone with her doctor, Levitt said. She was never evaluated in person and received no heart screening or warning about the potential side effects.

“It was handed over like a bag of cookies,” Levitt said.

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/family-new-york-woman-blames-hydroxychloroquine-combo-fatal-heart-attack-n1185451
12 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Family of New York woman blames hydroxychloroquine combo for fatal heart attack.. (Original Post) HipChick Apr 2020 OP
A desperate, whispering con man told her to take it Blue Owl Apr 2020 #1
I Suspect A Lawsuit Against That GP sfstaxprep Apr 2020 #2
They ought to sue the president. SoonerPride Apr 2020 #3
Nothing will come of it. It will be dismissed. Caliman73 Apr 2020 #9
Sounds like a lawsuit in the making. n/t Frustratedlady Apr 2020 #4
Sue shitstain AND FAUX! SheltieLover Apr 2020 #5
and this one too Celerity Apr 2020 #6
My uncle, my brother and I all had some heart murmur as children. lostnfound Apr 2020 #7
Sue the shit out of the snake oil salesman in the WH! Baclava Apr 2020 #8
I'm guessing you saw this too. Trump has set them all loose. rgbecker Apr 2020 #10
Just in time for this announcement.... KY_EnviroGuy Apr 2020 #11
Never get medical advice from politician. sakabatou Apr 2020 #12

Caliman73

(11,694 posts)
9. Nothing will come of it. It will be dismissed.
Sat Apr 18, 2020, 04:40 PM
Apr 2020

Trump is an idiot but he is not completely stupid. He uses weasel words to make sure to put enough light between himself and the idiocy he advocates to keep himself out of legal troubles.

In his stupid, creepy rant on hydrochloroquine he said, "Try it, Try it, if you like" then he said something about "with your doctor", which I am sure legally would give him enough cover to escape any legal liability.

I agree 100% with your sentiment. He is a disgusting piece of shit who advocates stupid and dangerous things that lead to people getting hurt, but he won't be charged.

He needs to be constantly challenged for setting a dangerous climate by pushing ideas that are not proven and have caused death in desperate people. This needs to be said at every one of his stupid briefings. He needs to be called out on the weasel words he uses to escape responsibility and they need to be called out specifically as WEASEL WORDS because is a weasel.

Celerity

(42,674 posts)
6. and this one too
Fri Apr 17, 2020, 10:33 PM
Apr 2020

About the same time, the daughter of one of Levitt’s co-workers who tested positive for COVID-19 was prescribed the same drug cocktail despite a history of heart problems. Lynn Donawald happened to call Levitt the morning after Ligia’s death.

Donawald’s 32-year-old daughter, who had recently been diagnosed with myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle, was given the prescription by a telemed doctor she’d never seen her before and who asked no questions about her underlying health conditions, Donawald said.

Donawald recalled her conversation with Levitt, which took place as her daughter's husband was en route to fill the prescription.

“Stop. Stop him right now,” Levitt told Donawald, who hung up and immediately called her son-in-law. “When I called Lee back he was sobbing, telling me the story about his sister-in-law who had died during the night,” said Donawald, whose daughter is now recovering from the virus. The daughter declined NBC’s request to identify the doctor.

Levitt said he believed it was essential for families to speak out publicly about the dangers associated with taking the drug.

“If nobody is willing to stand up and say ‘This drug killed my loved one,’ then others will assuredly die as Ligia did,” Levitt said. “It's basically a game of Russian roulette; we don't know who can tolerate the drug and who can't.”

snip


Trump kills

lostnfound

(16,139 posts)
7. My uncle, my brother and I all had some heart murmur as children.
Sat Apr 18, 2020, 04:19 PM
Apr 2020

Uncle died unexpectedly after pneumonia at a VA hospital. Brother survived two Torsades events that occurred IN the hospital (very deadly type of heart attack). Both uncle and brother were always fit men.

Because the Chinese used it, I suspect there is something to this drug combo for treating SOME coronavirus patients but not effective for all and deadly for some.

But what drug is needed for which patients must be pretty damn complicated considering the variety of ways it attacks the body.

rgbecker

(4,806 posts)
10. I'm guessing you saw this too. Trump has set them all loose.
Sat Apr 18, 2020, 05:25 PM
Apr 2020
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/olivianiland/california-doctor-covid-19-coronavirus-cure-fraud-charges

Doctor mails out kits of Hydroxychloroquine for several thousand dollars each....was OK with everyone until they saw he promised 100% cure.!.

KY_EnviroGuy

(14,483 posts)
11. Just in time for this announcement....
Sat Apr 18, 2020, 05:34 PM
Apr 2020

Extracted From: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2020/apr/17/coronavirus-us-live-trump-reopening-plan-states-governors-latest-updates

(Guardian UK's rolling coronavirus coverage page)

South Dakota governor Kristi Noem announced Friday that her state would begin a clinical trial of hydroxychloroquine to fight the coronavirus. “South Dakota is now the first state in America to launch a statewide, state-backed clinical trial of hydroxychloroquine to fight Covid-19,” Noem said in remarks sent out by her office.



KY.............
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Family of New York woman ...