[USS Alaska]

Alam began treating his patients, 45 of whom had tested positive for the coronavirus after they developed a high fever, shortness of breath and cough. He received permission from their families before starting them on the medications, which have not yet undergone randomized controlled trials. “The majority had clinical improvement,” said Alam. “We had very good outcomes.” Alam said that 38 of 47 patients treated returned to their baseline and their symptoms resolved. Seven of the patients were transferred to a hospital and two died.

There was no control group in the study so Alam acknowledged more studies are needed to evaluate his protocol’s effectiveness.

The phrase "NO Control Group" means that no one was 'sacrificed by using a placebo' so that their deaths would count as part of the 'control group'.

NO ONE WANTS TO BE A PART OF THE CONTROL GROUP, I.E. GUINEA PIGS THAT WILL DIE.

IF GIVEN A CHOICE WHO WOULD TAKE A SUGAR PILL?

[Mom MD]

the control group does not have to be non treated patients although there are some that would refuse treatment or not qualify for some other reason. the control groups could be different treatment or doses. Ultimately randomized studies are important for bandwagon is not always correct even when rolling along at high speed. Look up a drug called xigris for a recent example. That one was going to end sepsis deaths. Turned out we were killing people faster with if.

[RinaseaofDs]

Good for you.

Precisely correct. In a pandemic, you cannot ethically form a control group. Case history and careful control of the other measures you use are sufficient. For example, start your treatment with the recommended protocol - don’t start with something else and then switch (unless the patient’s life is in danger).

[Styria]

No control group means you don’t know if the drug actually helped anyone, or how much it helped. What is the number needed to treat (NNT) to save one life? 10? 500? You also don’t know if the deaths or ICU admissions could have been from the drug. It can cause arrhythmias and severe hypoglycemia, both of which can be deadly.

[billyboy15]

I could be wrong but I don’t believe those in the control group are aware they are in it.

[xkaydet65]

Someone should point this out to Fauci. He may carry MD somewhere after his name but he is far more a eesearcher than a doctor. That’s true if most of the CDC FDA people. I know some have reservations about them but the USPHS is made up of doctors and nurses who do practice. Maybe they should be making these decisions about treatment.