From the April 9, 2020, edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends

BRIAN KILMEADE (CO-HOST): First things first. Can we talk about the politicization of hydroxychloroquine? Do you see politics playing a role in the fact that we don't have results of a lot of these studies and that some are not using it? 

MEHMET OZ: Politics is definitely playing a role. Thirty years ago when I was doing my medical school training, the one lesson we were all taught was to ask brave questions and then we got to fight about the answers, right, and we doctors search for answers and we treat patients according to what we believe independent of any political leader's belief. 

And I get that the pundits and writers get worked up about the politics of this but it chills the debate that doctors are supposed to have. I see people saying things or holding off on saying things that I wouldn't have expected before this, and that complicates the way doctors and patients talk to each other. And I don't think it serves the public, Brian, because they are already confused, they're desperately in need of help, and no one actually has all of the answers. We're supposed to, in medicine, talk about it and figure it out. So I make an argument, I plead to the media: Let's not pervert the process, let doctors deal with these issues, talk to patients as need be, and let's be humble about these solutions because no one's the magic ball yet. We're all looking for the same answers. 

STEVE DOOCY (CO-HOST): Sure, absolutely, and Dr. Oz I was out for my morning walk with my friend Tony, he walks on the other side of the street and we talk about everything that's going on. And while so much is unknown about hydroxychloroquine, so much is known. They haven't done the -- they haven't finished the clinical trials yet, but let's say ultimately, it shows up that it’s, let's say, 50, 60, 70, 80% effective in some patients, isn't that something people should be thinking about? 

...

OZ: We know you should get an EKG, although most people when they get a z-pack don't get an EKG for that. But I respect all these realities and I've advocated for them. Clinicians have to prescribe it according to the needs of the patient. But to get people scared that it's too dangerous to even try just because you don't like that a political leader said one thing or the other, it undermines the fundamental process of the doctor talking to the patient. 

EARHARDT: Yeah, that politician, she said it saved her life. She thought she was going to die and the alternative was take this medicine, so it just makes sense for someone to take it if they think they are going to die. I don't understand why this is so political but let's anyway --

OZ: Can I ask one question?

AINSLEY EARHARDT (CO-HOST): Yes. 

OZ: May I ask one question? If it had never been brought up at a White House briefing, this medication, would people still feel the same way about it? That's the fundamental question, I think, we ought to be asking because the ideas around this existed before it was brought up at a public forum and I think that's the ultimate stress test to whether your argument is rational and appropriate and helpful or not.