Trump suggested injecting disinfectant as treatment for Coronavirus. It's irresponsible and dangerous

The medical community has rained down heavy criticism on United States President Donald Trump after he suggested injecting yourself with disinfectant was a way to treat the novel Coronavirus during an official press briefing. He also claimed UV light as a form of treatment, an idea which a doctor at the briefing immediately dismissed, the BBC reports. At a time when little is known about the virus, misinformation from world leaders can have rather deadly consequences. Disinfectants can be especially hazardous. If ingested, they can be poisonous whereas external exposure can be harmful to the skin, eyes, and respiratory system (which is especially vulnerable if you contract Coronavirus).

The President made the unwarranted statements at the White House press briefing on Thursday. William Bryan, acting head of the US Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate, displayed evidence that the virus appeared to "weaken more quickly" when exposed to sunlight and heat. The study, conducted by US government researchers, showed that the virus could be killed with bleach in saliva or other respiratory fluids within five minutes. Allegedly, isopropyl alcohol could kill it at an even greater speed. The President, who was quite clearly seeing the results of the study for the first time, called the results "interesting" before making the dangerous recommendation to inject disinfectants into the body.

"So, supposing we hit the body with a tremendous - whether it's ultraviolet or just very powerful light," Trump stated, turning to Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House Coronavirus response coordinator. "I think you said that hasn't been checked but you're going to test it... And then I said, supposing you brought the light inside of the body, which you can do either through the skin or in some other way. And I think you said you're going to test that too." Dr. Birx clarified later that researchers never intended to use UV light or heat as a treatment, stating that while a "fever is a good thing," she had never heard of using heat or light as a treatment. Evidently, she was trying to attempt some much-needed damage control.

However, President Trump did not stop there. He continued, "And then I see the disinfectant where it knocks it out in a minute. One minute. And is there a way we can do something like that, by injection inside or almost a cleaning?" He then pointed to his head and stated, "I'm not a doctor. But I'm, like, a person that has a good you-know-what." Citizens all over the world were confused about whether he indeed had a good "you-know-what" but perhaps his most recent statements confirmed that he may not have one at all. Doctors across the country have weighed in on his comments, angered by his lack of caution.

"This notion of injecting or ingesting any type of cleansing product into the body is irresponsible and it's dangerous," affirmed pulmonologist Dr. Vin Gupta. "It's a common method that people utilize when they want to kill themselves." Kashif Mahmood, a doctor in Charleston, West Virginia, added, "As a physician, I can't recommend injecting disinfectant into the lungs or using UV radiation inside the body to treat [the disease]." He also had one piece of advice for everyone to heed: "Don't take medical advice from Trump." If you believe you or someone you know has contracted Coronavirus, it is best to rely on healthcare advice from medical professionals - not a megalomaniac spewing pseudo-scientific nonsense.

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