Well written Dr. Prasad! It takes cojones to write on this topic. One of the most important lessons here is the importance of humility-from the outset acknowledge the fact that we were all flying blind in March 2020 so draconian policies perhaps weren't the best way to proceed.
"Oh, and I inadvertently forget to mention that I funded the research at the Wuhan lab in China that was the proximate cause of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sorry about that. My bad."
Too many “probably”s. This apology almost sounds glib ( I know, partly due to your humor Dr Prasad).
But Tony should have a larger paragraph on his screwup of censorship. He screwed up big time and his actions against the GBD was antithetical to science and that was hardly an apology to JB, Kulldorf, and Gupta
I also know he single-handedly did not cause this, but he made it “ok” for deranged power hungry officials to shut down small businesses never to reopen again(people’s livelihoods, some family businesses for years!), close schools from which repercussions for kids are and will be felt for years and outrageously let people die alone.
I enjoyed this piece, and I agree, an 85 y/o is not going to change (again, love your humour Dr) nor do I think jail time appropriate. It’s just his actions and hubris still spark anger in me and MANY bc so many lives permanently, or at least severely, changed for the worse! May be a character fault on my part, but I hope a substantial part of his wealth is spent on lawyers. Perhaps this will cause some minor pain if nothing else.
"I am technically correct that I never ordered school closures. This authority rests with state and local health departments. However, I am aware that my guidance had massive influence on a health department's policies. Few state health officers would risk challenging my advice and keep schools open when I advised closure. I was wrong to shut down any counterarguments made by those who were concerned about the educational, developmental, emotional and psychological harms of school closures. I acknowledge the harms were suffered most by those of limited financial means. In a future epidemic, we should be much more protective of our children's education and not treat them as 'human shields'."
Well written Dr. Prasad! It takes cojones to write on this topic. One of the most important lessons here is the importance of humility-from the outset acknowledge the fact that we were all flying blind in March 2020 so draconian policies perhaps weren't the best way to proceed.
👍
Thank You, Dr. Fauci !
"Oh, and I inadvertently forget to mention that I funded the research at the Wuhan lab in China that was the proximate cause of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sorry about that. My bad."
Too many “probably”s. This apology almost sounds glib ( I know, partly due to your humor Dr Prasad).
But Tony should have a larger paragraph on his screwup of censorship. He screwed up big time and his actions against the GBD was antithetical to science and that was hardly an apology to JB, Kulldorf, and Gupta
I also know he single-handedly did not cause this, but he made it “ok” for deranged power hungry officials to shut down small businesses never to reopen again(people’s livelihoods, some family businesses for years!), close schools from which repercussions for kids are and will be felt for years and outrageously let people die alone.
I enjoyed this piece, and I agree, an 85 y/o is not going to change (again, love your humour Dr) nor do I think jail time appropriate. It’s just his actions and hubris still spark anger in me and MANY bc so many lives permanently, or at least severely, changed for the worse! May be a character fault on my part, but I hope a substantial part of his wealth is spent on lawyers. Perhaps this will cause some minor pain if nothing else.
One more paragraph on school closures:
"I am technically correct that I never ordered school closures. This authority rests with state and local health departments. However, I am aware that my guidance had massive influence on a health department's policies. Few state health officers would risk challenging my advice and keep schools open when I advised closure. I was wrong to shut down any counterarguments made by those who were concerned about the educational, developmental, emotional and psychological harms of school closures. I acknowledge the harms were suffered most by those of limited financial means. In a future epidemic, we should be much more protective of our children's education and not treat them as 'human shields'."
You're being too nice, intentionally I believe.
He didn't just become narcissistic, he was or became that way over 40 years of power. Maybe it was his own "gain of function"!
It’s great, of course, to have the benefit of hindsight. Perhaps you’ll write another, similar, letter showing how you screwed up at FDA.