US doctors being fired for speaking up about lack of gear in pandemic

• A nurse in Chicago was fired after emailing colleagues that she wanted to wear a more protective mask while on duty.

Hospitals in US are firing doctors who have gone publicly to share the lack of equipment needed to fight the coronavirus. 

Hospitals have also threatened the doctors not to speak about their working conditions during the coronavirus pandemic, Bloomberg reported. NYU Langone Health employees received a notice from executive vice president of communications, saying that anyone who talked to the media without authorization would be 'subject to disciplinary action, including termination'.

Several doctors have come forth sharing their experience after they spoke about the lack of gear in their hospitals. A nurse in Chicago was fired after emailing colleagues that she wanted to wear a more protective mask while on duty.

Another doctor, Ming Lin who was an emergency room physician in Washington state, was fired after he gave an interview to a newspaper regarding his post on Facebook. In his post, Lin detailed what he believed to be inadequate protective equipment and testing.

A spokeswoman for the Washington State Nurses Association Ruth Schubert contended hospitals are muzzling nurses and other health-care workers in an attempt to preserve their image. " It is outrageous," Schubert said.

Doctors including physicians, nurses and other health-care workers around the world have expressed deep concerns about the lack of protective gear during the pandemic.

After examining a hypoxic woman in her 50s with no medical problems who likely has COVID, I had to clean my single-use face shield that I’ve worn the past three days with disinfectant used to clean hospital beds since we ran out of sanitizing wipes #GetMePPE pic.twitter.com/85xQcmc1dN

— Ayrenne Adams, MD MPH (@AyrenneAdamsMD) March 28, 2020

My friend T, a NYC Er nurse, has resorted to wearing scuba goggles. She said they are scared, she’s fighting back tears, wake her up when this nightmare is over, pray for her and she needs a hug. #thankanurse #GetMePPE pic.twitter.com/eZLGb7DLv6

— Irishrygirl (@irishrygirl) March 27, 2020

This is a Dr. we know in NY. He's wearing a plastic food container lid because there are no face shields left at his hospital. RNs are wearing black trash bags over scrubs for gowns. Please donate supplies to your nearest hospital if you can. Call first. #hcwshoutout #GetMePPE pic.twitter.com/qsn2VwTFBY

— Dysautonomia Intl. (@Dysautonomia) March 27, 2020

This is my one mask for the rest of this 14h shift. I’m grateful for it, but. #GetMePPE pic.twitter.com/M9E3a1J7jA

— Daphna Stroumsa, MD (@DStroumsa) March 25, 2020