Slovenian Doctors' Initiative

The Slovenian Doctors' Initiative (Slovene: Iniciativa slovenskih zdravnikov) is a controversial online group of Slovenian doctors that has operated since autumn 2020. It maintains a website at slovenskizdravniki.si, where it publishes articles and video content on health topics, including material that spreads misleading information about COVID-19, opposes vaccination, the use of masks and other pandemic measures, and in some cases denies the existence of the virus. The group presents itself as a body of Slovenian doctors who wish to preserve the reputation and practice of their profession at a high ethical, moral and professional level, in accordance with the Code of Medical Ethics and the Helsinki and Geneva declarations, and states that its first concern is people's health. In early November 2021, members of the Initiative published an open letter calling for the immediate suspension of COVID-19 vaccination of children and adolescents in Slovenia, citing 11 misleading reasons. The letter drew significant opposition from other Slovenian doctors. A petition against their positions gathered more than 2,500 signatures from doctors by 20 November 2021 and was supported by the Medical Chamber of Slovenia (Zdravniška zbornica Slovenije). The Commission for Medical Ethics assessed the Initiative's call to halt vaccination of children and adolescents against COVID-19 as unethical. Members mentioned in connection with the Initiative include trauma surgeon Uroš Dobnikar, general practitioner Matjaž Figelj, general practitioner Jana Harej Figelj, psychiatrist Biserka Ilin, dentist Gregor Knafelc, homeopathic doctor Živan Krevel, surgeon Marko Novak, anaesthesiologist, resuscitation specialist and perioperative intensive care physician Tatjana Pfeifer, specialist in general and emergency medicine Sebastijan Piberl, gynaecologist and obstetrician Stanko Pušenjak, and gynaecologist Sabina Senčar. All of those named are also among the co-signatories of the Initiative's open letter on the immediate cessation of COVID-19 vaccination of children and adolescents. The Initiative's website features content such as articles and videos on current health topics, including pieces questioning the WHO's "pandemic treaty" and changes to the International Health Regulations, a tribute to Vladimir Pirnat, and material asking whether British Columbia (Canada) is a testing ground for the introduction of medical dictatorship, as well as a death toll balance from the pandemic. The group remains active online and continues to publish material on its website.

The Slovenian Doctors' Initiative (Iniciativa slovenskih zdravnikov) emerged as an online group of Slovenian doctors in autumn 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. It operates a website at slovenskizdravniki.si, where it publishes articles and video content on health topics. The group's output has included material that spreads misleading information about COVID-19, opposes vaccination, the use of masks and other pandemic measures, and in some cases denies the existence of the virus. On its website, the Initiative describes itself as a group of Slovenian doctors who wish to maintain the reputation and practice of their profession at a high ethical, moral and professional level, in accordance with the Code of Medical Ethics and the Helsinki and Geneva declarations, and states that its first concern is people's health. In early November 2021, members of the Initiative published an open letter calling for the immediate suspension of COVID-19 vaccination of children and adolescents in Slovenia, citing 11 misleading reasons. The letter provoked a strong reaction from the wider Slovenian medical community. Numerous other Slovenian doctors distanced themselves from the Initiative, including by signing a petition against its positions; by 20 November 2021 the petition had been signed by more than 2,500 doctors and was supported by the Medical Chamber of Slovenia (Zdravniška zbornica Slovenije). The Commission for Medical Ethics assessed the Initiative's call to halt vaccination of children and adolescents against COVID-19 as unethical. Members mentioned in connection with the Initiative include trauma surgeon Uroš Dobnikar, general practitioner Matjaž Figelj, general practitioner Jana Harej Figelj, psychiatrist Biserka Ilin, dentist Gregor Knafelc, homeopathic doctor Živan Krevel, surgeon Marko Novak, anaesthesiologist, resuscitation specialist and perioperative intensive care physician Tatjana Pfeifer, specialist in general and emergency medicine Sebastijan Piberl, gynaecologist and obstetrician Stanko Pušenjak, and gynaecologist Sabina Senčar. All of those named are also among the co-signatories of the Initiative's open letter on the immediate cessation of COVID-19 vaccination of children and adolescents. The Initiative's website has featured content such as articles and videos on current health topics, including pieces questioning the WHO's "pandemic treaty" and changes to the International Health Regulations, a tribute to Vladimir Pirnat, and material asking whether British Columbia (Canada) is a testing ground for the introduction of medical dictatorship, as well as a death toll balance from the pandemic. The group remains active online and continues to publish material on its website.

• The Slovenian Doctors' Initiative begins operating online in autumn 2020.

• In early November 2021, members publish an open letter calling for the immediate suspension of COVID-19 vaccination of children and adolescents in Slovenia, citing 11 misleading reasons.

• By 20 November 2021, a petition against the Initiative's positions has been signed by more than 2,500 doctors and is supported by the Medical Chamber of Slovenia.

• The Commission for Medical Ethics assesses the Initiative's call to halt vaccination of children and adolescents against COVID-19 as unethical.

Self-described as a group of Slovenian doctors upholding medical ethics; widely regarded by other Slovenian medical professionals and institutions as spreading misleading COVID-19 information and opposing public health measures.

1. 1Iniciativa slovenskih zdravnikov o aktualnih zdravstvenih temah.slovenskizdravniki.si
2. 2Slovenian Doctors' Initiativewikidata.org
3. 3Iniciativa slovenskih zdravnikovsl.wikipedia.org