The Stanford Daily: Stanford Medicine professor (José Montoya) fired for violating University rules of conduct (june 2019)

[Eagles]

The Stanford Daily: Stanford Medicine professor fired for violating University rules of conduct

https://www.stanforddaily.com/2019/...ed-for-violating-university-rules-of-conduct/

by Elena Shao — June 3, 2019

Jose Montoya, previously a professor at the Stanford University Medical Center, was “relieved of all University duties — clinical, research, or otherwise” on Thursday, May 30, according to an email sent that morning by Stanford Medicine’s Infectious Diseases Division Chief Upinder Singh to all division employees…

 

[adambeyoncelowe]

Oh dear.

 

[Kalliope]

Does anyone know anything more? This sounds pretty bad..

 

[Hoopoe]

Hard to believe. He always came across as warm and caring.

 

[chrisb]

One trusts that the University has plans for the continued management of their "ME/CFS Initiative". Or is the problem within the unit?

It is worrying how someone's name can be effectively blackened, when not even the charges are made public.

 

[TiredSam]

The email does not indicate which policies were violated, but references University policies that provide for the “fair and respectful treatment of employees” along with the School of Medicine’s Statement on the Respectful Workplace, the University’s Code of Conduct and “related policies prohibiting harassment and discrimination.”

So on that basis it doesn't look like he's been accused of scientific misconduct, but another kind of matter.

ETA:

It is worrying how someone's name can be effectively blackened, when not even the charges are made public.

Looks like it's well beyond the charges stage, the investigation has been completed and a decision made.

 

[Trish]

Given that the situation is likely to involve individuals whose privacy needs to be protected, I think we need to avoid speculating about reasons.

It is sad to see this. I hope the work on ME will continue.

 

[Hoopoe]

I would like to know if it had anything to do with his views on ME/CFS. It could be a point of personal conflict.

 

[ME/CFS Skeptic]

Very sad news.

 

[chrisb]

Does anyone know what sort of funds the ME/CFS Initiative had, and the extent to which these were at Montoya's discretion. As he will be unable to continue his lines of research will they automatically cease? It looks as if he "was" the unit and it is hard to see how it could continue in his absence. What happens to any reserves of funds, do they revert to the donors, or are they applied to other work?

 

[EzzieD]

Hard to believe. He always came across as warm and caring.

That's the impression I had of him too. Am truly shocked and saddened. Hopefully there will be more of an explanation soon.

 

[Barry]

That's the impression I had of him too. Am truly shocked and saddened. Hopefully there will be more of an explanation soon.

There may not be. As @Trish says, there will likely be other individual(s) privacy concerns to consider.

 

[JES]

I wonder if there is some curse on ME/CFS. Not only can't it be treated, but once we manage to get a researcher working in the field, they will run in trouble either by their own or through circumstances. First the Mikovits debacle, the Lipkin lawsuit, now this... If I was a believer in conspiracy theories, I'd be inclined to think some higher instance or power controlling our universe has made it clear they don't want ME/CFS cured.

 

[TiredSam]

I wonder if there is some curse on ME/CFS.

Blimey, looks like we'll have to add "find out how to break a curse" to our list of things to do. One for EC perhaps if she feels like doing something useful for a change.

 

[Chezboo]

I wonder if there is some curse on ME/CFS.

Normally I might consider myself to be a bit paranoid, so you know, situation normal.

 

[Sunshine3]

At least it's not Dr. Davis, Hanson or Derya Utumaz....

 

[duncan]

At least it's not Dr. Davis, Hanson or Derya Utumaz....

It's still early, although I've been told it's later than I think.

 

[petrichor]

This is extremely unexpected

 

[Ron]

At least it's not Dr. Davis, Hanson or Derya Utumaz....

He had three research papers due out. I've been seeing Dr. Montoya the last seven years. This is a big loss.

 

[Sunshine3]

He had three research papers due out. I've been seeing Dr. Montoya the last seven years. This is a big fucking loss.

Well surely someone else can step in, there has to be more than him in his lab. He's hardly a total lone wolf. I'm hoping someone will be able to publish his papers. But then what do I know either... Just hoping.