Medical profs’ tweets ‘unacceptable’
The dean of the University of Ottawa’s faculty of medicine, in a memo that is raising eyebrows, has warned faculty members against using their roles as educators to make “personal or demeaning attacks on celebrities or politicians.”
Dr. Jacques Bradwejn also warned faculty against expressing “politically charged sentiment” in social media accounts that identify them as a member of the university’s faculty of medicine.
It is not clear whether a single incident precipitated the memo. But some faculty have called it both inappropriate and an infringement on academic freedom.
In the Feb. 16 memo, obtained by the Citizen, Bradwejn said, “While most of our faculty members are demonstrable champions of professionalism, it has come to light” that some members of the faculty had been “using material or presenting information that may be considered inappropriate in the context of the educational values that we as a university uphold.”
Bradwejn said in an email to the Citizen that the memo “was meant to remind our faculty members that they hold a leadership position in our society and that with it, comes the great responsibility to uphold tolerance and professionalism.”
Some faculty said the memo left them scratching their heads.
“Nobody really knows what it is about,” said one, “but the way I read it, it infringes on academic freedom.”
Bradwejn wrote that the field of medicine “isn’t without its controversial issues,” and mentioned safe injection sites, safe abortions and physician-assisted dying.
He called “politically charged” messages a distraction from teaching and said that faculty using their roles as educators as a platform to attack celebrities or politicians is “is unacceptable in the eyes of this faculty.”
Politically charged sentiments on social media “may be a satisfying means of expression,” he said, “but it has the potential to be disruptive in an academic environment comprised of learners from a spectrum of backgrounds and beliefs.”
Its content has left some who teach in the faculty questioning whether he is telling them they can’t talk about politics either in the classroom or on social media.
“Personally, as long as I don’t represent myself as speaking for the university, or say something illegal or unethical related to my position at the university, I don’t really see where it is any of their concern,” said Dr. Jay Baltz, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the university who has an active Twitter account that does not identify his role at the school.
“They certainly cannot expect to have a say over faculty’s political views expressed on their own time and not through university email or other university platforms.”
Amir Attaran, a law professor who is cross-appointed to the faculty of medicine, said the memo wouldn’t survive if it was challenged.
“I certainly think this is bizarre. I am a health-policy guy, so I am supposed to not talk politics? This is insane.
“We are supposed to talk about social medicine and not talk about politics? We can’t criticize Jenny McCarthy now?” he said, referring to the celebrity who has been criticized for promoting anti-vaccine sentiment.
“I am going to carry on as I always would.”