Sign This Declaration To Defend Academic Freedom At Medical Schools

Are you a medical educator worried about the rise of divisive ideology at your medical school? If so, please consider signing a new declaration on “Restoring Academic Freedom.” Do No Harm Chairman Dr. Stanley Goldfarb has already added his name, and we hope you’ll consider doing the same.

The declaration is not directed solely to medical schools, but it certainly describes what’s happening there:

The mission of the university is the pursuit of truth and the advancement and dissemination of knowledge. A robust culture of free speech and academic freedom is essential to that mission: Intellectual progress often threatens the status quo and is resisted. Bad ideas are only weeded out by unfettered critical analysis.

Unfortunately, academic freedom and freedom of speech are rapidly declining in academic institutions, including universities, professional societies, journals, and funding agencies. Researchers whose findings challenge dominant narratives find it increasingly hard to get published, funded, hired, or promoted. They, and teachers who question current orthodoxies, are harassed in person and online, ostracized, subjected to opaque university disciplinary procedures, fired, or canceled by other means. Employment, promotion, and funding are increasingly subject to implicit or explicit political litmus tests, including approval from bureaucrats seeking to impose a social agenda such as specific views of social justice or DEI principles. Activism is replacing inquiry and debate.  An increasing number of simple facts and ideas cannot even be mentioned without risk of retribution.

It further states:

Universities and professional societies are failing to resist such illiberal forces–which have arisen many times throughout history, from all sides of the political spectrum –and to defend academic freedom and freedom of speech.

The Declaration also lays out a variety of steps you can take to fight these trends, including joining organizations like Do No Harm. 

To sign the Declaration, simply add your name and affiliation to the end of this document. Thank you for standing with Do No Harm, Dr. Stanley Goldfarb, and so many others to defend academic freedom from divisive ideology – at medical schools and across society.