Ezekiel Emanuel says Paul violated oath as doctor

Bioethicist and oncologist Ezekiel Emanuel sharply criticized Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) on Monday for reportedly using the Senate gym and pool while awaiting his coronavirus test results, which were ultimately positive.

“This lack of leadership … things we’re asking the public to do that is not being emulated by our public officials, and especially by a physician,” Emanuel, a senior fellow at the liberal Center for American Progress, said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” Monday of the ophthalmologist. “Multiple times Rand Paul has sort of violated his basic oath of being a physician, that he should model good, healthy behaviors.”

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) also sharply criticized Paul’s reported behavior Sunday, tweeting, “You cannot be near other people while waiting for coronavirus test results. It endangers others & likely increases the spread of the virus.”

Paul’s office emphasized he did not use the Senate facilities after receiving the results of his test, tweeting, “Senator Paul left the Senate IMMEDIATELY upon learning of his diagnosis. He had zero contact with anyone & went into quarantine.”

We want to be clear, Senator Paul left the Senate IMMEDIATELY upon learning of his diagnosis. He had zero contact with anyone & went into quarantine. Insinuations such as those below that he went to the gym after learning of his results are just completely false & irresponsible! https://t.co/yqfxydsXBG

— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) March 22, 2020

News of the first senator testing positive for COVID-19 sent shockwaves through Capitol Hill, with lawmakers trying to retrace their steps and figure out their possible level of exposure.

Since the news of Paul’s diagnosis, Sens. Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Mitt Romney (R-Utah) have both announced they will self-quarantine due to recent contact with him.