11 April 2025
The following letter describes just the sort of influence-peddling that academics and professionals must call out or resist.
9 April 2025
Hi all,
I am a psychiatrist in training from the Netherlands, Amsterdam.
We went to the EPA (European Psychiatric Association) conference in Madrid, where I found out TEVA [the Israeli pharmaceutical firm] was the platinum sponsor, being blatantly represented everywhere with stands, but also with industry hosted talks. That in itself is quite disgusting, the overt sponsoring [by] the pharmaceutical industry of this conference.
We decided to take action.
When confronting the organization with the non legality of taking our badges, they said we would be contacted. We knew from someone in the organization that they had meetings all day to discuss our action, the freedom of speech, and perhaps also their morality.
In the evening we received an email that we were allowed back in if we would sign an agreement stated that the EPA is an apolitical organization and that we wouldn’t further disturb the conference. We agreed but on the condition that we would have a dialogue with the organization. Outside we continued to spread leaflets about the complicity in the genocide by TEVA. Most people were thankful to know, and some recognized us and said it was a good action.
We met with the vice president Geert Dom, ceo Simone de Ioanna, and Valérie (we think head of administration). Geert Dom spoke and said he agreed with our analysis, but that it was complicated. He did not respond to the question of credibility because of the hypocrisy stating in the lectures that we should care, equality, and even some political points were raised, and on the other hand welcoming TEVA with open arms. Also the silencing they did to us, by taking away our badges was not answered. You could tell though that they agreed with us, also in the end encouraging us to keep up the fight, and also proceed with a formal route. It seemed our action really stirred up their conscience. They said to look into it further, that they did not know, and that their ethical procedures should be more tight perhaps.
What I would like is that this story gets as much coverage as possible. Do you have any ideas in how to do this? Also these conferences seem very much entangled in an unethical lobby, it would be great if this is further researched.
Looking forward to your responses!
Sincerely,
Phebe Kraanen
On behalf of Charlotte Koch, Ali Reza Sadeqi and Camille Bol
