PLEASE REPOST AND SHARE WIDELY
(A copy of this message is being sent to the UK's premier queer activist, Peter Tatchell. If anyone across the pond can exert some influence over this UK medical guide, he can.
peter@tatchell.freeserve.co.uk )
http://www.mpetrelis.blogspot.com/
December 18, 2004
GPnotebook.co.uk
c/o Dr Damian C. Crowther
The Cambridge Institute for Medical Research
Hills Road
Cambridge, UK, CB2 2XY
Dear Dr. Crowther:
Your advice to general practioners in the United Kingdom regarding the fictious "gay bowel syndrome" must not be allowed to stand unchallenged.
To the point, this supposed medical syndrome was debunked decades ago and unfortunately still shows up in otherwise respectable medical journals, including your GP Notebook.
I ask that you forthwith remove the listing in the GP Notebook for "gay bowel syndrome." Frankly, anything less smacks of homophobic quackery.
An apology to the gay male community would also be most welcomed and appreciated.
Below are the link to the offensive GP Notebook listing, the text of the listing, and a story from 2001 about a Canadian medical society correcting its textbook regarding "gay bowel syndrome."
I look forward to prompt action on your part to remove "gay bowel syndrome" from your GP Notebook and issue an apology over its inclusion in your textbook.
Sincrely,
Michael Petrelis
San Francisco, CA
MPetrelis@aol.com
Ph: 1-415-621-6267
-
http://www.gayhealth.com/templates/1103405738716761071234/news?record=512&trycookie=1
‘Gay Bowel Syndrome’ Struck from Textbook
by Jon Garbo
Monday, April 16th 2001
A gay activist scored a victory against the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology (CAG), which last month deleted any reference to "gay bowel syndrome" from its medical textbook, the Southern Voice reported on April 12. The authors used the syndrome to describe a parasitic infection of the intestines that is prevalent among gay men who engage in anal-oral contact (rimming). However, the infection is by no means exclusive to gay men.
It is very much a defamation to say ‘gay bowel syndrome,’ when what they’re really talking about is parasites," said activist Michael Petrelis, who discovered the textbook entry. "It just seems so wacky and outrageous that in 2001 these educated medical people are still believing that ‘gay bowel syndrome’ exists."
"Gay bowel syndrome" is an outdated term from the 1980’s that appeared accidentally in the textbook, First Principles of Gastroenterology: The Basis of Disease and An Approach to Management,according to a CAG official. "It slipped into this [edition] purely by accident," said Dr. Eldon Shaffer, head of the Department of Medicine at the University of Calgary and the textbook’s co-author. "I didn’t even know it was still in there; I had to find it… It’s gone."
While gay men may be more at risk than heterosexual men for the parasites, it’s still harmful to label the condition as a gay one, agreed Gay Men’s Health Crisis’ communications manager, Marty Algaze. "Sickle cell anemia is primarily seen in African Americans, but would you call it African American anemia? People would never accept that," he said.
-
http://www.gpnotebook.co.uk/cache/-603586526.htm
and
http://www.gpnotebook.co.uk/simplepage.cfm?ID=-603586526
gay bowel syndrome
This term refers to a collection of sexually transmitted enteric infections in HIV infected homosexuals.
The infective organisms include: Shigella, Giardia, Campylobacter-like organisms, Entamoeba, Chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis.
The information provided herein should not be used for diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Copyright 2003 Oxbridge Solutions Ltd®. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions Ltd® is an independent company owned by the authors which does not receive income from any other organisation or individual.
(A copy of this message is being sent to the UK's premier queer activist, Peter Tatchell. If anyone across the pond can exert some influence over this UK medical guide, he can.
peter@tatchell.freeserve.co.uk ) http://www.mpetrelis.blogspot.com/ December 18, 2004
GPnotebook.co.uk
c/o Dr Damian C. Crowther
The Cambridge Institute for Medical Research
Hills Road
Cambridge, UK, CB2 2XY
Dear Dr. Crowther:
Your advice to general practioners in the United Kingdom regarding the fictious "gay bowel syndrome" must not be allowed to stand unchallenged.
To the point, this supposed medical syndrome was debunked decades ago and unfortunately still shows up in otherwise respectable medical journals, including your GP Notebook.
I ask that you forthwith remove the listing in the GP Notebook for "gay bowel syndrome." Frankly, anything less smacks of homophobic quackery.
An apology to the gay male community would also be most welcomed and appreciated.
Below are the link to the offensive GP Notebook listing, the text of the listing, and a story from 2001 about a Canadian medical society correcting its textbook regarding "gay bowel syndrome."
I look forward to prompt action on your part to remove "gay bowel syndrome" from your GP Notebook and issue an apology over its inclusion in your textbook.
Sincrely,
Michael Petrelis
San Francisco, CA
MPetrelis@aol.com Ph: 1-415-621-6267
-
http://www.gayhealth.com/templates/1103405738716761071234/news?record=512&trycookie=1 ‘Gay Bowel Syndrome’ Struck from Textbook
by Jon Garbo
Monday, April 16th 2001
A gay activist scored a victory against the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology (CAG), which last month deleted any reference to "gay bowel syndrome" from its medical textbook, the Southern Voice reported on April 12. The authors used the syndrome to describe a parasitic infection of the intestines that is prevalent among gay men who engage in anal-oral contact (rimming). However, the infection is by no means exclusive to gay men.
It is very much a defamation to say ‘gay bowel syndrome,’ when what they’re really talking about is parasites," said activist Michael Petrelis, who discovered the textbook entry. "It just seems so wacky and outrageous that in 2001 these educated medical people are still believing that ‘gay bowel syndrome’ exists."
"Gay bowel syndrome" is an outdated term from the 1980’s that appeared accidentally in the textbook, First Principles of Gastroenterology: The Basis of Disease and An Approach to Management,according to a CAG official. "It slipped into this [edition] purely by accident," said Dr. Eldon Shaffer, head of the Department of Medicine at the University of Calgary and the textbook’s co-author. "I didn’t even know it was still in there; I had to find it… It’s gone."
While gay men may be more at risk than heterosexual men for the parasites, it’s still harmful to label the condition as a gay one, agreed Gay Men’s Health Crisis’ communications manager, Marty Algaze. "Sickle cell anemia is primarily seen in African Americans, but would you call it African American anemia? People would never accept that," he said.
-
http://www.gpnotebook.co.uk/cache/-603586526.htm and
http://www.gpnotebook.co.uk/simplepage.cfm?ID=-603586526 gay bowel syndrome
This term refers to a collection of sexually transmitted enteric infections in HIV infected homosexuals.
The infective organisms include: Shigella, Giardia, Campylobacter-like organisms, Entamoeba, Chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis.
The information provided herein should not be used for diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Copyright 2003 Oxbridge Solutions Ltd®. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions Ltd® is an independent company owned by the authors which does not receive income from any other organisation or individual.
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Comments
Hide the following 8 comments
typical
19.12.2004 10:47
LocalGP
Typical?
19.12.2004 17:51
The above comment states that "It is a dangerous lifestyle and renaming conditions won't change that!" Presumably Local GP is in favour of labelling medical conditions as 'gay' to protect all those young men who might be contaminated with homosexuality if they're aren't made aware of the risks of that 'lifestyle'. What narrow minded, intolerant bullshit.
Perhaps if it wasn't for such draconian attitudes we could have decent sex education for all and lower the numbers sexually transmitted infections among people of all sexual orientations.
If the above contributer really is a working Doctor, it just goes to show how far we still have to go to rid society of institutional homophobia.
Poon
The NHS
19.12.2004 19:55
Michael Petrelis
e-mail:
mpetrelis@aol.com
Homepage:
http://www.mpetrelis.blogspot.com
BMA
19.12.2004 20:22
I doubt that "LocalGP" is a practicing medical doctor. The British Medical Association is a broadly progressive organisation which takes a dim view of the damage caused by anti-gay quackery. (And, I might add, a robust critic of neoliberal economic policy in healthcare). The Association has recently been looking at the relationship between gay people and the medical profession in a comprehensive report which was published in November.
One can only assume - for it is notably without references - that the medical evidence "LocalGP" cites to allege that homosexuals die earlier than heterosexuals is the now discredited theses by Dr Paul Cameron, an American physician who was found to have falsified and fabricated his evidence in order to promote his case. He was later found to be in the employ of the extreme right and struck off for gross malpractice, although the false reportage does occasionally still get quoted by less sophistiacted anti-gay campaigners.
More on Cameron is at www.exgaywatch.com , which keeps a regularly updated analysis of those groups who claim that gays are disordered.
Indpendent Left
Clarification and Correction
21.12.2004 00:52
As for the reference to anal sex (only 7 inches?) it is of course worth pointing out that significant numbers of heterosexual couples enjoy this, and conversely, a lot of gay men don't.
Yuletide Greetings
Caz
P.S. I believe there's a Queer Pagan Group which is an affiliate of the Pagan Federation but I'm not sure what their web address is. It might be listed in Pagan Dawn, Kindred Spirit or similar magazines that you can find stocked in most alternative bookstores.
Indpendent Left
NB
21.12.2004 05:35
Gay Lad
Update
21.12.2004 20:12
December 20, 2004
GPnotebook.co.uk
c/o Dr Damian C. Crowther
The Cambridge Institute for Medical Research
Hills Road
Cambridge, UK, CB2 2XY
Dear Dr. Crowther:
I see that you've posted the following note on your web site about "gay bowel syndrome:"
>>This was a term that was previously used to refer to a collection of sexually transmitted enteric infections in HIV infected homosexuals (1)
>>The infective organisms included in this "syndrome": Shigella, Giardia, Campylobacter-like organisms, Entamoeba, Chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis.
>>Note however that although that "...Through analysis of biomedical discourse and popular media, it is apparent that Gay Bowel Syndrome is an essentialized category of difference that is neither gay-specific, confined to the bowel, nor a syndrome.." (2). Thus its inclusion as a term in GPnotebook is really as a means of pointing out that the syndrome is not a valid clinical or diagnostic entity. (Source:
While the note is a step in the right direction, I still question why the GP Notebook includes any reference to what you yourselves acknowledge is not specific to gay men, confined to the bowel and not a syndrome.
Since this alleged syndrome is not a valid medical condition, why mention it at all?
Again, I ask you to remove "gay bowel syndrome" from the GP Notebook.
Sincerely,
Michael Petrelis
San Francisco, CA, USA
Ph: 415-621-6267
Michael Petrelis
e-mail:
mpetrelis@aol.com
Update
21.12.2004 20:14
December 20, 2004
GPnotebook.co.uk
c/o Dr Damian C. Crowther
The Cambridge Institute for Medical Research
Hills Road
Cambridge, UK, CB2 2XY
Dear Dr. Crowther:
I see that you've posted the following note on your web site about "gay bowel syndrome:"
>>This was a term that was previously used to refer to a collection of sexually transmitted enteric infections in HIV infected homosexuals (1)
>>The infective organisms included in this "syndrome": Shigella, Giardia, Campylobacter-like organisms, Entamoeba, Chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis.
>>Note however that although that "...Through analysis of biomedical discourse and popular media, it is apparent that Gay Bowel Syndrome is an essentialized category of difference that is neither gay-specific, confined to the bowel, nor a syndrome.." (2). Thus its inclusion as a term in GPnotebook is really as a means of pointing out that the syndrome is not a valid clinical or diagnostic entity. (Source:
While the note is a step in the right direction, I still question why the GP Notebook includes any reference to what you yourselves acknowledge is not specific to gay men, confined to the bowel and not a syndrome.
Since this alleged syndrome is not a valid medical condition, why mention it at all?
Again, I ask you to remove "gay bowel syndrome" from the GP Notebook.
Sincerely,
Michael Petrelis
San Francisco, CA, USA
Ph: 415-621-6267
Michael Petrelis
e-mail:
mpetrelis@aol.com