Amanda Pedersen 1

February 6, 2017

6 Min Read
Most Qmed Readers Think Immigration Restrictions Will Hurt Innovation

When asked if U.S. immigration restrictions will impact medical innovation, 44% of Qmed readers said yes.

Amanda Pedersen

Last week Qmed published a story highlighting an Iranian researcher impacted by President Trump's executive order blocking citizens of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen from entering the United States for 90 days, even with a valid U.S. visa or green card.

Recognizing that this is a story with many different points of view, and that most medical device organizations Qmed contacted for the story, including AdvaMed, either declined to comment or were still trying to assess the impact of the order on employees and international business operations, we asked readers for input on the issue.

Here are the survey results:

Yes (the restrictions will impact innovation)

44.44%

No (the restrictions will not impact innovation)

28.89%

Only if the restrictions become permanent 

15.56%

It's too early to know

11.11%

Of the 45 respondents, 13 chose to further explain their answer. 

"It already has. Our [Canadian] universities are already offering refuge to those shut out by the ban. It will have long lasting effects on the image and desirability of U.S. locations. Canada will benefit as most scientists, medical researchers, and professors prefer a democracy. We are looking forward to many more immigrants here. Like the U.S., we haven't had any problems with researchers becoming terrorists, but unlike the U.S., we don't target people to raise fear so the public will support a fascist leader. Did Hitler's similar targeting of race help German science? I'll take Einstein thinking on this over Trump's."

"George Daley expresses it quite well. Scientists from around the world, even from countries outside the seven named in the current ban, will be reluctant to seek research opportunities in the United States for fear of these and potentially other actions that could negatively impact them. Also, even research institutions which seek out the best and brightest scientists from around the world, like Harvard, may be reluctant to work with individuals from countries listed in the ban. They won't want to risk their progress being compromised by a missing team member, no matter their opinions on the reason for the absence."

"Why don't you make a poster of U.S. citizens killed and maimed by radicals from the countries temporarily impacted? If you're becoming a political post then remove me from your mailing list."

"Regardless of whether the executive order stays in place or is permanently implemented or not, it sends a toxic message regarding American values and culture. Those who wish to legitimately come to the United States now have reason to question whether they will be welcomed, and those already here have reason to consider whether a future in the United States is an attractive life decision. And all certainly have reason for concern over the stability of American society and politics, and it's ability to prioritize reason and courage, over fear and ineffectiveness. I'm concerned that it will be the first phase in a coming brain drain. Citizens, business leaders, and politicians need to step up and protect real American values, not the reactionary ones coming from a frightened and misinformed electorate."

"The countries on the restricted lit are those that support or enable terrorist activities. People should just accept this and get over it. It seems like a lot of whining, mostly from academics who are being inconvenienced for a period of time."

"It is important to get the facts correct. Those with a valid U.S. visa or green card are not impacted. Do we have illegals doing important research? I don't know. This will all settle down and little will change. Let's not become part of the problem or start to restrict free speech in the mean time. The media is so biased it is hard to find the truth. Those unwilling to do the work to find it will likely continue to add to the problems."

For the record, Qmed's research identified multiple researchers and doctors with a valid U.S. visa who were directly impacted by the executive order. See the full text of the order President Trump signed on Jan. 27.

"First, this is a temporary ban in order to achieve a sound vetting system. Secondly, if we had a college system that fostered technical education rather than left-wing politics, we wouldn't need outside help for innovation."

"In addressing issues that might lead to major problems, one must be flexible and multidimensional in their thinking [rather] than be limited to one thought or one idea. In scientific research, with the aid of mathematics, big problems with multi variables are better understood and solved by separating the variables. I am amazed how the media and some folks think when they want it to sound their way rather than being more intellectual. One must realize that there is a much greater problem to address when discussing borders and immigrants, our national security. Our country and constitution are built on the principles of Christianity, love, and forgiveness. Some on the other side are taking advantage of our loving and forgiving spirit. We as Americans are expected to forgive those that terrorize us and let them into our homes. In my opinion, some of you came to this country as refugees and were given asylum by this great country. Now you have all kinds of issues against our president's new orders. He is doing it because he loves his country and its people. What he is doing should [have] been done years ago. If you don't like it, go back to where you came from." 

"Many medtech companies rely heavily on scientists and workers from around the world, including those from the 'banned' countries."

"You very dishonestly pick out the one scientist affected, 99.9% are day labor. You also don't mention the evil done by illegals. My car was wrecked during my evening commute by an illegal, so not talking about costs is dishonest."

"Take a look at the countries involved, they are war zones. The temporary suspension until they vet the vetting process will not have a major impact except for political protests against an unpopular leadership."

"We should take a closer look at all travel documents from countries that are suspected of terrorist activities. This may mean it takes longer for a particular individual to get travel documents. In the future, the traveler can plan for the additional delay. I do not think 'the ban' will eventually deny travelers with proper documentation of travel."

"One of my staff (UK national born in Iran) has just canceled a trip to present her PhD research at a major international orthopedics conference due to visa uncertainty. The breadth of knowledge shared at these events, held within the U.S., is immediately impacted."

Amanda Pedersen is Qmed's news editor. Reach her at [email protected]

[Image credit: Pixabay]

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