# SCOTUS Judge Clarence Thomas being Treated for Flu-like symptoms NEWFLASH **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 20, 2022, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotus-judge-clarence-thomas-being-treated-for-flu-like-symptoms-newflash/961397 "2022-03-20T23:24:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2022, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotus-judge-clarence-thomas-being-treated-for-flu-like-symptoms-newflash/961397/1 "2022-03-20T23:24:07Z")
The title says most of it, breaking news, Judge Clarence Thomas is currently in the hospital after having “flu-like symptoms,” is getting IV antibiotics for an infection, and appears to be recovering. Anything else is editorializing too much for breaking news. > **[Justice Clarence Thomas hospitalized 'after experiencing flu-like symptoms' |...](https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/20/politics/clarence-thomas-hospitalized/index.html)** > > Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas was admitted to Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, DC, on Friday evening "after experiencing flu-like symptoms," the court's public information office said Sunday evening, but he does not have Covid-19. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2022, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotus-judge-clarence-thomas-being-treated-for-flu-like-symptoms-newflash/961397/2 "2022-03-20T23:32:46Z")
I’m not aware of any antibiotics used for treating COVID or the flu. Could be something else. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2022, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotus-judge-clarence-thomas-being-treated-for-flu-like-symptoms-newflash/961397/3 "2022-03-20T23:35:08Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > I’m not aware of any antibiotics used for treating COVID or the flu. Could be something else. - Likely to head off any opportunistic infections. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2022, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotus-judge-clarence-thomas-being-treated-for-flu-like-symptoms-newflash/961397/4 "2022-03-20T23:51:54Z")
Or just the all-too-common “prescribe antibiotics for everything so the doctor can be seen to be doing something”. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2022, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotus-judge-clarence-thomas-being-treated-for-flu-like-symptoms-newflash/961397/5 "2022-03-21T00:17:47Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > > [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > > > I’m not aware of any antibiotics used for treating COVID or the flu. Could be something else. - > > Likely to head off any opportunistic infections. > [@Chronos](#): > > Or just the all-too-common “prescribe antibiotics for everything so the doctor can be seen to be doing something”. There’s a difference between “flu like symptoms” and the flu. Bacterial pneumonia and severe UTIs, among other bacterial infections, can also cause flu like symptoms. Without seeing the actual medcical records we’re just speculating, even the physicians among us. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2022, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotus-judge-clarence-thomas-being-treated-for-flu-like-symptoms-newflash/961397/6 "2022-03-21T00:20:22Z")
I wish him all the best and a long and happy life… in his retirement. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2022, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotus-judge-clarence-thomas-being-treated-for-flu-like-symptoms-newflash/961397/7 "2022-03-21T01:27:46Z")
It was just my birthday! ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2022, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotus-judge-clarence-thomas-being-treated-for-flu-like-symptoms-newflash/961397/8 "2022-03-21T06:55:31Z")
> ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b77776/32.png) [@Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_was_in_Saudi)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2022, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotus-judge-clarence-thomas-being-treated-for-flu-like-symptoms-newflash/961397/9 "2022-03-21T09:13:03Z")
He is 73 years old. I save some people from having to look. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2022, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotus-judge-clarence-thomas-being-treated-for-flu-like-symptoms-newflash/961397/10 "2022-03-21T12:57:38Z")
In my very limited experiences in the Emergency Department, it seems that antibiotics are given as a routine knee-jerk treatment. I’ll repeat from a post I wrote in the Schadendreude thread: Far be it from me to wish ill health or misfortune on anyone, but I look forward to a day when a Democratic president will have the chance to appoint another Supreme Court justice. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2022, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotus-judge-clarence-thomas-being-treated-for-flu-like-symptoms-newflash/961397/11 "2022-03-21T12:59:43Z")
> “He underwent tests, was diagnosed with an infection, and is being treated with intravenous antibiotics,” the release said. “His symptoms are abating, he is resting comfortably, and he expects to be released from the hospital in a day or two.” > Like other justices, Thomas has been vaccinated against the coronavirus and received a booster. His illness is not related to covid-19, said Supreme Court Public Information Officer Patricia McCabe. > **[Justice Clarence Thomas hospitalized with infection; Supreme Court says he’ll...](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/03/20/clarence-thomas-hospitalized-infection/)** > > The court said in a statement that Thomas, 73, is being treated with antibiotics and expects to be released "in a day or two." ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2022, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotus-judge-clarence-thomas-being-treated-for-flu-like-symptoms-newflash/961397/12 "2022-03-21T14:56:03Z")
Thoughts and prayers. But not the ones he’s expecting. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2022, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotus-judge-clarence-thomas-being-treated-for-flu-like-symptoms-newflash/961397/13 "2022-03-21T17:08:50Z")
Thoughts and prayers that Ginni Thomas no longer has a spouse on the Supreme Court, which could cause potential conflicts of interest when she attends her wingnut rallies in the future. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2022, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotus-judge-clarence-thomas-being-treated-for-flu-like-symptoms-newflash/961397/14 "2022-03-21T17:14:00Z")
I’m sure it isn’t a gastrointestinal infection. He’s careful to inspect pop cans before he takes a swig. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2022, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotus-judge-clarence-thomas-being-treated-for-flu-like-symptoms-newflash/961397/15 "2022-03-21T17:15:18Z")
Ewwww. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2022, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotus-judge-clarence-thomas-being-treated-for-flu-like-symptoms-newflash/961397/16 "2022-03-22T00:03:23Z")
**Moderator Note** Note to all, this is a breaking news thread, so let’s keep the political swipes out of here. Feel free to post them in a more appropriate thread/forum though if you’d like. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2022, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotus-judge-clarence-thomas-being-treated-for-flu-like-symptoms-newflash/961397/17 "2022-03-22T01:11:40Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > antibiotics are given as a routine knee-jerk treatment. Can we conclude that Clarence was suffering from jerking knee? That sounds like an early symptom of kicking the bucket. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2022, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotus-judge-clarence-thomas-being-treated-for-flu-like-symptoms-newflash/961397/18 "2022-03-22T01:15:38Z")
Anybody else thinking that Ginni may have gone to that January 6th rally to find herself her next man? I’ve seen enough Forensic Files episodes to know that they should be checking to see if she didn’t slip antifreeze into Clarence’s morning glass of orange juice.