9/13/20
In the tight-knit world of academic medicine, scientists pride themselves on presenting a united and unflappable face to those outside their ranks. But this week, in a scathing letter, dozens of Stanford University Medical School’s top faculty denounced former colleague Dr. Scott Atlas for promoting what they called “falsehoods and misrepresentations of science.” Atlas, a diagnostic radiologist and senior fellow at the conservative think tank Hoover Institution, was recently appointed by President Donald Trump to the White House coronavirus task force. As an adviser counselor to the president about the virus, he has made controversial statements about controlling the pandemic, which has killed more than 192,000 Americans, through “natural immunity.” He also has urged the reopening of schools and businesses. “Many of his opinions and statements run counter to established science and, by doing so, undermine public-health authorities and the credible science that guides effective public health policy,” according to the letter, signed by Dr. Philip A. Pizzo, former dean of Stanford School of Medicine; Dr. Upi Singh, chief of Stanford’s Division of Infectious Diseases, and Dr. Bonnie Maldonado, professor of epidemiology and population health, and 105 others.
On the conservative “Steve Deace Show” last April, Atlas spoke in favor of allowing the virus to infect younger and healthier Americans, saying their immunity would protect others. He has urged the lifting of business restrictions, telling Fox News on Aug. 24 that “American lives are being destroyed. …. The lockdown must end.” Atlas also said that schools should open as quickly as possible. The Stanford faculty challenge his assertions, saying the preponderance of data shows that that the safest path to herd immunity is through deployment of safe vaccines, not infection; crowded indoor spaces can significantly boost the risk of viral spread; and that illness in children, while uncommon, can lead to serious short-term and long-term consequences. “Failure to follow the science — or deliberately misrepresenting the science – will lead to immense avoidable harm,” the letter warns.
