Do You Believe In Conspiracies?

I started this year by making a commitment to more consistent writing so I can continue to add value as much as I can and also create new connections with Interventional Radiologists and future Interventional Radiologists. In an effort to put my money where my mouth is, I decided to remove anonymity and attach my name to this website. 

For the most part, no one cared, which is what I suspected all along. I’ve sort of developed a little reputation as being somewhat “counter-culture” in IR. I’m sure my prior SIR Connect posts or my criticism of academic radiology have fueled this. My distaste for traditional IR/DR group politics and hospital arrangements are certainly public. I was an early convert to the OBL setting and have since moved on to solo practice with locums work in both hospital and OBL settings. I’m no IR wizard or genius, but I know I provide good care and love what I do. The truth of the matter is there are a lot of early career IRs just like me, but very few who are willing to publicly talk about it. 

I’ve been especially vocal about the presence of pseudoexclusive contracts which I have written about previously. Recently on Twitter, I made some comments about my frustration with the Society of Interventional Radiology and their lack of action with respect to pseudoexclusvie contracts. They have always stayed out of this claiming that they are here to serve all IRs, regardless of the setting they choose to practice in. Of course, conveniently ignoring the fact that for many of us, we don’t really have a choice because pseudoexclusive contracts can make it nearly impossible to strike out on your own. 

At the same time, the society has supported a vision for “Clinical IR,” with changes in the residency training program which were much needed. Yet despite the fact that they are vocally all-in on a new future for our specialty, by being on the fence about pseudoexclusive contract they have not done the one thing that is needed for our field to really advance. 

So I called them out on it, just like others before me have called them out. Only this time I did in the best way I know how, which is on Twitter where I have a small following. 

I tagged the SIR account and stated my opinion in a polite fashion merely stating that the lack of action on pseudoexclusive contracts harms our field more than the threat of vascular surgeons or interventional cardiologists “stealing” our cases. 

My Twitter account was permanently suspended the next day. I really don’t use Twitter for any other purpose other than IR and some financial content. My interactions are professional and I believe reflect who I am. 

My SIR membership is still active. I paid my membership dues on time. I still give generously to SIRPAC every month. I have purchased educational content from the society. I believe in the mission of our society even though their lack of action on the pseudoexclusive contract really bothers me and they have done very little to support the independent IR. 

Yet here we are with my Twitter account being suspended after I made some public comments directed at the society account. Do you believe in conspiracies?