Fiona Stanley ‘ashamed’ after hospital bearing her name cancelled event featuring Palestinian Australian doctors

Prof Fiona Stanley says she thought of asking the Fremantle hospital to remove her name after the event was cancelled. ‘I mean, what do I stand for? I stand for humanity, particularly for children.’ Photograph: Tace Stevens/The Guardian

Distinguished epidemiologist Prof Fiona Stanley said she was “deeply sad” and “ashamed” after the Fremantle hospital that bears her name abruptly cancelled a 2024 event featuring Palestinian Australian doctors speaking about their experiences in Gaza, and even thought about telling the institution to remove her name.

Guardian Australia can reveal the Fiona Stanley hospital invited two Australian doctors with Palestinian heritage, Dr Lama Al Ramahi and Dr Mohammed Mustafa, to speak on the “profound challenges faced by medical professionals delivering health care in Gaza” in September 2024.