Healthcare workers stand at the brink of a historic moment, as elected leaders consider policies to limit freedom of expression, undermine democracy, and platform health policies which are not based on science. Our voices are urgently needed to defend our professions and institutions from these threats. We write to Mass General Brigham (MGB) with an urgent call for action to preserve the vital value we can bring to our society, and to uplift our mission to truly care for all.

In the past two years, we have seen unprecedented numbers of attacks on healthcare and unprecedented numbers of children killed in conflict.¹ As healthcare workers, our profession calls upon us to heal and speak out against rampant violence, regardless of where it occurs. What happens in our communities - including the global community - is what most impacts human survival and well-being.

We acknowledge and commend MGB’s divestment from firearms and tobacco in alignment with its role as a healthcare organization. Similarly, we urge MGB to ensure that the funds it holds are not spent on companies known to profit from apartheid policies, war crimes, exploitation of labor (including child labor), or mass violence against civilians. 

We urge our leadership to: 

1. Commit to divesting from, not investing in or contracting with companies that are complicit in gross violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, as determined by international legal and humanitarian bodies. These violations include apartheid policies, war crimes, exploitation of labor (including child labor), and mass violence against civilians.
2. Adopt ethical procurement and investment policies that prohibit any future investment in such companies and prohibit MGB board members from profiting from, including being employed by, these companies.
3. Commit to protecting the academic freedom and freedom of speech of employees to teach, write and speak out against human rights abuses around the world without exceptions.

This simple policy change will bring MGB closer to its mission of leadership in delivering the highest quality healthcare to all. 

Source:

1. "2023 Attacks on Health Care in War Zones Most Ever Documented: Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition (SHCC) Report." Physicians for Human Rights. 22 May 2024. https://phr.org/news/2023-attacks-on-health-care-in-war-zones-most-ever-documented-safeguarding-health-in-conflict-coalition-shcc-report/