Fox News contributor Jonathan Turley previews his book on the threats to free speech on 'Special Report.' Editor's note: The following column first appeared on the author's blog, Res ipsa loquitur – The thing itself speaks . There is a controversy in Oregon over a proposed change in the ethics rule from the Oregon Medical Board.
At issue is the use of "microaggressions" to discipline doctors and to make reporting such transgressions mandatory for all doctors. It seems before you can give stitches, you have to join snitches under one of the most ambiguous categories of prescribed speech. I have been a critic of microaggression rules on college campuses and discuss this trend in my book out this week, " The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage.
" In past debates over this category of offensive speech, I have objected that it is hopelessly vague and highly controversial. That ambiguity creates a threat to free speech through a chilling effect on speakers who are unsure of what will be considered microaggressive. Terms ranging from " melting pot " to phrases like " pulling oneself up by your own bootstraps " have been declared racist.
Some of those have been identified by Columbia professor Derald Wing Sue , cited by Oregon’s state government as a "microaggressions expert." THINK TWICE? BAR GROUP TELLS MEMBERS IT’S OK TO CRITICIZE, BUT DON’T DARE CALL TRUMP CONVICTION 'PARTISAN' The Hippocratic oath is based on the pledge that doctors will ‘first do no har.
