Yoni Freedhoff
@yonifreedhoff.com
Associate Professor of Family Medicine @UOttawa/Exclusively obesity medicine since 2004/Bylines spanning from The Lancet to the NYTs/הנני
If you prefer a podcast link, here's you go: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/d...
Doctors Speak Out: The Reality of Antisemitism in Medicine
Podcast Episode · Breaking the Narrative · 2025-10-30 · 59m
podcasts.apple.com
October 31, 2025 at 4:34 PM
If you prefer a podcast link, here's you go: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/d...
If regulators fail to uphold their statutory duty to act in the public interest, they may be inviting legal challenge — and moral reckoning. The question is: who will test that duty first?
October 31, 2025 at 4:27 PM
If regulators fail to uphold their statutory duty to act in the public interest, they may be inviting legal challenge — and moral reckoning. The question is: who will test that duty first?
This isn’t just theoretical. Inaction signals to racialized patients that their safety and dignity are negotiable — and to the public that accountability in medicine is optional.
October 31, 2025 at 4:27 PM
This isn’t just theoretical. Inaction signals to racialized patients that their safety and dignity are negotiable — and to the public that accountability in medicine is optional.
Courts have found regulators can be liable for negligent oversight when foreseeable harm occurs. Ignoring racism that deters or harms patients might meet that threshold.
October 31, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Courts have found regulators can be liable for negligent oversight when foreseeable harm occurs. Ignoring racism that deters or harms patients might meet that threshold.
As statutory bodies exercising public authority, medical regulators could also face Charter scrutiny. Inaction that allows racist conduct to persist may violate patients’ equality rights under Section 15.
October 31, 2025 at 4:27 PM
As statutory bodies exercising public authority, medical regulators could also face Charter scrutiny. Inaction that allows racist conduct to persist may violate patients’ equality rights under Section 15.
If regulators ignore such conduct, they may be breaching not only their own legislation but also the Ontario Human Rights Code, which protects equal access to services, including healthcare.
October 31, 2025 at 4:27 PM
If regulators ignore such conduct, they may be breaching not only their own legislation but also the Ontario Human Rights Code, which protects equal access to services, including healthcare.
Racist public conduct isn’t “private speech.” It signals bias that can affect care. Under the Medicine Act, such behaviour could constitute “disgraceful, dishonourable, or unprofessional conduct.”
October 31, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Racist public conduct isn’t “private speech.” It signals bias that can affect care. Under the Medicine Act, such behaviour could constitute “disgraceful, dishonourable, or unprofessional conduct.”
Regulators like the CPSO have a legal duty under the Regulated Health Professions Act to “serve and protect the public interest.” Turning a blind eye to racism is hard to square with that mandate.
October 31, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Regulators like the CPSO have a legal duty under the Regulated Health Professions Act to “serve and protect the public interest.” Turning a blind eye to racism is hard to square with that mandate.
Medical regulators exist to protect the public. In Canada and the UK, some have failed to act when physicians publicly spread racist messages. That inaction erodes confidence in both the profession and its regulators.
October 31, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Medical regulators exist to protect the public. In Canada and the UK, some have failed to act when physicians publicly spread racist messages. That inaction erodes confidence in both the profession and its regulators.
When physicians post racist content, patients who belong to targeted groups can reasonably fear danger, denial of care, or substandard treatment. That fear alone undermines trust in healthcare.
October 31, 2025 at 4:27 PM
When physicians post racist content, patients who belong to targeted groups can reasonably fear danger, denial of care, or substandard treatment. That fear alone undermines trust in healthcare.
Link to full piece (registration is, as always, free) medscape.com/viewarticle/...
GLP-1s Don’t Increase Suicide Risk
Many patients inquire about the risk of suicidal ideation with GLP-1s, writes Yoni Freedhoff, MD. Rather than increasing the risk, he has found they actually decrease it.
medscape.com
August 21, 2025 at 12:12 AM
Link to full piece (registration is, as always, free) medscape.com/viewarticle/...
whereby the studies receiving the most media attention are those reporting literally negative (ie, adverse) outcomes. In contrast, more rigorous studies that challenge these negative findings, even if publicized, rarely achieve comparable societal penetration or awareness /3
August 21, 2025 at 12:12 AM
whereby the studies receiving the most media attention are those reporting literally negative (ie, adverse) outcomes. In contrast, more rigorous studies that challenge these negative findings, even if publicized, rarely achieve comparable societal penetration or awareness /3
Since then have you heard that no, GLP1 meds almost certainly don't increase the risk of suicide and might in fact contribute to improved mood? I'm betting that's less likely and the reason why is negative publication bias - media edition /2
August 21, 2025 at 12:12 AM
Since then have you heard that no, GLP1 meds almost certainly don't increase the risk of suicide and might in fact contribute to improved mood? I'm betting that's less likely and the reason why is negative publication bias - media edition /2
They were offering financial assistance only for those prescribed tirzepatide for diabetes
July 4, 2025 at 1:51 PM
They were offering financial assistance only for those prescribed tirzepatide for diabetes
Are we at the lowest levels of the entire pandemic? Looks like maybe. Or at least very close. Pre-delta.
July 3, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Are we at the lowest levels of the entire pandemic? Looks like maybe. Or at least very close. Pre-delta.
impact because when we shop hungry we buy and want all the things! For more details can click through to the story medscape.com/viewarticle/...
How do Front-of-Package Warnings Influence People?
A recent study found that different front-of-package labels were effective in decreasing purchases, but can it be a long-term solution?
medscape.com
July 3, 2025 at 5:24 PM
impact because when we shop hungry we buy and want all the things! For more details can click through to the story medscape.com/viewarticle/...
it would be valuable to compare the impact labels have on people with markedly decreased levels of hunger and cravings (GLP1 users) vs. those whose hunger and craving levels are not medically reduced. My bet of course is that the latter group will see a markedly diminished /3
July 3, 2025 at 5:24 PM
it would be valuable to compare the impact labels have on people with markedly decreased levels of hunger and cravings (GLP1 users) vs. those whose hunger and craving levels are not medically reduced. My bet of course is that the latter group will see a markedly diminished /3
nutrient only warnings were nearly as effective as those that tied warning to diseases like obesity - but only in an artificial study setting. In the real world, if the hope is that front of package warnings protect against weight gain/help with weight loss /2
July 3, 2025 at 5:24 PM
nutrient only warnings were nearly as effective as those that tied warning to diseases like obesity - but only in an artificial study setting. In the real world, if the hope is that front of package warnings protect against weight gain/help with weight loss /2