Rather than lampoon those desperate enough to purchase ivermectin at a feed store, as the FDA opted to do with their “You are not a horse” announcements, the FDA, CDC, AMA, and most any other three-lettered health organization, would probably be better served to recognize the genuine interest many people have towards ivermectin, and encourage them to speak to their doctors — rather than encourage their doctor not to speak to them. People diagnosed with Covid-19 can be pointed towards an ongoing trial and get paid to increase our understanding of ivermectin’s value. The certainty with which our guiding health authorities seems to feel that ivermectin has clearly failed to show evidence of benefit strikes me as exceeded only by those even more convinced of ivermectin’s benefit. If “science is curiosity,” certainty is its enemy.

Certainty drifting into righteousness has also led to censorship in the ivermectin discussion. The makers of this balanced article and video, which were some of the only non-dogmatic efforts I’ve found on the topic, seemed genuinely concerned they would be censored, simply for giving Dr Lawrie the chance to speak and address the concerns raised by two ivermectin skeptics – and indeed they (briefly) were! I struggle to fathom the hubris of a tech platform which deems the need to censor someone for supporting a medication with an excellent safety history and a beguiling narrative on its behalf for a potential role in aiding a generational pandemic. This is not calling out “fire” in a crowded theatre. This is… discussing science, complicated bits and all.