The politics of the FDA's new emergency authorization

The FDA has granted emergency authorization of convalescent plasma as a treatment for Covid-19 — under heavy pressure from President Trump.

The move comes just a week after NIH officials staged an intervention with the FDA — aiming to put the brakes on convalescent Covid-19 plasma until more data were available.

We wanted your thoughts: Was the emergency authorization the right decision given the desperate need for any tools that can be used against Covid-19, or was it premature? 

Good choice. Even if convalescent plasma only helps incrementally, it should be used now.

Premature. The data are so far lacking, and it sets a bad precedent.