First, do no harm

October 10, 2023

Dear Members of the HMS Community:

Last night you received an email from University leadership, which I co-signed, decrying the Hamas attack against Israeli civilians. This morning, President Gay released a follow-on statement that explicitly condemned the terrorist atrocities perpetrated by Hamas, and furthermore clarified that no student groups speak for the University or its leadership.

I am most inclined to issue public statements about world events when they directly bear on members of our community, and on the mission of Harvard Medical School as a community committed to alleviating suffering and advancing human health and well-being for all. I fully concur with President Gay’s statement.

This war — any war — is a tragedy of momentous proportions. As a medical institution, we must condemn, in no uncertain terms, terrorist attacks, war, violence, the targeting of civilians and taking of hostages, and the widespread death and destruction that we are witnessing. A widely accepted ethical principle of medicine is primum non nocere: “first, do no harm.” Violent human conflicts are anathema for communities of healers, like ours.

Many members of our community are reeling from the trauma of the weekend, and some have family members who were killed, injured, or are in danger. I know many of you are outraged and fearful; personally, so am I. As an institution, Harvard Medical School must condemn the current violence and advocate for a return to negotiations to address the long-standing conflict. We must remain true to our mission, community values, and diversity statement, particularly our value of diversity and respect for one another as we search for a way forward.

If you are struggling with this news, I hope you will consider accessing the following University resources and supports:

Please take care of yourselves and each other.

Sincerely,

George Q. Daley
Dean of the Faculty of Medicine
Harvard University