Really. A doctor said that. An obstetrician, in a
presentation entitled
href="http://www.abstinence.net/pdf/contentmgmt/EricKeroackPresentation2003.pdf">The
Neuroendocrine and Biochemical Basics of Human Sexuality: The Results
of Non-Marital Sexual Activity. [Note: the link
goes to a 7MB PDF.]
The author, Eric J. Keroack, M.D., F.A.C.O.G., gave the presentation on
June 27, 2003, for the National Abstinence Clearinghouse 2003
Conference.
He's in the news, as described by
href="http://www.upi.com/HealthBusiness/view.php?StoryID=20061117-074039-9953r">UPI:
...the Bush Administration came under fire for
appointing Eric Keroack to head the federal Office of Population
Affairs, which oversees the government's reproductive health efforts
and has a budget of $283 million. Keroack, an obstetrician and
gynecologist, was previously medical director of a Boston group that
opposes premarital sex, abortion and contraception.
Bush has called the appointment a matter of "principles" and stressed
Keroack's experience dealing with women and girls in crisis, but
opponents of the appointment say it is putting ideology before science
-- and women's health...
I won't belabor the point;
href="http://scienceblogs.com/aetiology/2006/11/the_war_on_womens_health_conti.php">Tara
and
href="http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2006/11/bad_science_its_okjust_put_him.php">PZ
are all over it, as is the rest of the reality-based Blogosphere.
(
href="http://nooneshome.blogspot.com/2006/11/very-reassuring.html">1
href="http://blondesense.blogspot.com/2006/11/fox-meet-henhouse.html">2
href="http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2006_11_01_digbysblog_archive.html#116380122527513480">3
href="http://alterdestiny.blogspot.com/2006/11/calling-margaret-sanger-could-margaret.html">4
href="http://melancholicfeminista.blogspot.com/2006/11/bush-appoints-abstinence-jack-ass-to.html">5
6
href="http://pacetua.blogspot.com/2006/11/there-they-go-again.html">7
href="http://akzidenzgrotes.vox.com/library/post/antibirth-control-crusader-as-national-family-planning-chief.html">8
href="http://skimble.blogspot.com/2006/11/poor-people-stop-fucking.html">9
href="http://www.tracyrusso.com/blog/2006/11/lets_talk_about_sex.html">10...there
are many more, but you get the point)
Opponents of abstinence-only programs often point out the lack of
scientific justification for the programs. Keroack counters
by spouting nonsense that sounds scientific.
But germ warfare? That's just plain idiotic.
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Wow. Idiotic, indeed. Thanks, doc, for bringing this nonsense to the light of day.
Wow. I immediately remembered that storyline on Farscape, where the Nebari infect their rebellious youth with STD viruses and then exile them, knowing they'll spread the disease among the Nebari's enemies... This isn't that, at least, but it's still pretty whacked.
This is classic pseudoscience. They lost the battle over whether or not people could protect themselves from STDs, so now they've backed up to inventing "psychological damage". They should just be honest and make their slogan:
Go f*ck yourself, its the only way to Stay Safe!
Just checked the ABMS website. There is no Erick Keroack listed, which means he is probably not even board certified.
I propose we invade every singles bar and frat house in the country to look for GMD (Genitals of Mass Destruction).
As somewhat of an aside, this has got to be one of the worst powerpoint presentations I have ever seen. Not necessarily due to its content, though that has its own issues. All those different sized fonts and colors and bold text, if you want a lot of smoke and mirrors and you want to really confuse your audience then this is the way to do it.