I tried to make the resolution more readable. Tell me what changed since Didier Raoult's and Zev Zelenko's reports made the scene. NADA !


AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION HOUSE OF DELEGATES
Resolution: 509
(November 2020)
Introduced by:GeorgiaSubject:Hydroxychloroquine and Combination Therapies – Off-Label Use
Referred to:Reference Committee

Whereas, SARS-CoV-2 is the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19; and

Whereas, Three distinct stages of COVID-19 infection have been observed in some people who test positive for the disease and have variable degrees of symptoms as noted (1); and

Whereas, During the early infection phase (Stage 1), the virus multiplies inside the body and is 31 likely to cause mild symptoms that may be confused with a common cold or flu; and

Whereas, The second phase is the pulmonary phase (Stage 2), when the Immune 34 System becomes strongly affected by infection and leads to primarily respiratory symptoms such as persistent cough, shortness of breath and low oxygen levels. Problems with blood 36 clotting--especially with the formation of blood clots--may be predominant in Stage 2; and

Whereas, The third hyperinflammatory phase (Stage 3), occurs when a hyperactivated immune 1 system may cause injury to the heart, kidneys, and other organs. A "cytokine storm"--where the 2 body attacks its own tissues--may occur in this phase; and3 4

Whereas, There is no current Federal Drug Administration (FDA) indication for the treatment of 5 Early Coronavirus infection, but early emergency use authorization (EUA) originally approved 6 the use of hydroxychloroquine and then rescinded it (2); and7 8 Whereas, The FDA limited use of convalescence plasma but now has rescinded that 9 limitation (3); and

Whereas, Hydroxychloroquine and Chloroquine are FDA approved medications for over 12 50 years, and these medications are safely prescribed long-term for other indications (2); and

Whereas, AMA President, Patrice A. Harris, MD, issued the following statement: “The AMA 15 is calling for a stop to any inappropriate prescribing and ordering of medications, including 16 chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine, and appealing to physicians and all health care professionals to follow the highest standards of professionalism and ethics” (4); and

Whereas, The AMA, American Pharmacists Association, and American Society of Health 20 System Pharmacists issued a joint statement on March 25, 2020 on inappropriate ordering, prescribing, or dispensing of medications to treat COVID-19 (4); and

Whereas, Some states, pharmacy boards and institutions have forbidden the use of these 24 medications for COVID-19 infection (4, 5); and

Whereas, A proposed regimen to treat COVID-19 for Stage 1, includes 10 days of hydroxychloroquine, Azithromycin, zinc, and on occasion Vitamin D (6); and

Whereas, This regimen is not being advocated for Stage 2 and Stage 3 COVID therapy; and

Whereas, The original studies published in The Lancet and The New England Journal of 32 Medicine(NEJM) initially citing harm due to hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine use were retracted by said journals due to dubious research methodology and incorrect conclusions (7, 8, 9); and

Whereas, AMA policy H-120.988, “Patient Access to Treatments Prescribed by Their 37 Physicians,” supports a physician’s autonomy to prescribe medications the physician believes to be in the patient’s best interest, where the benefits outweigh risk and the patient consents; and

Whereas, Physicians have used off label medications for years and this use is supported by existing policy; and

Whereas, Data regarding harm have been limited due to poorly designed studies or studies 44 usually in Stage 2 or later, or stopped without harm but no effect in phase 2 and hypothesis (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12); and

Whereas, There are many studies that indicate that the use of Hydroxychloroquine, 48 Azithromycin is effective and front-line physicians are using the therapy where permissible 49 (13, 14, 15); and
Resolution: 509 (November 2020)

Whereas, The COVID-19 pandemic is a serious medical issue, people are dying, and 1 physicians must be able to perform as sagacious prescribers; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That our American Medical Association rescind its statement calling for physicians to stop prescribing hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine until sufficient evidence becomes available to conclusively illustrate that the harm associated with use outweighs benefit early in the disease course. Implying that such treatment is inappropriate contradicts AMA Policy 7 H-120.988, “Patient Access to Treatments Prescribed by Their Physicians,” that addresses off 8 label prescriptions as appropriate in the judgement of the prescribing physician (Directive to 9 Take Action); and be it further

RESOLVED, That our AMA rescind its joint statement with the American Pharmacists 12 Association and American Society of Health System Pharmacists, and update it with a joint statement notifying patients that further studies are ongoing to clarify any potential benefit of 14 hydroxychloroquine and combination therapies for the treatment of COVID-19 (Directive to Take Action); and be it further

RESOLVED, That our AMA reassure the patients whose physicians are prescribing 18 hydroxychloroquine and combination therapies for their early-stage COVID-19 diagnosis by 19 issuing an updated statement clarifying our support for a physician’s ability to prescribe an FDA-20 approved medication for off label use, if it is in her/his best clinical judgement, with specific reference to the use of hydroxychloroquine and combination therapies for the treatment of the earliest stage of COVID-19 (Directive to Take Action); and be it further

RESOLVED, That our AMA take the actions necessary to require local pharmacies to fill valid 25 prescriptions that are issued by physicians and consistent with AMA principles articulated in AMA Policy H-120.988, “Patient Access to Treatments Prescribed by Their Physicians,” including working with the American Pharmacists Association and American Society of Health System Pharmacists. (Directive to Take Action)

https://www.ama-assn.org/system/files/20...ok-addendum.pdf