Tri-City Sun

The Henry Ford Medical Center's clinical trial of hydroxychloroquine in the treatment of COVID-19 patients found that the drug cut the number of patient deaths in half.

Among the 2,500 patients hospitalized at one of Henry Ford's six hospitals between March 10 and May 2, 26% of patients who were not given hydroxychloroquine died, while only 13% of those given the drug died. The study was recently published in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases.

Henry Ford neurosurgeon Dr. Steven Kalkanis said their analysis shows that using the drug helped save lives. His comments echo those of Dr. John Pfenninger, who praised Rep. Annette Glenn (R-Midland) for working with the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) to clear the drug's use in Michigan.

Rep. Annette Glenn | Michigan House Republicans

“The Lord gives us opportunities to do good for others, and he expects us to use them,” Glenn said, according to Michigan House Republicans. “It’s deeply gratifying to have had the opportunity to play a role in helping ensure COVID-19 victims got the lifesaving treatment their doctors thought necessary. I am pleased to have played a role in ensuring people had the opportunity to save their lives or their loved ones' lives with this.”

Glenn, during a conference call, persuaded LARA officials to recant a threatening memo and support doctors in prescribing the drug. 

"People should and do have the right to be prescribed this medication if their doctor deems it necessary, especially since Michigan has a Right to Try law passed in 2014 that guarantees potentially terminal patients the right to try any drug they believe may help ease their suffering or save their life," Glenn said.

Glenn was asked to personally call physicians and assure them that there was no threat of state action against them for prescribing hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 patients. One of those was the physician of Rep. Karen Whitsett (D-Detroit). Whitsett received the drug and quickly recovered from the coronavirus.

“I am truly pleased to think the Lord may have used me in such a way that my actions might actually have helped save lives, as the Henry Ford clinical trials indicate may be true," Glenn said. "Little I accomplish as a  legislator could make me feel more blessed to have the privilege of  being in a position to serve families in Bay and Midland counties -- and  end up helping people all across Michigan in the process -- including my  dear friend, Rep. Whitsett.”