NEW YORK (VINnews) — Dr. Vladimir Zelenko, an Orthodox Jewish doctor who rose to fame last March by promoting Hydroxychloroquine, a drug he claimed had successfully treated coronavirus, was denied that very drug in a Walgreens Tuesday evening.
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Zelenko arrived in Walgreens with his prescription to pick up the medication, which he said he presribed for himself and has been using for over a year. But the pharmacist refused to hand over the medicine.
When asked why, the pharmacist initially said it’s because the prescription was written for Lupus, even though it actually isn’t being used for that. Zelenko immediately asks him how he knows this. The pharmacist, not having an answer for this moves on to his second reason, claiming that he is not allowed to dispense it for reasons related to COVID.
Again Zelenko immediately askes him where he got this information from. The pharmacist then claims the guidelines came from the state.
After Zelenko presses further, the pharmacist fumbles around on his computer, looking for these alleged guidelines, but is unable to produce anything.
Zelenko eventually leaves the pharmacy, after taking the pharmacist’s name and supervisor information.
Watch the full encounter below.
That’s weird. I was under the impression doctors can write prescriptions for off label uses.
As a licensed pharmacist, I have a unique take on this event, of course it’s all based on was presented in the video. The first mistake the pharmacist made is trying to justify his refusal to fill the prescription on moral/ legal grounds . He simply should’ve said it is Walgreen policy not to fill prescriptions for hydroxychloroquine, ivermectin etc. if they are not for approved uses, which is in fact Wallgreen policy. His hands are tied by Walgreens regulations.
Having said that, if in fact, Dr. Zelenko put a lupus diagnosis on the prescription for the hydroxychloroquine, which the pharmacist said he did, and he in fact does NOT have lupus, He can be sanctioned, for prescribing under false pretense . Additionally, Dr. Zalenko is wrong when he says that “you are just a pharmacist you need to fill my prescription because I am a doctor“, is wrong. New York State law requires pharmacist to Determine the validity of every prescription they fill. If that were not true, the opioid epidemic in our city would be immeasurably greater because there are hundreds of unscrupulous doctors writing for opioids under false pretenses, And you can ask any pharmacist about how many phony prescriptions they turn away.
Finally my biggest problem with this is when Dr Zalenko accuses the pharmacist of refusing to fill the prescription because he’s Jewish! Turns out my initial instincts were right , the man is a self aggrandizing , Self promoting, ignorant pompous, jerk.
There’s a reason why he was banished from his practice in KJ, I’m surprised it took them that long to kick him out!
This man has been my devoted pharmacist for many years. I’m sad that Mr. Zalenko chose him to make his viral video.
k: Executive Order from Gov. Andrew Cuomo restricting dispensing:
• Bans pharmacists from dispensing hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine except:
o When written as prescribed for a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-
approved indication; or
o As part of a state approved clinical trial related to COVID-19 for a patient who
has tested positive for COVID-19
▪ Positive COVID-19 test result must be documented as part of the
prescription.
• Prohibits use of hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine for experimental or prophylactic
use.
• Any permitted prescription is limited to one 14-day prescription with no refills.
A pharmacist is legally held responsible for prescription dispensing and any harm related from said prescribing & dispensing. Most malpractice suits related to inappropriate dispensing/prescribing hold the pharmacist with equal liability as the prescribing physician including criminal prosecution..
Hydoxychloroquine does not have efficacy w Covid-19 and as a general rule can be a very toxic medication…
I support the Walgreens pharmacist… this is not evidence based medicine and his licensure is at risk by dispensing a fringe med with known toxicity…
I manage multiple hospital pharmacies throughout Northern Ca… this is fringe and unsupported medicine. High risk for the pharmacist even with a backdrop of COVID-19
Terry
Sorry Dr., as much as I love you but this wasn’t necessary, it only creates unnecessary divisions you were 100% right to demand the Hydroxy. but you see that he wouldn’t hand it over to you just leave, the guy is scared, he was following orders given to him by his superior’s,
Yes. he couldn’t provide you with a written order, but to accuse him of being discriminatory was NOT right/nice of you, & thanks for sharing ther name & address of the Pharmacy, now all the Yiddelech will line up in front of the place & demonstrate, we need hatred & division like A LOCH IN DER KOPP,
Sorry Doctor,
The pharmacy is in Wesley Hills-they serve the community in a very fair way. I have been there many times. ONLY fair and good experience.Some of the words like “you’re ONLY a Pharmacist”-really was the one of the most condescending pejoratives that could have been said. FEH!
All these so called medical experts who denied people the use Hydroxychloroquine are evil together with the dem-o-rats.
And beside it is 100% safe drug around for decades.
The dems and media are one big evil liars.
Here’s something to consider. You only record going into a store when you are gearing for a disagreement. Did he know he was going to be refused and went in anyway?
As it went on and on, it was clear to me the pharmacist was being a (expletive removed). In the beginning I didn’t think so necessarily, but again, as it went on, the pharmacist was becoming a bigger idiot by the second.
It is a shame that Dr Zelenko, who is BH recovering from cancer, cannot get the prophylactic that will help him.
I hope he went to a different pharmacy, that was able to fill it.
A pompous loud mouth fool of a man who made a tremendous Chillul Hashem.
He should have been run out of town a long time ago.
Everything about this virus has been politicized. No doctor, scientist or individual can have an opinion besides for what the government peddles. And even if there is no regulation (yet) disallowing dispensing of different medication than has medical manufacturers and consequentially certain politicians lining there pocket, the zealous minions will create such regulations.
totally outrageous. but zelenko’s claims about hydroxychloroquine are also not scientific.
Which Walgreens was this at? Spring Valley or Airmont?
Seems as my link did not get posted…
It was an interview with the author of the publication in American Journal of Medicine below about Dr. Zelenko cocktail and other available earlier treatments(outpatient):
Pathophysiological Basis and Rationale for Early Outpatient Treatment of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Infection
Peter A. McCullough, MD, MPH, Ronan J. Kelly, MD, […], and Harvey A. Risch, MD, PhD
Any research of the scientific studies on hydroxyclorquine (on PubMed or similar databases) show that that in randomised controlled studies hydroxyclorquine doesn’t reduce mortality or length of illness.
I respected Dr Zelenko. But he is refusing to follow the science. And the gold standard science is randomised controlled studies. And show that hydroxyclorquine most likely has little benefit.
That pharmacist will be looking for work soon.
Dr. Zelenko is a chusid of the late Lubavitcher Rebbeh. He acts the way Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidim act.