A league of 78 researchers and specialists from the Stanford Medical School criticized their former colleague Dr. Scott Atlas, who is currently President Trump’s coronavirus advisor. According to Stanford researchers, Dr. Atlas propagates what seems to be “falsehood and misinterpretation of science” in his public announcements regarding the coronavirus.
Stanford experts penned the “Dear Colleague” letter on Wednesday, expressing that they have a “moral and ethical responsibility” to oppose their former colleagues” controversial claims about coronavirus spread mitigation. For them, his claims “run counter to established science” and “undermine public health authorities and the credible science that guides effective public health policy,” as cited in a news report.
Atlas was once the chief of neuroradiology of Stanford Medical School. Receiving criticisms and rebukes from experts of this medical school caused a significant backlash against one of Trump’s top advisors. In White House’s press briefing last August, the president introduced Atlas, referring to him as “a very famous man who is also highly respected,” as a new member of the task force for coronavirus mitigation. A month ago, the Washington Post revealed that Atlas supported the Trump administration to grasp “natural herd immunity, referring to five anonymous sources. Atlas intensely denied the report.
In their letter, the Stanford specialists tick through many broadly acknowledged clinical conclusions in a struggle with Atlas’ public proclamations and asserted private approach recommendations. Without unequivocally binding their list to Atlas’ past explanations, the findings, which depend on a ” preponderance of data,” incorporate information about the utilization of face covers, asymptomatic spread, and the danger presented to kids.
The letter additionally provides reason to feel ambiguous about alleged group invulnerability, taking note that the most secure way to controlling the pandemic is by conveying “rigorously evaluated, effective vaccines that have been approved by regulatory agencies.” Also, it adds that “encouraging herd immunity through unchecked community transmission is not a safe public health strategy,” as mentioned in a news report.
As a result, Stanford experts behind the “Dear Colleague” letter said they got a legal threat on September 16 from Marc Kasowitz of the law office Kasowitz Benson Torres, which requested the letter authors pull back their cases or face lawful actions. Kasowitz claimed to speak for Atlas, who presently functions as a senior individual at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution.
“We, therefore, demand that you immediately issue a press release withdrawing your letter and that you contact every media outlet worldwide that has reported on it to request an immediate correction of the record.”
Marc Kasowitz of the law office Kasowitz Benson Torres
Associate Professor Michael Fischbach of the Bioengineering department posted a tweet in response to the threat.
“I stand by everything we said.”
Associate Professor Michael Fischbach
Moreover, a more significant gathering from Stanford University has now marked another letter expressing that they won’t be intimidated or silenced.
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