South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control Director Edward Simmer shot down reports that his agency was getting in the way of doctors who push therapeutic treatments that are not considered effective against the virus but that people are now requesting in large numbers.<\/p>\n
Simmer said Wednesday the agency was not preventing physicians from prescribing ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine, both unproven COVID-19 treatments, or sanctioning doctors that do so, even if it advises against the practice and promotes vaccination as the safest and most effective means of preventing COVID-19 infection.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t punish physicians or patients for clinical decisions. Nor do we determine what are acceptable uses of available medications,\u201d Simmer said during a five-hour Senate Medical Affairs hearing where physicians testified about COVID-19 treatments. \u201cBut what we do offer is the best evidence we possibly can, the best scientific evidence regarding what is effective, both prevention and treatment, for COVID.\u201d<\/p>\n
Read it all<\/a>.<\/p>\n 'While the vast majority of medical professionals nationally+in #SouthCarolina<\/a> do not prescribe or promote unauthorized #COVID19<\/a> treatments, many of the doctors who testified at Wednesday\u2019s panel were highly supportive of ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine' https:\/\/t.co\/1XLBTHwzpF<\/a><\/p>\n — Kendall Harmon (@KendallHarmon6) September 23, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n \n