The Problems With Censoring Doctors Over Their COVID-19 Stances

[Valin]

Real Clear Science

Buzz Hollander, MD

Oct. 7 2021

Everyone has a right to their opinion. The question is: does everyone have a right to voice their opinion? Increasingly, in these strange times, it seems that we physicians have the right to voice only certain opinions, when it comes to discussing Covid-19.

Wanting to hit the mute button on physicians who choose to challenge the public health narrative, especially in regard to vaccination for Covid-19, is understandably tempting. We carry a bit more authority than lawyers or statisticians when we share our thoughts about medical matters; and quite a few physicians seem to have little interest in toeing the party line. However, appealing as it might be to silence these voices, succumbing to the temptation of censorship might end up costing our society more than it gains.

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Similarly, medical boards don’t need to very publicly threaten their members’ licenses or board certifications if they speak out against vaccination or any form of the public health party line. Contacting physicians and having a conversation with them might help in some cases; some doctors are just under informed, statistically impaired, or in the thralls of poor mentors. If a physician is unchastened and continues to post information the board deems inappropriate, they could publicly post a (thoughtful and non-judgmental) response to the physician’s claims. The goal should be more conversation, not less.

It’s tempting for physicians to nod heads in agreement that physicians like Dr. Hoffe, Cole, or McCullough deserve their reprimands, since they appear to have lost their way from sound scientific reasoning. However, the same people might feel less comfortable if those in positions of authority start telling them to stop posting on their social media accounts that a woman in Texas has a right to receive an abortion. We don’t always get to pick who makes the rules.

Such is the great risk of starting down the slippery slope of curtailing the freedom of speech of physicians. We never know quite what could be waiting for us when we reach the bottom.

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From The Comments

idahodock Oct. 7 2021

There are many problems with censoring physicians. By silencing physicians and scientists the truth is hidden from everyone. Other scientists and physicians do not get a real picture of what is happening. This is made worse by a media that reports only what it wants. The results is that when "they" want something bad, only physicians who view it as bad are heard and only research that shows it to be bad is released. All else is kept quiet. The opposite happens when "they" want it to look rosy. The result is we hear anecdotes and not data. We here isolated cases broadcast as though they were occurring everywhere. We see foolish behavior because of irrational fear or because of misplaced confidence.

In the case of COVID, "they" cannot even seems to perform this task with competence. Instead they demand only the most terrifying anecdotes be told, tell us of nearly packed ICUs, tell us of the young dying, etc., but never tell us the real numbers making the planned hysteria more fake. But then "they" butcher the message even worse by making patently absurd claims such as family get togethers are spreader events while rioting is safe or how we all must behave one way while "they" can ignore all the rules. "They" tell us how we must ignore the obvious when contradictory data emerges that "they" cannot silence and now they demand a vaccine autocracy.

Nearly everything done in accordance with COVID has been wrong and this is becoming more obvious every day.

 

[SDwaters]

17 hours ago, Valin said:

Nearly everything done in accordance with COVID has been wrong and this is becoming more obvious every day.

Several parts of the medical "establishment" have shredded their own credibility with a ""Shut up!" We explained" approach.

For example, when one group (CDC) insists that there's no proof that a treatment works (ivermectin) and the National Institutes of Health publishes an analysis of multiple studies showing that it does (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8248252/) that concludes:

Moderate-certainty evidence finds that large reductions in COVID-19 deaths are possible using ivermectin. Using ivermectin early in the clinical course may reduce numbers progressing to severe disease. The apparent safety and low cost suggest that ivermectin is likely to have a significant impact on the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic globally.

 The first group (CDC) shouldn't be surprised if more and more people "tune them out".

[Valin]

@SDwaters

The Problems With Censoring Doctors Over Their COVID-19 Stances

 

An interesting little fact. In Germany it is Illegal to own Nazi paraphernalia, or express ideas positive toward the Nazis. This has done nothing to stop the rise (still small) of real honest to goodness goosestepping Nazis, in Germany.