The controversial Didier Raoult, champion of hydroxychloroquine to treat Covid-19, must be heard on Friday, November 5 in the morning by the disciplinary chamber of the Order of Physicians of Nouvelle-Aquitaine in Bordeaux, where two complaints against him from his peers for breaches of the code of ethics.
This chamber, chaired by an administrative magistrate, can decide on sanctions against the Marseille infectious disease specialist ranging from a simple warning to radiation.
A decision is expected between 15 days and eight weeks after the hearing.
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In the fall of 2020, the departmental council of the Order of Physicians of Bouches-du-Rhône had brought proceedings against the professor, who heads the Mediterranean Infection Hospital-University Institute (IHU) in Marseille.
He criticized him for several breaches of the code of ethics related in particular to the promotion of hydroxychloroquine as a treatment against Covid-19, despite the lack of proven effect even today.
Several studies carried out by the IHU to support the interest of this treatment have been criticized by many scientists for their methodology and their conditions of realization.
The National Council of the Order of Physicians (Cnom) joined in these lawsuits by filing a complaint in turn at the end of December.
"Not a settling of accounts"
According to Me Philippe Carlini, lawyer of the council of the Ordre des Médecins des Bouches-du-Rhône, who mentions violations of
"9 or 10 articles of the code of ethics"
, Professor Raoult had
"anti-fraternal"
attitudes
towards
" doctors who do not think like him ”
during his numerous communications
“ on social networks and TV sets ”
. These lawsuits do not constitute
"a settling of scores"
but
"a support for all liberal doctors, on the front line during the crisis, completely destabilized by the aggressive positions of patients who demanded hydroxycholoroquine"
, explained Me Carlini to the 'AFP the day before the hearing.
For Me Fabrice Di Vizio, who defends Didier Raoult, the plaintiffs denounce
"a general communication"
but the file does not contain any
"precise, factual, dated"
words
showing that the Marseille professor
"discredits the profession"
.
According to the lawyer, Didier Raoult
“will be there”
at the hearing.
Read also Why Didier Raoult is forced to retire
The Bordeaux court, where the case was disoriented, must also examine a third complaint filed this time by the Marseille professor himself, against the vice-president of the Bouches-du-Rhône Order of Physicians, Dr Guillaume Gorincour , for
"non-confraternity"
. Didier Raoult criticizes this doctor in charge of ethics within the body, about fifty denigrating tweets, posted throughout the year 2020.
The infectious disease specialist and the University Hospital Institute (IHU) of Marseille have acquired a vast and controversial notoriety with the Covid-19 pandemic, by promoting a treatment against the disease based on hydroxychloroquine, despite the absence today still proven effect.
Since the end of October, this institute and its director have also been accused of having carried out supposed
illegal
“clinical trials”
against tuberculosis
since 2017
, which they deny.
Didier Raoult has been retired since August 31 as a university professor-hospital practitioner.
