As former UC Medical School faculty, I’m disgusted with UCIs firing the eminent head of Psychiatry dept, Dr Aaron Kheriaty from their medical school, for standing up against the unconstitutional, probably illegal (pending court decision) and clearly unscientific vax mandate that ignores (or outright disputes) the more potent and enduring natural immunity in those previously infected and recovered from COVID, or who have personal (allergy) or religious objections to this vaccine - Dr. Kheriaty qualifying for all 3, I understand.
Looking forward to the newsletter. In regard to Dr. Aaron Kheriaty, for whatever this is worth, I posted the following comment just a while back as I was in shock about the news of his termination from UCal:
I was stunned by this. I had hope our academic institutions at least in regard to the sciences and medicine would honor their commitment to academic integrity, to informed debate, to critical reasoning about evidence, and to transparency of interests and process. If the UCal system is not strong enough to stand against the tide of authoritarian hysteria, what US institutions are? I feel that we as a nation have truly entered uncharted territory. We seem to have renounced the best of the Enlightenment: the promise and practice that we could better the human condition through the exercise of reason based on evidence, and not just defer to authority based on revealed and sacred sources beyond critical examination.
I wish you and your family all best in going forward.
It is obvious that you were highly valued as an educator, practitioner, and researcher by your students and colleagues. That your contributions were significant, appreciated, and to many essential. For now, that part of your life on hold. I won't say lost.
We are in – still in – a time of mass hysteria if not mass psychosis. The witch purges of the early modern period – a trans-European phenomenon with some belated spillover to the American colonies – come to mind. The red scare and McCarthyism, likewise.
I think it is of no consolation to you that you will be vindicated by history: that at some point in the future, you will be recognized as one of the voices of integrity in defense of sound, evidence-based science, and of ethical public health practices. This belated recognition when it comes will not make up for the lost income, the lost opportunities, or the harassment and vilification you are now enduring.
But like many others in the comment section, I must ask that that you keep fighting the good fight. This does not end until more people do what is right as opposed to what is expedient. You are an example and inspiration. And I can only hope this current fiasco is one of the markers of the low point, of the turning of the tide.
Looking forward to the newsletter. In regard to Dr. Aaron Kheriaty, for whatever this is worth, I posted the following comment just a while back as I was in shock about the news of his termination from UCal:
I was stunned by this. I had hope our academic institutions at least in regard to the sciences and medicine would honor their commitment to academic integrity, to informed debate, to critical reasoning about evidence, and to transparency of interests and process. If the UCal system is not strong enough to stand against the tide of authoritarian hysteria, what US institutions are? I feel that we as a nation have truly entered uncharted territory. We seem to have renounced the best of the Enlightenment: the promise and practice that we could better the human condition through the exercise of reason based on evidence, and not just defer to authority based on revealed and sacred sources beyond critical examination.
I wish you and your family all best in going forward.
It is obvious that you were highly valued as an educator, practitioner, and researcher by your students and colleagues. That your contributions were significant, appreciated, and to many essential. For now, that part of your life on hold. I won't say lost.
We are in – still in – a time of mass hysteria if not mass psychosis. The witch purges of the early modern period – a trans-European phenomenon with some belated spillover to the American colonies – come to mind. The red scare and McCarthyism, likewise.
I think it is of no consolation to you that you will be vindicated by history: that at some point in the future, you will be recognized as one of the voices of integrity in defense of sound, evidence-based science, and of ethical public health practices. This belated recognition when it comes will not make up for the lost income, the lost opportunities, or the harassment and vilification you are now enduring.
But like many others in the comment section, I must ask that that you keep fighting the good fight. This does not end until more people do what is right as opposed to what is expedient. You are an example and inspiration. And I can only hope this current fiasco is one of the markers of the low point, of the turning of the tide.
Extremely well said.