Mayo Clinic censors and suspends doctor for refusing to adhere to ‘prescribed messaging’ regarding COVID, trans athletes

The Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science censored and briefly suspended an anesthesiology professor who refused to adhere to the clinic’s “prescribed messaging” regarding COVID and transgender athletes, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression reported.

A letter from the Mayo Clinic obtained by FIRE revealed that MCCMS retaliated against Dr. Michael Joyner after he publicly shared his professional medical opinions about COVID treatments and the physiological advantages of male athletes.

In June 2022, Joyner told the New York Times that testosterone allows male athletes to outperform females.

“There are social aspects to sport, but physiology and biology underpin it,” Joyner told the Times. “Testosterone is the 800-pound gorilla.”

Joyner was forced to meet with Mayo Clinic’s Personnel Executive Committee members to discuss his comments to the Times. Members expressed their concerns regarding what they described as his use of “inflammatory” language.

Despite being scolded by the Mayo Clinic for his comments, Joyner participated in an interview with CNN in January, during which he slammed the National Institutes of Health’s handling of COVID.

On March 5, Joyner received a disciplinary letter from Mayo Clinic researcher Carlos B. Mantilla.

The letter scolded Joyner for failing to adhere to the clinic’s “prescribed messaging” when speaking to members of the press.

According to the Mayo Clinic, Joyner showed a “negative and unprofessional pattern of behavior.” In particular, Mantilla took issue with Joyner’s comments to CNN about being “frustrated” with the NIH’s “bureaucratic rope-a-dope” and referring to the agency’s guidelines as a “wet blanket.”

“Your use of idiomatic language has been problematic and reflects poorly on Mayo Clinic’s brand and reputation. Prior to the most recent incident this issue was discussed with you when your June 2022 comments in a NY Times article were problematic in the media and the LGBTQI+ community at Mayo Clinic,” the disciplinary letter stated.

Mantilla also accused Joyner of being disrespectful toward colleagues “who describe your tone as unpleasant and having a ‘bullying’ quality to it.”

According to the letter, Joyner violated the Mayo Clinic’s Mutual Respect policy and failed to adhere to its Model of Professionalism.

As a result, Joyner was told that he was no longer allowed to speak to any members of the press without first seeking approval from the clinic’s Public Affairs department.

He was also told to “discuss approved topics only and stick to prescribed messaging; eliminate use of idiomatic language.”

“If an interview request is declined,” the letter stated, “accept ‘no’ for an answer and move forward.”

Mantilla’s letter informed Joyner that his comments cost him his future salary adjustment. He was also placed on unpaid suspension for a week.

Joyner was warned that he could be terminated if he refused to stick to the prescribed narrative moving forward.

“Mayo Clinic prides itself on our values and it is important for you to align your behaviors with those values, as outlined by the expectations above. Failure to fully comply with the expectations outlined above or any additional validated complaints from any staff, including, but not limited to, the issues noted above, or any form of retaliation will result in termination of employment,” the letter warned.

FIRE contended that the Mayo Clinic’s gag order violated the clinic’s Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom Policy.

“Private institutions are not bound by the First Amendment, but they must adhere to their own promises, including commitments to uphold free speech and academic freedom,” FIRE stated.

Additionally, it added that Joyner had made clear to journalists that he was not representing Mayo Clinic but speaking only for himself.

The Mayo Clinic told FIRE, “[D]isciplinary action taken against Dr. Joyner did not involve a gag order and did not violate our academic freedom policy.”

The clinic did not respond to a request for comment, the Daily Caller News Foundation reported.

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