Posted on Dec 22, 2022
In Florida, 'health freedom' activists exert influence over a major hospital
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https://www.npr.org/2022/12/21/ [login to see] /in-florida-health-freedom-activists-exert-influence-over-a-major-hospital
A Florida hospital has become the latest front for political activists eager to challenge protocols for treating COVID.
While most of the 6,000 hospitals in the United States are privately-run, about 200 are controlled by publicly-elected board members, according to Larry Gage, former president of the National Association of Public Hospitals. Typically, those elections usually have nothing to do with national politics or culture war issues.
But with seats opening on the Sarasota Memorial Hospital's board earlier this year, a group of political activists opposed to COVID protocols saw an opportunity. Now, the hospital has three new board members who question the effectiveness of vaccines and spread medical misinformation. While they're a minority on the nine-person board, their victory has thrown the hospital board's typically quiet meetings into chaos.
A Florida hospital has become the latest front for political activists eager to challenge protocols for treating COVID.
While most of the 6,000 hospitals in the United States are privately-run, about 200 are controlled by publicly-elected board members, according to Larry Gage, former president of the National Association of Public Hospitals. Typically, those elections usually have nothing to do with national politics or culture war issues.
But with seats opening on the Sarasota Memorial Hospital's board earlier this year, a group of political activists opposed to COVID protocols saw an opportunity. Now, the hospital has three new board members who question the effectiveness of vaccines and spread medical misinformation. While they're a minority on the nine-person board, their victory has thrown the hospital board's typically quiet meetings into chaos.
In Florida, 'health freedom' activists exert influence over a major hospital
Posted from npr.org
Medical
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Posted >1 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Review of the hospital's practices
At their inaugural meeting, the new board members successfully pushed to open a review of the hospital's COVID practices.
In an email, hospital spokesperson Kim Savage said the review will look into "specific, individual patient care concerns expressed at the recent hospital board meeting, including those shared by Dr. Guffanti." She said the leadership is also "taking a broader look at care throughout the pandemic, to review the lessons learned and plan for the future."
"We are an elected body," said Hudson, the board chair. "If the citizens elect folks that might have some alternative views, [...] I think that we should listen to the citizens," he said.
While he doesn't buy into the conspiracy theories about the hospital, Hudson says the review will put people at ease. But many others interviewed for this story were deeply disturbed.
"This kind of health freedom propaganda rhetoric, it's not just an academic discussion. It's endangering the lives of Americans, and in this case Floridians," said Dr. Peter Hotez, a vaccine expert at Texas Children's Hospital who has followed medical freedom movements for years.
Hotez estimates that 200,000 Americans needlessly died in the last half of 2021 and early 2022 because they weren't vaccinated . "As a societal force, that's an enormous killer," he said.
The hospital's internal review is underway now. Findings will be made public by March of next year."
..."Review of the hospital's practices
At their inaugural meeting, the new board members successfully pushed to open a review of the hospital's COVID practices.
In an email, hospital spokesperson Kim Savage said the review will look into "specific, individual patient care concerns expressed at the recent hospital board meeting, including those shared by Dr. Guffanti." She said the leadership is also "taking a broader look at care throughout the pandemic, to review the lessons learned and plan for the future."
"We are an elected body," said Hudson, the board chair. "If the citizens elect folks that might have some alternative views, [...] I think that we should listen to the citizens," he said.
While he doesn't buy into the conspiracy theories about the hospital, Hudson says the review will put people at ease. But many others interviewed for this story were deeply disturbed.
"This kind of health freedom propaganda rhetoric, it's not just an academic discussion. It's endangering the lives of Americans, and in this case Floridians," said Dr. Peter Hotez, a vaccine expert at Texas Children's Hospital who has followed medical freedom movements for years.
Hotez estimates that 200,000 Americans needlessly died in the last half of 2021 and early 2022 because they weren't vaccinated . "As a societal force, that's an enormous killer," he said.
The hospital's internal review is underway now. Findings will be made public by March of next year."
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel good day Brother William, always informational and of the most interesting. Thanks for sharing, have a blessed day!
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