Pro-Masking Doctors Are Often Hypocrites « Better in their words…

Pro-Masking Doctors Are Often Hypocrites

June 4 | Posted by mrossol | Coronavirus, Mandates, Science

Right now, the national cancer doctors conference (ASCO) is raging, and there is a mix of masked and unmasked pictures. But, wait for it. Once the pictures of the dinners, bars, and night activities come out, it will be a sea of *mostly* unmasked faces. Here is last nights Presidential dinner for starters (Whoops! No masks!)

Remember the emergency medicine doctors conference a few weeks ago. Here are some photos. At the same time, many doctors in this specialty organization turned to social media to continue to proselytize about masking, including toddlers. A bizarre recommendation that is based on no credible evidence, and contradicted by the World Health Organization.

Here is the hypocrisy. If you truly think we should try to slow the spread of the virus, the only option is not to have the conference. After all, these conferences are not necessary. They can be replaced with virtual ones— as occurred the last 2 years. Even an n95 mask mandate at the conference won’t stop thousands from partying at night, unmasked. If you think slowing spread is important, then the only answer is to abort the meeting.

Yet, it is clear, no one wants to do that. People are attending. Some choose to quietly attend, and go about their business, but others want to create a climate of shaming those who choose not to mask. This is also bizarre because everyone knows that no one will be masking during dinners and evening gathers, and these gatherings dominate the conference. In short, the shaming is purely for a visible form of theater that won’t do anything for viral spread.

I personally cannot imagine being so arrogant to shame others into masking, while continuing to attend a conference that will surely spread the virus. Either you don’t attend and push for it to be cancelled, or you do attend, and then remain silent. Being cool with the conference— because you have a poster— but wanting to guilt others into wearing a cloth mask at the venue, but not at the Presidential dinner, is a strange form of hypocrisy.