Open Letter to Dr. Bonnie Henry
The epidemiological evidence clearly shows that the “pandemic” is over and no second wave will follow.
The evidence has been available for at least 4-5 months and is irrefutable.
Yet, in spite of this substantial body of research, your office is perpetuating the narrative that a pandemic still exists and a second wave is expected. This false story is being used to justify public health policies that appear to have no health benefits, have already caused considerable harm, and threaten to create more harm in the future.
Meanwhile, hospitalizations, ICU admissions, and deaths from COVID-19 have dropped to pre-pandemic levels.
Where are all the patients?
Why are you still using PCR testing? The Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Health in Ontario has publicly stated that the PCR test yields over 50% false positives.
A New York Times investigative report found that PCR testing yields up to 90% false positives due to excessive amplification beyond the recommendations of the manufacturer. The PCR test was never designed, intended or validated to be used as a diagnostic tool.
Even the Alberta Health Services COVID-19 Scientific Advisory Group has stated “clinical sensitivity and specificity values have not been determined for lab developed RT-PCR testing in Canada”.8 Despite expert consensus, you continue to use this inappropriate and inaccurate test to report so-called “cases” and justify your decisions.
Surprisingly, the recommendation for reducing COVID-19 morbidity and mortality by supplementing with vitamin D, a measure that is supported by high-quality research, has been absent from your frequent public broadcasts and professional bulletins. Optimizing nutrition is a convenient, inexpensive, and safe method of improving immune resistance and has been confirmed through numerous studies for both prevention and treatment of COVID-19. As far as I am aware, you have never mentioned something as simple as vitamin D supplements for our most vulnerable citizens.
Stephen Malthouse, MD
Denman Island, BC V0R 1T0
Email: scmalthouse@zohomail.com
ODN Editor: This open letter (excerpts only) on the internet for about a week and printed elsewhere in the general media. Respected homeopathic doctor from BC – Dr. Malthouse.
Where are the other doctors in BC or in Oliver. Still marching in a straight line with patients told to phone and avoid the empty hospital. Is it empty? No stats on that but the figures for IHA state only 2 people in hospitals with Covid – think there are 22 hospitals in the Interior.
John (Hack) says
The point is, We want the hospitals empty, as that means less cases, For the nay sayers I truly hope as for the rest of us, that it stays out of our orbit, and also please stay safe and keep your orbit from a distance. What a stupid debate!!!
Publisher: Last warning Mr. Hack – you must get your machine to say John Hack and not rely on me to do it for you
John – you are stupid or is it me?. Hospitals used to be full of very sick people. They were sent home so beds available for the first wave which did not happen in BC.
A lot of people want to talk about the stupid USA or the stupid Italy – rather than to analyze stats from Canada, especially BC, even more especially IHA – 22 hospitals – 2 people there with Covid.
Why does the government not talk about anything else. What are they hiding – or is that just not the message those in “authority” want.
The people pushing back have no government support and believe a form of dictatorship has been imposed.
Keith Johnson says
I want a second opinion.
Publisher: Your golf game is par excellance
Carolyn Tipler says
Just another opinion and even this doctor may have changed his mind as his letter has been around for over a week and things have changed considerably in that time. Dr. Henry only announced yesterday that we were in fact in the second wave. Yesterday there was doctor on CBC Radio Daybreak South I cannot remember her name but she is a regular and from Toronto. A GP and specialist in infectious diseases and vaccines. She spoke about the effectiveness of Vitamin D for boosting the immune system – a different opinion again. Our Public Health Authority has given directive which they believe will help control the spread of this virus. I believe they are doing this with our best interests at heart and to prevent chaos in hospitals. We are fortunate here in that we have not had many cases whereas Kelowna was a different scenario which did impact one farm here in Oliver. Thankfully that was contained and dealt with.
Why does it bother you that someone is walking their dog wearing a dirty mask? its their choice right? As far as seeing your doctor I have seen mine twice since the beginning of this pandemic – wearing a mask of course and I still have to wear a mask to go to the hairdressers – do I like it? NO but I will conform because the salon has to.
Publisher: If others are seeing their doctors – let me know – my doctor not concerned with my diabetes, blood pressure, weight, drinking habits etc. To bad no choice in doctors – don’t drop yours or you will never get another. Another debate for another day of who is in charge – the government of BC or the BCMA.
Duane Hamm says
Tell me again, who is the “publisher”?
Publisher: “tell me again” ?? when did we first tell you
Jack Dean says
So Jack you and I are standing on a bridge you say we should jump off the bridge. I say I don’t think the water is deep enough so I’m not jumping but you can. We wont know who’s right until you jump! Time to jump Jack! Let me know how the vitamin D works!
Publisher: Vit D comes in a bottle – but more importantly light from GOD in the form of sunlight and a bright sun. You can absorb it from many foods. Mr. Dean I used to jump off Oliver’s main bridge as a child/teen – we used to live dangerously back then and walk on black pavement with no shoes at 105 F – them da days -!!
neil seidler says
Jack, aka Publisher, I too remember those days of running without shoes on, going from shadow to shadow on the hot pavement. Jumping from the bridges up and down the river while we stayed cool in the summer heat. I also remember throwing dirt bombs at one another while playing on the silt/sand banks at the Oliver Ball Park. Those truly were the carefree days of summer. I really do miss them.
Bonnie Thompson says
As few of us are Doctors I prefer to eir on the side of caution. which means wearing a mask (which I dislike as much as wearing a bra) and not putting myself in situations of large crowds. If I can help even one person who has underlying conditions it seems a small price to pay. Frankly I don’t know what to believe so I just listen to science.
Publisher: We all believe. We all believe differently – this Dr. is a Dr.
Are you saying he is NOT science? His theory on Vit D is peer reviewed – check his credentials on Google.
Gail Blidook says
Dr. Malthouse is an MD not a Scientist. He has opted to use homeopathic treatments to help his patients when traditional medicine hasn’t helped. Good for him. His recommendations for good nutrition and using Vitamin D to build immune system is based on science, however even the Mayo Clinic states there is not enough evidence to suggest Vit D would prevent or treat Covid19. There is evidence that people with Vit D deficiencies are more prone to respiratory illnesses, and respiratory failure in Covid deaths. So, taking Vitamin D could help if one has a deficiency. I choose to do so.
For someone intent on health and well being it seems as if this Dr. is not keeping up with the news or Science regarding this Pandemic. He states that the pandemic is over, there is no second wave, and it has been over for 4 or 5 months. He goes on to attack Dr. Bonnie Henry because there are not MORE patients, while many of us are applauding her for this very same thing. It is not Dr. Henry’s job to prescribe possible benefits of vitamins.
Anyone who educates themselves on this Pandemic knows the whole world is in crisis. Today’s 24 hour increase in cases in the USA alone was 71,028. BC had 499 new cases over the weekend, Alberta is reporting Super Spreader events, Ontario and Quebec reporting over 800 new known cases etc.
I also researched Dr. Malthouse and found his attack on McGill University, suggesting they should not even allow their “Office for Science and Society” to exist nor renowned scientist Dr Joe Schwarez to continue to interpret science for the public. Both Australia’s National Health and Medical Research Council, and McGill University had published a scientific analysis on homeopathy ineffectiveness. Dr. Malthouse responded that “It is not really an issue of evidence or science.”
He seems to have taken the same attitude towards the Covid19 pandemic.
Publisher: Great research Gail – all I was trying to do was to get a conversation going.
Think I have accomplished that.
A note to Mr. Hamm – how long have you been reading or viewing Oliver Daily News in its 10+ history. The Publisher calls himself such as he owns the office, the website etcetera. He sweeps the floor, sits in the coffee room and ruminates about the latest stats from Stu.
Both readers and viewers seem to know me – not you. ODN is not about me but I reserve the right to moderate comments – block people for a number of valid reasons and attempt to act in a responsible way for the many dozens of businesses, churches, charities that support me and visa a versus ODN supporting their cause AND the community.
Pat Hampson says
So we should assume that Dr. Malthouse is correct that there is no second wave and all is well, in the meantime we read and hear from medical sources world wide that there is a rise in cases world wide.
If he is correct and all the other medical souirces in the world are in error, then why has his opinion been posted only on the internet where there is little, if any verification process, but not been released to the media? He believes in vitamin D as the partial cure but I’ll pass on this Doctor because, based on multiple sources, he is wrong about the second wave and is doing a mis-service to gullible people. He reads like a ‘conspiracy theorist’.
He probably thinks Donald Trump is a good President.
Publisher: Thinks and beliefs. I think my belief is that two doctors can disagree and should or as stated earlier – all march in the same parade in the same direction and ….possibly wrong.
If you read the full article you will see this Dr. said what was done in the beginning of Covid was correct – lock down as no one seemed to understand it. But once the curve flatten – the authorities then brought in more and stricter rules – not less. I just think we need to read and hear alternative views.
When I see people walking the dog out in the fresh air – wearing a dirty mask – I know things have gone to far and when you cannot see your doctor but you can get your hair done, your teeth fixed, go out to a restaurant – etc etc does any of that resonate?
Pat Hampson says
Dr. Malthouse states that epidemiology shows the virus pandemic is over. (sic).
The statistics clearly show this is NOT the case. If one is to believe the Malthouse then one must believe every Country and Medical professional are part of a world wide conspiracy to mislead the public. Well I don’t believe that to be the case.
I prefer to believe the majority of Medical Professionals. They openly admit that they were in a learning curve thus reversing a previous recommendation.
Initially masks were not considered necessary but, using their decision to reverse previous recommendations is poor reason for Dr. Malthouse to denounce medical advice.
The logic for change was based on a better understanding of how the virus works as it started to spread in ways contrary to other viruses. and the belief in a second wave, which has in fact, occurred.
Dr Malthouse is a conspiracy theorist and a danger.
neil seidler says
I had no problem to see my doctor, with precautions in place of course. First was a phone appointment to find out what was wrong. Then the physical appointment to check things out, no chin wagging allowed. Then the lab visit and a follow up phone call to tell me the results and now I wait to see a specialist. No just visiting because I’m lonely, no seeing a doctor because I scraped my elbow or knee. Our doctors have many clients, some become patients, so they must take things very cautiously at present so they can be there when they are really needed. I can see their point of view, their cautious attitude and handling of things.
But what I really can’t understand is the attitude of some people. Caught up in their own lives or way of living they don’t want to change or adjust for others. Wear a mask, don’t wear a mask, if you get sick that’s on you. People not masked walk right up to people, shoulder to shoulder, as if it’s only their way of life that matters. If you come across a person with a mask on please stay back 2 meters, which is actually 6 foot 7 inches. Have some respect for others. Some of us are wearing masks due to serious health issues. We aren’t just worried about Covid-19, but the many other things out there that could cause serious problems for us or even death.
Publisher: I have never argued against the use of mask as recommended by Dr. Bonnie Henry.
Wearing masks according to her – all the time or inappropriately outdoors is not recommended