Podcasts Health Sound Mind: conversations about physician wellness and medical culture Threats, harassment and trolls: Is being a public medical voice worth it?

Threats, harassment and trolls: Is being a public medical voice worth it?

Published: Oct. 28, 2021, 8 a.m.

b'

Dr. Amy Tan shares how she endured months of online harassment during the pandemic for defending racialized communities.\\xa0

\\u201cThere was a racist, misogynistic, violent threat made to me by phone, which is different than keyboard warriors on Twitter, tweeting or emailing terrible things. It's different when somebody seeks out your workplace and asks to speak to you.\\u201d -- Dr. Amy Tan\\xa0

Dr. Amy Tan is an academic family and hospice palliative care physician on Vancouver Island.

During the pandemic, many physicians, like Dr. Tan, have found themselves in the spotlight of both traditional and social media as spokespeople and policy or medical experts. Yet, they\\u2019ve also been on the receiving end of online threats, abuse and harassment.\\xa0

Dr. Najma Ahmed knows what they\\u2019re going through.\\xa0 She is a trauma surgeon based in Toronto and co-founder of Canadian Doctors for Protection from Guns. In 2019, she faced intense harassment by pro-gun activists after launching a public campaign for tougher gun control laws. In this episode,\\xa0

Dr. Ahmed talks to Dr. Caroline G\\xe9rin-Lajoie about the backlash outspoken advocates often face, how it can affect their mental health, whether \\u201cspeaking out\\u201d is really worth it and what medical schools and health institutions can do to support physicians who advocate publicly for their patients.

On Nov. 10, join Dr. G\\xe9rin-Lajoie and other physicians to discuss this topic in a CMA Wellness Connection peer support session. Register by clicking here:\\xa0 \\xa0https://community.cma.ca/en/wellness-connection/p/peer-support-events

Physician Wellness Hub

Canadian Medical Association

Canadian Doctors for Prevention From Guns


'