Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, chloroquine had a reputation as a relatively safe drug with a long history of usage and well understood safety profile.
A document prepared by Innovation Hub for NATO describes an intentional deception surrounding chloroquine, perhaps even as a method of inflicting harm:
“As the example of COVID-19 shows, the massive amount of texts on the subject, including deliberately biased texts (example is the Lancet study on chloroquine) created an information and knowledge overload which, in turn, generates both a loss of credibility and a need for closure. Therefore the ability for humans to question, normally, any data/information presented is hampered, with a tendency to fall back on biases to the detriment of unfettered decision-making.”2)