This is at the heart of the ignorant pro-HCQ argument.
Most patients don't proceed to the second stage no matter what they do or don't take.
You could give every positive patient a Flintstones vitamin and have fabulous anecdotal evidence of how it prevented progression of the disease.
Just like HCQ.
Anti HCQ information is the lie. Many real doctors treating real patients with HCQ have confirmed it's effective and just as importantly comes with almost ZERO risk. Why rule out a treatment that could be life saving if there is near zero risk to the patient?
If you want proof you have to look at what was known about HCQ BEFORE covid 19, when it was not a political tool. No study post Covid can be proven to be without political bias but if we look to known facts about HCQ before Covid we can be fairly assured this is unbiased information.
So what did we know for sure about HCQ before Covid 19?
1. We know this is a very very safe drug. It has virtually zero risk of major side effects. It's likely more safe than a bottle of Tylenol. This is backed up by some half a century of widespread use. It has been given to military personnel in huge numbers with almost zero negative consequences. This fact alone is proof nearly every negative thing we have heard about HCQ is a lie and was politically motivated. There simply was no such evidence of HCQ being dangerous for sixty years before Covid 19. This fact IS the smoking gun.
2. Was there any indication that HCQ was effective against Corona type viruses before Covid 19? Yes there was, quite a bit. This is the second smoking gun. We already knew this drug was effective at treating corona type viruses. It was only after Covid 19 became a political weapon did the lies about it having no effect came about.
Simple logic proves the lies about HCQ. The people that spread these lies and denied access to this drug should be held accountable.