Dr. Greenfield doesn't deserve fallout over tongue-in-cheek remark in medical journal editorial
Though I am not a surgeon, I am in a unique position to comment on the recent events concerning Dr. Lazar Greenfield. My husband is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons who has worked for Dr. Greenfield at two different universities, and we have been privileged to know the Greenfields on a personal level. Over 25 years ago, they reached out with hospitality to this lonely young professional couple who had moved across the country from family and friends.
Over the years of Dr. Greenfield’s chairmanship in the Department of Surgery at University of Michigan, we saw the proportion of women residents and staff steadily rising. He had the reputation of running a female friendly program before that was the case in most other departments. He and his wife continued their tradition of hospitality with staff and trainees. He was a stellar leader and perfect gentleman who was ahead of his peers in recognizing the contribution women had to make in the field of medicine and surgery in particular.
Therefore, I am totally baffled and saddened by the recent decisions made by the American College of Surgeons. Whatever politics are behind these events don’t justify the end results.
Surely there have been many male surgeons who have misbehaved toward women over the years, and I even got a taste of that during my own medical school experience. But, that has been changing with people like Dr. Greenfield at the forefront of the movement.
So, to force him out of his American College of Surgeons positions after a tongue-in-cheek comment over some quirky studies (which he apologized for) just does not make sense. If a statement was being made against the old guard misogynist surgeon, you got the wrong guy!
Jane M. Carnahan, M.D.
Ann Arbor
Comments
BhavanaJagat
Sun, Apr 24, 2011 : 3:11 a.m.
This issue may gained attention as some people may have viewed it as a sexist comment. Apparently, that is not the case. To perform any kind of surgical procedure, the surgeon follows the principle of asepsis and would properly prepare himself/herself, prepare the patient, prepare the site, and use sterile instruments and equipment to perform the procedure in a room that has been prepared to protect the patient from exposure to infectious agents. Preventing infection is a fundamental practice and there is no success without asepsis. How could a surgeon forget about preventing transmission of infectious agents during unprotected sex? Even people in well established relationship must be truthful to each other and observe proper precautions as needed. The Catholic Church has most recently agreed that men may use condomes. A responsible surgeon would have cautioned his readers to be careful about reading the cited research work and would have educated them to use condome and avoid the anxiety and depression that may result from unprotected sex. The College has acted in a judicious manner.
BhavanaJagat
Sun, Apr 24, 2011 : 4:16 p.m.
I am sorry for the errors in spelling in the above post. I read this story and my concern is not about the Surgeon's views or attitude that may have been interpreted as sexist. I am concerned about the application of the Principles of Surgery in daily life to enhance the quality of life. Sexual activity often traumatizes the female urethra and leads to pain and increased frequency of passing urine. This condition is described as Honeymoon Cystitis. A surgical examination of vagina, or rectum requires precautions and preparations and the instruments that are used for such examination must be sterile. This Surgical Principle should be applied while engaging in sexual activity. A Surgeon must speak about the Principles of Sex Hygiene and not about unproved biochemical effect of seminal fluid.
ViSHa
Sun, Apr 24, 2011 : 4:19 a.m.
do you understand that this was printed in the ACS newspaper and not a medical journal? it was a tongue-in-cheek article, not an academic paper accepted by the journal. your post is confusing.
joe.blow
Sun, Apr 24, 2011 : 2:26 a.m.
They deleted my comment for bashing this P.C. world. I hate liberal newspapers.
A2MOMof5
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 10:58 p.m.
Dr. Greenfield is a brilliant surgeon, and has a very dry wit type of sense of humor. Those that find his article offensive are just looking for something to gripe about. Instead of concentrating on something he said as a side note, look at what he has accomplished during his lifetime. Amazing work! Feminists? These women are just angry underlings using this situation to get ahead. They should be ashamed of themselves. I back Dr. Greenfield 100%. Freedom of speech is EVERYONES' right. Ladies if you cannot play with the big guns, go home and get out of my way. As a woman I do not need to cry foul on every man that says something about women. I can make it on my own merit. Try it ladies!
Will Warner
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 : 9:28 p.m.
It was ridiculous that Dr. Greenfield was made to walk the plank over this. Unfortunately, the good doctor ran afoul of Stalinist Feminist doctrine. In that realm, apologies don't cut it. Nowadays, the mere mention of S-E-X in the workplace creates a hostile work environment, which is taken as one of the forms of sexual harassment. Moreover, his suggestion that semen is a mood enhancer for woman would be seen as yet another attempt to define women in terms of men. Is he saying a woman needs a man to be happy? Worse, is he saying that a woman needs sex—with a man—to be happy? I used to be a feminist, when I thought feminism held that women are strong, smart, capable, independent, and self-reliant, but I found out that feminism views women as helpless victims in constant need of special protection.