The January 21 issue contained a strange piece of journalism indeed. An article prominently placed on page two highlighted a public controversy over comments by Dr. Sally Satel about the Surgeon General’s report on mental health, comments that were originally published in an opinion piece in the New York Times.

Psychiatric News summarized Dr. Satel’s opinion and then quoted no fewer than six prominent psychiatrists, including APA President Allan Tasman, who sharply criticized her for minimizing the needs of the mentally ill. Dr. Satel’s own response to these criticisms was relegated to the last paragraph.

One might dispute Dr. Satel’s views, and APA may wish to dissociate itself from them. However, when our official newspaper presents the membership with "news" that a colleague who expressed objectionable ideas in print is being publicly chastised by her peers and by APA spokespersons, this comes dangerously close to organizational censorship of free speech.

David Ness, M.D.

Allison Park, Pa.