Cease threatening Dr. Mehmet Oz for transparently talking to America about GMO labeling

The Issue

NOTE: If you are a member of the medical community and are signing this petition, please include your degree and current institution in the optional text field, "I'm signing because..." 

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It is hypocritical for any group - especially one with known GMO conflicts of interest - to attempt silencing Dr. Oz for discussing GMOs with the American public. Some of us are in favor, and others oppose GMOs or their labeling, but we all emphatically agree that free speech without fear of intimidation is in everyone’s best interest.

This is an attack on more than just Dr. Oz - this irresponsible and misguided attack puts us all at risk. At its core, the letter calling for Columbia University to remove Dr. Oz from their faculty is a thinly veiled attempt by individuals with clear conflicts of interest and even worse criminal convictions to scare the American public and control our national health conversation. 

The common denominator among the authors is a conservative pro-GMO, pro-industry advocacy group: The American Council on Science and Health (ACSH), which is funded by Monsanto and tied to many pro-GMO campaigns. 

The issue is not whether you agree with Dr. Oz - on this matter or others. The issue is whether we allow agenda-driven bullies to destroy a doctor’s reputation for having a discussion and educating consumers on an extremely important health issue.  

Labeling GMOs, despite being law in most other countries, remains a hot button topic in the US, particularly given massive amounts of money being poured into the agricultural and food industries to support an anti-labeling agenda. Dr. Oz has never implied that GMO foods are unsafe or should be banned – only that they should be labeled. It is because of his pro-label stance that he is being attacked. 

Don't allow individuals with clear conflict to censor physicians like Dr. Oz from discussing GMOs with the American people. If you are a member of the medical community, please include your degree and current institution in the optional text field, "I'm signing because...," and join us as we support free speech without fear of intimidation. 

avatar of the starter
Rodney Taylor, MD, MPHPetition StarterRodney J Taylor MD, MSPH is an associate professor in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology- Head & Neck Surgery at the University of Maryland of School of Medicine (UMSOM). Dr. Taylor is the Director of General Otorhinolaryngology at UMSOM and the Chief of Otolaryngology at the Veteran’s Administration Medical Center at Baltimore. Dr. Taylor graduated cum laude from Harvard College in 1991 where he was Senior Class President, Varsity Football player and received the Francis Burr Award for character, leadership and athletic ability. After receiving his MD from Harvard Medical School in 1995, Dr. Taylor spent 6 years at the University of Michigan completing his residency in Otolaryngology- Head & Neck Surgery, and earning a Masters from the School of Public Health in 1999. While at the University of Michigan, he developed novel techniques in head and neck cancer surgery, as well as developed and studied Quality of Life instruments among head and neck cancer patients.
Media inquiries
This petition had 1,429 supporters

The Issue

NOTE: If you are a member of the medical community and are signing this petition, please include your degree and current institution in the optional text field, "I'm signing because..." 

***

It is hypocritical for any group - especially one with known GMO conflicts of interest - to attempt silencing Dr. Oz for discussing GMOs with the American public. Some of us are in favor, and others oppose GMOs or their labeling, but we all emphatically agree that free speech without fear of intimidation is in everyone’s best interest.

This is an attack on more than just Dr. Oz - this irresponsible and misguided attack puts us all at risk. At its core, the letter calling for Columbia University to remove Dr. Oz from their faculty is a thinly veiled attempt by individuals with clear conflicts of interest and even worse criminal convictions to scare the American public and control our national health conversation. 

The common denominator among the authors is a conservative pro-GMO, pro-industry advocacy group: The American Council on Science and Health (ACSH), which is funded by Monsanto and tied to many pro-GMO campaigns. 

The issue is not whether you agree with Dr. Oz - on this matter or others. The issue is whether we allow agenda-driven bullies to destroy a doctor’s reputation for having a discussion and educating consumers on an extremely important health issue.  

Labeling GMOs, despite being law in most other countries, remains a hot button topic in the US, particularly given massive amounts of money being poured into the agricultural and food industries to support an anti-labeling agenda. Dr. Oz has never implied that GMO foods are unsafe or should be banned – only that they should be labeled. It is because of his pro-label stance that he is being attacked. 

Don't allow individuals with clear conflict to censor physicians like Dr. Oz from discussing GMOs with the American people. If you are a member of the medical community, please include your degree and current institution in the optional text field, "I'm signing because...," and join us as we support free speech without fear of intimidation. 

avatar of the starter
Rodney Taylor, MD, MPHPetition StarterRodney J Taylor MD, MSPH is an associate professor in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology- Head & Neck Surgery at the University of Maryland of School of Medicine (UMSOM). Dr. Taylor is the Director of General Otorhinolaryngology at UMSOM and the Chief of Otolaryngology at the Veteran’s Administration Medical Center at Baltimore. Dr. Taylor graduated cum laude from Harvard College in 1991 where he was Senior Class President, Varsity Football player and received the Francis Burr Award for character, leadership and athletic ability. After receiving his MD from Harvard Medical School in 1995, Dr. Taylor spent 6 years at the University of Michigan completing his residency in Otolaryngology- Head & Neck Surgery, and earning a Masters from the School of Public Health in 1999. While at the University of Michigan, he developed novel techniques in head and neck cancer surgery, as well as developed and studied Quality of Life instruments among head and neck cancer patients.
Media inquiries

The Decision Makers

Henry I. Miller, M.D., and Gilbert Ross, M.D.
Henry I. Miller, M.D., and Gilbert Ross, M.D.

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Petition created on April 19, 2015