Thread by @AbraarKaran

THREAD

What constitutes an "expert" in a novel epidemic?
Serious question.

Many laypeople and even doctors are looking to "experts" on #COVID19. Who do we turn to? For what?

Some thoughts:

1/ First thing to remember: anyone claiming to be an "expert" on #COVID19, a completely new disease for which the medical/scientific data is changing almost daily, probably isn't.

Most doctors, including myself, will not say they are "experts" on #COVID19.

2/ What medical doctors are trained to do is:
-take care of patients (some specifically for infectious disease)

-read the medical literature/ interpret it, albeit with caution

-for some, run clinical trials, produce the data/medical literature that the rest of us read

3/ My personal opinion is that early in an epidemic, there are many "experts"--people who are expert in their specialty/ line of work.

And then there are no "experts"- and what I mean by that is that we are all still learning about this new disease.

4/ We have clinical doctors who have expertise treating patients w/ infectious diseases.

We have epidemiologists who are experts in studying disease spread/dynamics.

We have epidemic responders who are experts in understanding how to manage epidemics.

5/ We have virologists who experts in understanding the science.

We have journalists who are experts in communicating the science.

We have political leaders who are experts in managing the politics.

We have anthropologists who are experts in how people interact w/ disease.

6/ We have nurses, pharmacists, & other clinical staff who are experts in caring for patients.

We have pharmaceutical companies who are experts in developing vaccines & rapid diagnostics tests.

We have lawyers who are experts in the legal aspects of epidemics.

7/ My point is-- when we "defer" to the "experts", really ask what it is you are wanting to know about #COVID19.

Because an expert in one area of an epidemic is not an expert in all areas.

Anyone who claims they know it all should be questioned.

8/ I'll end by saying I am not claiming by any means to be a #COVID19 "expert".

What I can say:
-I am a clinical doctor @BrighamWomens @harvardmed

-I have studied the ethics of epidemic response @JournalofEthics

-I have an MPH from @HarvardChanSPH and a DTM&H from @LSHTM

9/
-I have thoroughly read most of the major clinical studies on #COVID19 (there aren't *that* many yet, as you can imagine)

-I am using that knowledge to try my best to help our state level response to this disease in whatever capacity possible @massdph.

END

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