Dear Editor:
Your April 28, 2020, editorial, “We Are Guilty,” serves as an important reminder that the scourge of opioid addiction has continued for many years and will remain a vexing problem for years to come. To bring our attention back to the myriad issues concerning opioids at a time when the world is so intently focused on the coronavirus is a daunting task.
The description of the coronavirus as the “Chinese invader,” though, is unnecessarily provocative and distracts from the many important issues around opioid prescription and abuse that you discuss. Unfortunately, the coronavirus pandemic has been politicized, and it would be unfortunate if the highly respected Sports Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach contributed to that politicization.
Consequently, I respectfully request that the term “Chinese invader” be removed from your editorial.
Yours truly,
—Freddie H. Fu, MD, DSc (Hon), DPs (Hon)
Distinguished Service Professor
David Silver Professor and Chair, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Head Team Physician, Department of Athletics
University of PittsburghPast President AOSSM (2008-2009)