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“I’ve clearly made an error which I deeply regret”: Dr. Norman Swan apologises over Covid claim

ABC health expert apologises after linking the deaths of Senator Kimberley Kitching and Shane Warne to Covid-19.

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ABC’s health expert Dr Norman Swan has apologised after linking the death of Senator Kimberley Kitching and Shane Warne to Covid-19.

Senator Kitching died on March 10 from a suspected heart attack at the age of 52. She was being treated for a thyroid condition that was contributing to heart problems. Shane Warne died in Thailand in March also aged 52. His death has also never been linked to Covid, although Dr Swan speculated contracting the virus would have exacerbated underlying heart problems.

Speaking on ABC News on Tuesday morning, Dr Swan said that it was “too much of a coincidence” that they died from heart attacks after contracting Covid.

“It’s too much of a coincidence that Shane Warne and the Labor senator in Victoria died not long after a Covid infection, and ­people are reporting sudden death after Covid infection. It’s not benign,” he said.

He also told Daily Mail, “These are two high-profile people, one of whose death was a complete surprise, and they both had Covid in the background.”

However, Senator Kitching did not contract Covid before her death and had not tested positive previously.

“I’ve personally apologised to Andrew her husband,” Dr Swan told news.com.au.

“I’ve clearly made an error which I deeply regret. I do recall such reports and have checked with others who did too but that doesn’t excuse my having upset the family.”

Updated:

ABC News Breakfast today repeated Swan’s apology.

“Dr Norman Swan has issued an apology after suggesting there may be a Covid link to the deaths of Labor senator Kimberley Kitching and cricket great Shane Warne,” Michael Rowland said. “He made those comments during his interview on our program yesterday. Dr Swan says he’s personally apologised to Senator Kitching’s husband yesterday and that he made an error he regrets.”

In a statement, an ABC spokesperson noted the apology and said: “Dr Swan has had discussions with ABC management about the comments. He understands the comments did not meet the ABC’s editorial standards.”

6 Responses

  1. I’m not sure why Dr. Swan as a media savvy MD would want to speculate about medical syndromes without first verifying the information to be used, people generally want facts when it comes to disease and that includes COVID-19. Interestingly there is some growing criticism in the UK regarding the lack of media information of recent COVID outbreaks and related deaths, and even some official inquiries are being made by some concerned UK politicians about the COVID vaccines used and their after effects for some people who may not have needed them. This probably would be or should have been more Dr. Swan’s style.

  2. Send him off to join Matt Hancock Britain’s ex Secretary of State Health into the jungle on UK’s I’m A Celebrity currently filming down in Springbrook National Park Murwillumbah NSW.

  3. Dr Swan made an error – a reasonably serious one given the standards to which he rightly holds himself and others. But he has quickly apologised, owned it, sounds very genuine. I’m not sure what more he or anyone in that position could do. I think he’s earned the right for people to accept his apology and for everyone to move on.

  4. Time to go Doctor , with a reckless statement like that but the ABC will back him all the way. And FYI the vaccination has caused alot of heart attacks and death and enlarged hearts and I bet he didn’t mention that either.

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