A Soviet refugee and physician worries about the suppression of reasonable disagreement, ideological purity testing and attempts to legislate acceptable medical practice to conform to the desired ideological dogma in America today.
Fascinating to see the US drift into Lysenkoism. Much too often we seem to want a Black/White sort of discussion when grey might be reality and then when we really do have a true binary M/F defined by genetics we wish to find the odd XXYY case which is quite rare in life. At least the coin has but two sides until someone demands an edge to be preferred.
Thank you, Dr. Levy. Your courage to speak out today is a tribute to the great heritage of your family and their survival. And for all those reading, if we are courageous today, we may gift that heritage to those who follow.
I would like to hear your thoughts and expand on one particular part of your column Dr. Levy. As a graduate of SUNY Downstate and knowing that this medical school and it's affiliated hospitals are in an area of Brooklyn that has a population with low socioeconomic status with many people being under or uninsured. In my time there I felt they did a good job serving them and I don't see why it is out of ordinary to ask potential medical students the question "What in your current/future activity/activities have/will contribute to diversity, health equity and social justice?" If you have issue with the diversity aspect I understand in that I really don't know how a medical student can contribute to diversity other then themselves perhaps having a diverse background. However promoting health equity should be a goal of all physicians in my opinion. With regards to the social justice portion I
feel and many other do as well that sometimes advocating for social justice in these lower socioeconomic neighborhoods have health impacts. Thanks and would love to hear your thoughts.
Dr Levy’s comments are like unto commentators on all recent social controversies that have particular poignancy-they come from those who have experienced the alternative views...and found them wanting. They deserve our most dedicated attention and reflection on their thoughts. The flip side is that I sit here inside my cis-gendered, heteronormative, Caucasian, baby-boomer, identity in near complete silence as nothing I say or think is judged of any consequence. Speak on Dr. Levy.
Those are the reasons what you say is relevant. All who see the rational basis for changing the current trajectory are vital voices. Think about it: isn’t the intent of the DEI wave to silence huge swaths of the public as “you held the mic for too long”? Giving in to a sense of powerless still perpetuates power dynamics and zero-sun game. I think the true aim of a balanced and whole society may be to give voice to all in order to support each individual of the collective so we all fit and raise the “belonging” organically. DEI promotes division 😳😓
One of the things I did during lockdown was read The Gulag Archipelago and it's remarkable how much it mirrors our current time in many ways. Particularly with regards to CoVid policy. What I often bring up to people is the fact that doctors who actually were good at their job were put in gulags because people wanted to go to that doctor as opposed to other ones who weren't as good. That obviously makes no sense, but I often see the censorship of doctors and other scientists during CoVid as a very similar problem to what happened in the Soviet Union.
It was assumed that anyone who had any criticism of government policy must be trying to bring down the government or "cause people to die".
I have described it as the best book to read if you want everything you ever believed both confirmed and undermined at the same time. You see the best of humanity and the absolute worst at the same time.
I remain grateful that survivors of the Soviet Union are still alive and present in the free world to testify to the madness that totalitarianism brings. You bring an undeniable voice to an increasingly blind populace.
The New Gatekeepers How the major institutions of American society all came to sing in the woke chorus, and what can be done about it by Michael Lind, he shows HOW the left was able so effectively infiltrate society - highly recommend reading it
I hope that I am wrong but I see future medicine being totally controlled by government. Medical schools are getting rid of merit based selection by dropping some tests and using pass/fail only. DEI ideaology and in some schools the hippocratic oath is being dropped for a diversity type pledge. Undergraduate students complain that some professors are making subjects like "organic chemistry" too hard. Medical students complain that what is being taught is irrelevant (how do they know) to their future specialtiy.
Medicine is selecting for future MDs who will have little knowledge and no critical thinking because it is All going to be protocol driven. When this happens, except for a few areas, anyone will be able to input symptoms into a computer that will spit out EXACTLY what is allowed to be done.
Nurse practitioners and physician assistants and probably techs will be the frontline because decision making will only be what those in charge dictate by protocols. Med school will be like nursing with maybe a 4 year undergraduate degree necessary.
Off label prescribing and individualized medicine will be gone. Medicine is going to look a lot different in the near future.
Thank you Dr. Levy for that chilling comparison. Btw, you can find the Wang article if interested through the wayback machine. However, I’ll post the link here: https://www.gwern.net/docs/sociology/2020-wang.pdf.
Thank you Dr. Levy.
Fascinating to see the US drift into Lysenkoism. Much too often we seem to want a Black/White sort of discussion when grey might be reality and then when we really do have a true binary M/F defined by genetics we wish to find the odd XXYY case which is quite rare in life. At least the coin has but two sides until someone demands an edge to be preferred.
Thank you, Dr. Levy. Your courage to speak out today is a tribute to the great heritage of your family and their survival. And for all those reading, if we are courageous today, we may gift that heritage to those who follow.
Thank you for publishing this important piece. 🙏🏻🇨🇦
Fantastic essay.
I would like to hear your thoughts and expand on one particular part of your column Dr. Levy. As a graduate of SUNY Downstate and knowing that this medical school and it's affiliated hospitals are in an area of Brooklyn that has a population with low socioeconomic status with many people being under or uninsured. In my time there I felt they did a good job serving them and I don't see why it is out of ordinary to ask potential medical students the question "What in your current/future activity/activities have/will contribute to diversity, health equity and social justice?" If you have issue with the diversity aspect I understand in that I really don't know how a medical student can contribute to diversity other then themselves perhaps having a diverse background. However promoting health equity should be a goal of all physicians in my opinion. With regards to the social justice portion I
feel and many other do as well that sometimes advocating for social justice in these lower socioeconomic neighborhoods have health impacts. Thanks and would love to hear your thoughts.
Thank you Dr Levy for such brave article!
Dr Levy’s comments are like unto commentators on all recent social controversies that have particular poignancy-they come from those who have experienced the alternative views...and found them wanting. They deserve our most dedicated attention and reflection on their thoughts. The flip side is that I sit here inside my cis-gendered, heteronormative, Caucasian, baby-boomer, identity in near complete silence as nothing I say or think is judged of any consequence. Speak on Dr. Levy.
Those are the reasons what you say is relevant. All who see the rational basis for changing the current trajectory are vital voices. Think about it: isn’t the intent of the DEI wave to silence huge swaths of the public as “you held the mic for too long”? Giving in to a sense of powerless still perpetuates power dynamics and zero-sun game. I think the true aim of a balanced and whole society may be to give voice to all in order to support each individual of the collective so we all fit and raise the “belonging” organically. DEI promotes division 😳😓
One of the things I did during lockdown was read The Gulag Archipelago and it's remarkable how much it mirrors our current time in many ways. Particularly with regards to CoVid policy. What I often bring up to people is the fact that doctors who actually were good at their job were put in gulags because people wanted to go to that doctor as opposed to other ones who weren't as good. That obviously makes no sense, but I often see the censorship of doctors and other scientists during CoVid as a very similar problem to what happened in the Soviet Union.
It was assumed that anyone who had any criticism of government policy must be trying to bring down the government or "cause people to die".
I too read it a couple of years ago, with resulting nightmarish disgust and a hint of prescience.
I have described it as the best book to read if you want everything you ever believed both confirmed and undermined at the same time. You see the best of humanity and the absolute worst at the same time.
I, for one, wholeheartedly agree with Dr Levy
Awesome info!! Thanks for the resource and the link🤓
https://t.co/ArVkIbVa5u
I remain grateful that survivors of the Soviet Union are still alive and present in the free world to testify to the madness that totalitarianism brings. You bring an undeniable voice to an increasingly blind populace.
Interesting but I literally just read this
The New Gatekeepers How the major institutions of American society all came to sing in the woke chorus, and what can be done about it by Michael Lind, he shows HOW the left was able so effectively infiltrate society - highly recommend reading it
https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/new-gatekeepers-woke-michael-lind
Great article! Thank you.
I hope that I am wrong but I see future medicine being totally controlled by government. Medical schools are getting rid of merit based selection by dropping some tests and using pass/fail only. DEI ideaology and in some schools the hippocratic oath is being dropped for a diversity type pledge. Undergraduate students complain that some professors are making subjects like "organic chemistry" too hard. Medical students complain that what is being taught is irrelevant (how do they know) to their future specialtiy.
Medicine is selecting for future MDs who will have little knowledge and no critical thinking because it is All going to be protocol driven. When this happens, except for a few areas, anyone will be able to input symptoms into a computer that will spit out EXACTLY what is allowed to be done.
Nurse practitioners and physician assistants and probably techs will be the frontline because decision making will only be what those in charge dictate by protocols. Med school will be like nursing with maybe a 4 year undergraduate degree necessary.
Off label prescribing and individualized medicine will be gone. Medicine is going to look a lot different in the near future.
Maybe I'm wrong and I hope that I am.
Thank you Dr. Levy for that chilling comparison. Btw, you can find the Wang article if interested through the wayback machine. However, I’ll post the link here: https://www.gwern.net/docs/sociology/2020-wang.pdf.