In a recent interview with former CNN host Don Lemon, tech billionaire Elon Musk expressed grave concerns about the impact of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies on medical schools, warning that they could lead to patient deaths.
Musk argued that lowering standards for passing medical exams and becoming a doctor, particularly a surgeon, could increase the probability of fatal mistakes. “If the standards are lowered, then the probability that the surgeon will make a mistake is higher,” he said. “They’re making mistakes in their exam. They may make mistakes with people, and that may result in people dying.”
Despite Lemon’s skepticism, Musk provided a hypothetical example of a surgeon in training who, despite numerous mistakes during operations, still passed due to lower standards. The X owner insisted that he was raising the issue to prevent such a scenario from occurring.
Elon Musk tries to explain how lowering the standards for doctors could result in more deaths.
Don Lemon is unable to grasp the concept.
This entire exchange is incredible. pic.twitter.com/QJ3efuvVAb
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) March 18, 2024
Musk has been a vocal critic of DEI initiatives, previously stating that while the terms sound like “nice words,” they ultimately lead to discrimination based on race, sex, and sexual orientation, and go against merit. He believes the solution is for universities to focus on merit, regardless of an individual’s background or beliefs.
The billionaire’s concerns echo those of Dr. Stanley Goldfarb, former associate dean of curriculum at the University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, and chair of the medical nonprofit Do No Harm. During a recent congressional hearing, Dr. Goldfarb warned that DEI policies in medical schools are dangerous and could lead to a diminished quality of health care for Americans.
Dr. Goldfarb accused the Association of American Medical Colleges of forcing medical schools to teach divisive topics at the expense of life-saving care and alleged that some schools have lowered admission standards due to DEI policies. He cited examples of students spending more time learning about pronouns than understanding critical medical concepts.
As the debate around DEI in medical education continues, Musk and other experts are urging universities to prioritize merit and focus on producing highly qualified physicians to ensure the best possible care for patients and avoid potentially tragic consequences.
