The American Medical Association (AMA) on Friday issued a scathing statement condemning President Trump’s claim that doctors are purposefully inflating coronavirus case numbers in order to make more money, calling the suggestion “malicious, outrageous, and completely misguided.”
During a rally in Waterford Township, Michigan, on Friday, Trump claimed without evidence that doctors are improperly counting coronavirus deaths for monetary gain.
“Our doctors get more money if somebody dies from COVID. You know that, right? I mean our doctors are very smart people. So what they do is they say ‘I’m sorry but everybody dies of COVID,'” he said.
Trump argued that other countries put less of an emphasis on COVID-19 as a cause of death compared to the U.S., adding, “with us, when in doubt, ‘choose COVID.’ It’s true.”
He also pushed a similar claim during a rally in Wisconsin last weekend, saying “doctors get more money and hospitals get more money” if COVID-19 is listed as a cause of death.
Trump’s remarks sparked a widespread backlash.
Susan Bailey, the president of the AMA, pushed back on Trump’s claims, pointing to work physicians, nurses and frontline health care workers have done during the pandemic to treat their patients.
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden praised the work of health-care professionals during a campaign stop in Minnesota, saying “they do their jobs. Donald Trump should stop attacking them and do his job.”
Doctors and nurses were also among those who took to Twitter to push back against the president’s remarks.
“As an Iraq war vet and ER doctor, I risk my life every f—ing day at work treating patients with COVID. I’m not asking for a thank you, but I am asking that Trump doesn’t lie and disrespect us,” wrote Twitter user Cleavon Gilman.
Check the reactions below:
As an Iraq war vet and ER doctor, I risk my life every fucking day at work treating patients with COVID. I'm not asking for a thank you, but I am asking that Trump doesn't lie and disrespect us. I've never seen such a weak draft-dodging coward in my life. He is unfit to lead!!
— Cleavon MD (@Cleavon_MD) October 30, 2020
FOR F*CK SAKE!!! Trump just picked the wrong goddamn fight trying to blame doctors for “phony” #COVID19 diagnoses and deaths. Here are over 20+ doctors who have **DIED ON THE FRONTLINES** among almost 2000 healthcare workers who have died.
Trump—you can goto hell after we #VOTE https://t.co/2ldjuspWxa
— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) October 31, 2020
My husband is a sleep medicine doctor here in Seattle, the original epicenter of the COVID-19 epidemic.
When his colleagues opted to work from home and see patients online, he volunteered to work 14 hour days in the ICU watching COVID patients die for months.
Fuck you, Trump. https://t.co/EJGQEqMNEl
— Holly Figueroa O'Reilly (@AynRandPaulRyan) October 31, 2020
"No, doctors do not profit by listing someone as being covid positive on a death certificate,” Dr.Bhadelia says of Pres. Trump's claim. “In fact, most doctors I know have seen cuts to their salary…and their hospitals suffer major financial losses." https://t.co/FJXexevRnJ
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) October 31, 2020
