The ESUR Board strongly believes that freedom of speech by scientists is crucially important for the advancement of knowledge. It is expected that scientists should be able to express their opinions and observations freely to their peers to stimulate discussion and debates, even on topics which might be difficult and contentious. The main objective of such endeavours is improving the quality of patients´ care and safety. This should be conducted openly, with greatest integrity and without any external pressures. Fear of litigation by commercial organizations would damage important research and scientific debates. We believe that controversial opinions are integral part of scientific-based discussions and are crucial for achieving high quality of patients´ care.