A group of more than thirty attorneys representing over 1,500 individuals who have suffered harm from the failed Ebola drug Remdesivir (Veklury®) have issued a stern cease-and-desist letter to ABC. The letter demands the immediate removal of content from the pilot episode of ABC’s new medical drama, Doctor Odyssey, which portrays Remdesivir as a “miracle cure.”
The attorneys argue that the portrayal of Remdesivir in the show is misleading and potentially dangerous, as it could influence viewers to seek out treatments that have caused severe harm, including acute kidney injury, liver damage, and death. It is worth noting that the World Health Organization advised against the use of Remdesivir in hospitalized patients in November 2020, citing evidence that it had little to no effect on mortality or other important outcomes.
In September 2022, lawsuits were filed against three California healthcare providers for administering Remdesivir to patients without obtaining informed consent, resulting in wrongful deaths.
The attorneys, led by Jamie Scher, Stephen Scher, and Michael Hamilton, claim that their clients were coerced into using Remdesivir under Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) guidelines and were denied informed consent due to misinformation and the deliberate withholding of critical risk factors.
The cease-and-desist letter outlines several demands, including the immediate removal of any mentions of Remdesivir from Doctor Odyssey, disclosure of any agreements between ABC and the drug’s manufacturer, Gilead Sciences, establishment of funds for individuals harmed by Remdesivir after viewing the misleading content, and a public apology broadcasted across ABC-affiliated stations warning viewers about the drug’s risks.
Failure to comply with these demands by December 31, 2024, will result in legal action, according to the attorneys.
In a related development, published an exclusive article in October featuring a military whistleblower known as Daniel LeMay, who shared insights into the release of “The Remdesivir Papers” report. LeMay, speaking anonymously for fear of reprisals, highlighted concerns about hospitals being compensated for using Remdesivir and other treatment protocols that may have resulted in patient deaths being wrongly attributed to COVID-19.
The whistleblower emphasized the need to uncover the truth behind the use of harmful drugs and the importance of informed consent in medical treatments. The interview with sheds light on the ethical and legal implications of promoting drugs like Remdesivir without full disclosure of risks and consequences.
The legal actions taken by the coalition of attorneys and the revelations from the military whistleblower underscore the importance of transparency, accountability, and patient safety in the healthcare industry. It is crucial for media platforms like ABC to act responsibly in their portrayal of medical treatments and to prioritize the well-being of their viewers.
