Overview

• The study, published in March 2020, claimed hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin effectively treated COVID-19 but has now been retracted by the journal's publisher, Elsevier.
• Investigations revealed numerous ethical breaches, including lack of patient consent, unauthorized use of medications, and manipulated data.
• The research was criticized for its flawed methodology, such as a small sample size, lack of randomization, and conflicts of interest involving the journal's editorial leadership.
• The retraction follows mounting pressure from scientists and three co-authors who raised concerns about the study's integrity earlier this year.
• The study's promotion led to widespread, unproven use of hydroxychloroquine, resulting in reported health risks, resource misallocation, and global misinformation during the pandemic.