Thread by @MatthewBowdish

Another master class from @TracyBethHoeg in @Sensible__Med showing the importance of scientific analysis & inquiry, this on the FL SARS-CoV-2 vaccine safety analysis & recent Science editorial by @hholdenthorp. It's accessible to non-med peeps. 1/6

sensiblemed.substack.com/p/a-level-head…

IMHO, Tracy's arguments can be applied to a variety of anti-free speech moves in medicine, such as CA Gov Gavin Newsom's law #AB2098 punishing doctors who deviate from the consensus on COVID19. These moves are guaranteed to promote mistrust. 2/6

Such tactics are quite apparent to people outside of public health & medicine. Here is part of a msg sent by a friend who is a registered independent & Ivy-trained attorney. She's no slouch when it comes to intellectual firepower. 3/6

Moves to limit "contrarian" views do not only suppress speech. They also suppress our right to hear differing data, hypotheses, & opinions. This is just as important to the benefit of free speech as the speaking part. 4/6

youtube.com/clip/UgkxH8WVZ…

If we think suppressing opposing views is worth it because "people will die" or "debate is a threat to science," then we need to ask ourselves who we are trying to convince? What's the msg w/this tweet? Are we trying to win people over, virtue signal, or crucify the outgroup? 5/6

We need more debate, not less. IMHO, a profession that isn't confident enough to defend its principles/knowledge & instead calls for the suppression of "contrarian" views cannot claim the mantle of science. That's why @TracyBethHoeg > @hholdenthorp 6/6