Medical Resident at University of Ottawa suspended for pro-Palestine posts sparks controversy and criticism

The University of Ottawa has faced criticism for suspending a medical resident over his pro-Palestinian views shared on social media. Dr. Yipeng Ge, a fourth-year resident in public health and preventive medicine, has been reposting information on Twitter since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7th. A joint Instagram post by journalist Shaun King and a page called Hidden Palestine claimed that Ge was suspended from his residency without warning. The post also alleged that the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Medicine abused its authority and intimidated residents and students through censorship. It called for an investigation into professor Dr. Yoni Freedhoff. Freedhoff, an associate professor of family medicine at the university, accused Ge of antisemitism in a blog post published on November 2nd. It is believed that Ge was suspended shortly after the blog post was released. In response to his suspension, a petition was created to reinstate him and launch an inquiry into the program. The petition also demands an apology from the University of Ottawa for failing to engage in due process and denying students their right to free expression. It calls for the university to protect Ge from further harassment and hold Freedhoff accountable for his alleged actions. The petition has received over 28,000 signatures so far. The University of Ottawa has faced backlash on social media, with many users criticizing the suspension and highlighting Ge’s advocacy for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict. Yahoo Canada has reached out to Ge and the university for comment.