I've just seen an editorial calling for people to be more polite on social media. Sounds good, doesn't it? I agree.
But there's some background to this piece that I think people ought to be aware of, because it looks to me like an attempt to re-write history.
But there's some background to this piece that I think people ought to be aware of, because it looks to me like an attempt to re-write history.
https://twitter.com/dgurdasani1/status/1374423424668372996
In June last year, one of the authors of the editorial falsely accused me of misrepresenting the findings of a study.
Here's how the interaction played out:
Here's how the interaction played out:
https://twitter.com/apsmunro/status/1268154699053752321
This strikes me as hypocritical, given his own conduct.
In this study, Dr Munro said there was "no increase in death". That was so for younger adults, but not those aged >65, who had an increased risk of death from COVID-19.
That's quite an omission.
In this study, Dr Munro said there was "no increase in death". That was so for younger adults, but not those aged >65, who had an increased risk of death from COVID-19.
That's quite an omission.
https://twitter.com/apsmunro/status/1372941287977054215
The article calls for "collegiate, thoughtful, and mutually respectful dialogue", but that's been in short supply.
https://twitter.com/apsmunro/status/1277180410263412737
I’m not the only person who's been on the receiving end of the "unkind, aggressive, or mocking commentary" the authors decry.
https://twitter.com/apsmunro/status/1338110085353103362
Mocking Dr Leonardi for suggesting that SARS-CoV-2 infection might have long-term health consequences is not okay.
It's also quite ignorant.
It's also quite ignorant.
In remote Australia, we have a huge problem with rheumatic heart disease, which is caused by group A streptococcus infection.
A sore throat is actually often the first sign of infection. If untreated, it can lead to lasting heart damage.
rhdaustralia.org.au
A sore throat is actually often the first sign of infection. If untreated, it can lead to lasting heart damage.
rhdaustralia.org.au
Rheumatic heart disease is one of the major reasons why Aboriginal Australians have a lower life expectancy than non-Indigenous Australians (about 8 years less).
Dr Munro may never have encountered a case, because it's generally rare in the Western world, but not here.
Dr Munro may never have encountered a case, because it's generally rare in the Western world, but not here.
Dr Munro was also dismissive of a mysterious inflammatory syndrome that began to affect children in early 2020.
We now know that condition as PIMS/MIS-C, and it's established that infection with SARS-CoV-2 is the cause.
We now know that condition as PIMS/MIS-C, and it's established that infection with SARS-CoV-2 is the cause.
https://twitter.com/apsmunro/status/1255075340642332672
Disagreements are to be expected, of course. And even if the science is settled there may be many possible policy responses. Spirited debate about the direction we should take is inevitable. But I hope the authors of the piece will reflect on their own conduct as we move forward.
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