Thread by @lauragetsbetter

Patients walk out of a @StanfordMed #LongCovid trial after medical staff stop masking while tending to LC participants. 1/

This is the second high-profile #LongCovid trial I’ve heard of in the past couple of weeks in which medical staff refused to mask while interacting with extremely vulnerable participants. In some settings, staff are “masking,” but only wearing surgical masks. 2/

Some of us are so debilitated by #LongCovid that we come to these study sites unable to walk. We travel long distances—on our own dime, at great risk to our health—in the hope that we don’t get the placebo and your experimental treatment is the one that gets us out of hell. 3/

We spend our lives isolated, imploring our loved ones not to take risks that could leave us bedbound. None of us can afford to catch this virus again.

What exactly do these researchers think they’re studying? Do they not know about the risks of reinfection? Do they not care? 4/

It’s inexcusable that ANY healthcare provider is going without a mask, but to work maskless with patients whose lives have been destroyed by the very virus whose long-term effects they are claiming to study is downright shameful.

@StanfordMed: do better. 5/

If nothing else, do better by your own research. Will your results be more consistent if your participants catch Covid and deteriorate in the middle of your study? I’m no scientist, but I’m guessing not. 6/

Just yesterday, LC advocates in Italy forced the extension of mask mandates in healthcare settings. We need the same, NOW, everywhere.

But masking at #LongCovid study sites should be the absolute bare fucking minimum.

Get 👏 it 👏 together 👏 , people.

/end

Addendum: Just spoke to my friend who was part of the other LC study that did not require its clinicians to mask. I’ll share the details tomorrow (limited spoons)—

—but let it be known that I’m very happy to name and shame any facility/study that is not mitigating transmission for its #LongCovid patients. DM me. This shit is ridiculous.

I’m being told @StanfordHealth is the one to tag, NOT @StanfordMed. Any comment, Stanford Health? We’d love to hear from you 😍

Another @StanfordHealth Paxlovid for Long Covid study participant quits:

Update from OP on Reddit—turns out @StanfordHealth masks for some of its vulnerable Long Covid study participants, but not others. Ok.

@StanfordHealth Link to original thread on r/covidlonghaulers (h/t to incredible LC advocate @dsethlewis!!!):
reddit.com/r/covidlonghau…

Further clarification from OP. The callousness on display here from @StanfordHealth is stunning.