Regardless of the outcome, the recent experience with the hydroxychloroquine shortage should remind us to critically appraise the medical literature. Had the limitations of the study by Gautret et al. been more clearly articulated by the authors themselves or by the medical community at large, the current shortage may have been averted. It should also remind us that our patients will face new and unforeseeable challenges in the months to come. Despite the hurdles of telemedicine and social-distancing-rheumatology, we must find ways to help them through this crisis.
Michael Putman, MD (@EBRheum), is a clinical instructor of medicine at Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill., and a member of the ACR’s Fellows-in-Training Subcommittee. He is pursuing large vessel vasculitis research on a T32 training grant.
