The woman whose husband died after they took a substance used to clean fish tanks in an effort to prevent contracting the coronavirus is a Democratic donor who supports a "pro-science" group.
According to The Washington Free Beacon, the woman — identified only as 61-year-old Wanda to protect her identity — has given several thousand dollars to left-leaning organizations and candidates in the last two years. In February, she donated to the 314 Action Fund, which according to its website advocates "for real solutions to climate change and elect more STEM trained candidates to public office."
Wanda and her husband, 68-year-old Gary, ingested the chemical earlier this month because it contained chloroquine phosphate. Both fell ill, and Gary died.
President Donald Trump and others, including Dr. Mehmet Oz, have touted the potential benefits of using hydroxychloroquine, a different form of the substance that's used to treat malaria, for patients sickened with the COVID-19 virus.
Ingesting the poisonous chloroquine phosphate, Wanda told the Free Beacon, was a "spur of the moment" decision.
"We weren't big supporters of [Trump], but we did see that they were using it in China and stuff," Wanda said. "And we just made a horrible, tragic mistake. It was stupid, and it was horrible, and we should have never done it. But it's done and now I've lost my husband. And my whole life was my husband."
"We didn't think it would kill us. We thought if anything it would help us 'cus that's what we've been hearing on the news."
The FDA on Sunday approved an emergency use of hydroxychloroquine to treat a limited number of COVID-19 patients in New York City. However, the FDA also cautioned against humans taking chloroquine phosphate, which is designed for use in aquariums and fish tanks.
"Chloroquine products sold for aquarium use have not been evaluated by the FDA to determine whether they are safe, effective, properly manufactured, and adequately labeled for use in fish — let alone humans," the FDA announced. "People should not take any form of chloroquine unless it has been prescribed by a licensed healthcare provider and is obtained through a legitimate source."