Medicine and science must oppose intolerance and censorship

Friends of Science in Medicine should avoid threatening their own values

Science has always been — and should be — a battleground for contending views on what is true. Because of the close connection between knowledge and power, however, the risk is always present that those who command the dominant theories or ideologies will rely on their positions of influence to overcome those who oppose them. It is important that those who treasure tolerance and the value of open, unfettered discourse remain sensitive to these risks and — even when they personally disagree — to protect and foster the expression of contrary viewpoints.