Perth Children's Hospital
Australian hospital pulls Gaza war talk over "pro-Palestinian bias"
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- Trauma surgeon Martin Jarmin and general surgeon Farah Abdul Aziz were due to discuss their experiences working in war zones.
- The doctors have worked or volunteered in Afghanistan, Congo and Gaza.
- Organiser Sue Wareham said the hospital cancelled the event at short notice over concerns about a “perception of pro-Palestinian bias”.
An Australian hospital cancelled a planned talk by two surgeons about their experiences working in conflict zones after raising concerns about a perceived “pro-Palestinian bias”, according to the event organiser.
Trauma surgeon Martin Jarmin and general surgeon Farah Abdul Aziz had been due to speak at Perth Children’s Hospital (PCH) last week at an event titled “Children and War”.
The doctors have worked or volunteered in war zones including Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Gaza, and had planned to discuss their experiences treating patients in conflict settings.
Sue Wareham, president of the Medical Association for the Prevention of War, which organised the event, said the hospital cancelled the talk at short notice.
“The reason given by the hospital was that they were concerned about ‘a perception of pro-Palestinian bias’,” Wareham said.
The cancellation comes amid heightened scrutiny in Australia over public discussion of the war in Gaza and the participation of medical professionals who have worked in the territory.
The event was intended to focus on the experiences of doctors working with children affected by war, rather than on a specific political issue, according to the description provided by the organiser.
Jarmin and Abdul Aziz have both worked in conflict-affected settings, where medical teams face challenges including treating mass casualties and providing care amid damaged health infrastructure.
The hospital’s decision to cancel the event was attributed by Wareham to concerns over how the speakers’ participation might be perceived.
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