Chief medical officer wants to hear ‘diverse voices’ in virus debate
NORTHERN Ireland’s chief medical officer has backed academic freedom to comment on the coronavirus pandemic.
Dr Michael Mcbride had recently warned of the risks caused by “ill-informed commentary” in a letter that raised concerns about opinion expressed by a Queen’s University, Belfast academic.
But last night he said he was “most grateful” to university colleagues for their significant contribution in the public arena.
He added there had been no attempt to stifle opinion.
He said: “I would like to take this opportunity personally and professionally to record my support for academia and the wider scientific community in contributing to public debate on the uncertainties, complexities and challenges we face in these unprecedented times.
“It is essential that the public hear from a diverse range of informed authoritative voices to further understanding of the complexities we face, articulating those matters where we have a high degree of confidence and where there is unanimity and equally where there is uncertainty and rightly a range of differing views and interpretation.
“It is essential that the public understands the uncertainties with which we are working and that academics and the wider scientific community continue to assist in debating those uncertainties. Such engagement to be effective must be informed, open, transparent and robust.”
In his earlier letter to Queen’s, Dr Mcbride had expressed “utmost concern” at comments made by one of its experts around the issue of personal protective equipment (PPE).
He asked Queen’s to “urgently” address the matter, saying the commentary “appears to be in contravention of guidance” issued by senior health officials.
The development came amid a row over academic independence. It is understood a number of concerns were raised by other officials about commentary from academics around government policy in recent weeks.
In some cases, the academics’ institutions were contacted about what had been said.
Dr Mcbride’s letter is understood to relate to a radio interview involving a member of Queen’s University in April.
Following the interview, Dr Mcbride sent a letter by email, stating: “It is with regret that I must write to you on a matter of utmost concern and urgency which has been brought to my attention through the Health and Social Care Board. Colleagues in general practice have contacted the HSCB following publicly made comments by [name redacted] regarding PPE, which appears to be in contravention of the guidance issued by myself and the Chief Nursing Officer.”
The letter said the interviewee’s “title, affiliation and platform afforded by the media” could lead to “significant weight” being placed on his comments by the public. It adds: “Not only does this cause confusion, but may put patients and staff at risk if there is a failure to follow scientifically based guidance.
“The added challenge to myself and colleagues from ill-informed commentary and communication risks detracting from our key focus of responding to the pandemic in NI.”
A Department of Health spokesman said later Dr Mcbride’s letter was “clearly about a specific issue of concern, and can in no way be accurately represented as an attempt to stifle academic opinion”.