ASTMH Opposes the Increasingly Hostile Treatment of Scientists, Clinicians and Public Health Professionals
The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene stands firmly in support of scientists, clinicians and public health professionals who have dedicated their careers to understanding, preventing and responding to infectious diseases that threaten lives around the world.
We are deeply concerned by the increasingly hostile treatment of scientists whose careers have been devoted to this mission, including, most recently, Dr. Anthony Fauci, whose decades of public service and scientific leadership have contributed to the fight against HIV/AIDS, emerging infectious diseases (including the response to COVID-19) and other global health threats.
Therefore, we call on policymakers, institutions, the media and the public to protect a culture in which scientists can present evidence, debate uncertainty, revise conclusions and serve the public without fear of personal retaliation.
Scientific progress depends on rigorous debate, scrutiny, transparency and a willingness to acknowledge and correct mistakes. Legitimate disagreement over scientific judgments or public health policies is essential to that process. But personal harassment and efforts to discredit scientists who serve the public with the utmost integrity do not strengthen science or public trust.
The infectious disease challenges facing the world—including emerging pathogens, antimicrobial resistance and persistent global health inequities—require talented people to pursue careers in research, medicine and public health. They must know that their service is valued and that they can engage in difficult, consequential work without becoming targets of personal attacks.
Scientists and public health professionals should be accountable for their decisions and open to good-faith criticism. But accountability and disagreement are fundamentally different from intimidation or vilification.
The work of those who dedicate their lives to confronting infectious diseases matters. Their service matters. And the world cannot afford to discourage the next generation from answering the call to protect human health.
ASTMH is honored to host Dr. Fauci and three other global health practitioners for a panel discussion, "Toward a New World Order in Global Health," at our Annual Meeting, 18-22 November, Gaylord National Harbor, Maryland, USA (near Washington, DC).