"The debate regarding the Goldwater rule has intensified following President Trump's recent rambling presentation in Pennsylvania (Trump rails on affordability hoax' and flings racist attacks in rally-style speech, 10 December). As a physician with decades of experience in health policy, I believe the current discourse misses a vital distinction: the difference between prohibited diagnosis and legitimate observation. The Goldwater rule was designed to prevent irresponsible armchair diagnosis based on hearsay."
"However, Dr Allen Dyer, a psychiatrist instrumental in developing the original rule, clarified in October 2024 that it was never intended to serve as an absolute gag order. It does not preclude responsible discussion of observable public behaviours, particularly when a public figure voluntarily displays these patterns on a national stage. We must allow medical expertise to inform public discourse."
The Goldwater rule was created to prevent irresponsible armchair diagnosis based on hearsay. Dr Allen Dyer clarified in October 2024 that the rule was never intended to function as an absolute gag order. The rule does not preclude responsible discussion of observable public behaviours, especially when a public figure voluntarily displays such patterns on a national stage. Medical expertise should be permitted to inform public discourse when behaviour that bears on national welfare is publicly exhibited and extensively documented. Discussing such behaviour within ethical boundaries constitutes a contribution to national understanding rather than a violation of professional standards.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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