Retired U-M professor resigns American College of Surgeons post over editorial called sexist
A prominent University of Michigan surgery professor has resigned his position as president-elect of the American College of Surgeons following a controversial Valentine's Day editorial he wrote that suggested semen is a mood enhancer for women.
Members of the organization learned of the resignation of Lazar Greenfield on Sunday in an alert from the chairman of the organization's Board of Regents.
Lazar Greenfield
U-M photo
The editorial Greenfield wrote in Surgery News cited research suggesting women who had had unprotected sex were less depressed than those whose partners used condoms, and speculate that compounds in semen have antidepressant effects, The New York Times reported.
“So there’s a deeper bond between men and women than St. Valentine would have suspected, and now we know there’s a better gift for that day than chocolates,” Greenfield wrote in concluding his editorial.
The University of Michigan Health System released a statement Sunday affirming its commitment to an environment that fosters respect for all regardless of gender or race:
"Our Medical School graduated its first woman physician in 1871. Today, women make up half of all U-M medical students, and a large percentage of our Medical School faculty.Recent events have brought attention to a gender-related issue raised in an editorial by a longstanding member of our faculty. Although this issue has arisen relative to his role in a national professional society, and not his role at UMHS, we are taking this opportunity to make clear our commitment to a supportive and inclusive environment."
Greenfield is a professor of surgery at the University of Michigan Medical School, according to the U-M online directory.
Greenfield is best known in his field for developing a device that bears his name to prevent blood clots in the lung, according to his biography on the University of Michigan website. He is recognized nationally and internationally as an expert in vascular surgery.
Comments
REBBAPRAGADA
Wed, Apr 20, 2011 : 5:43 p.m.
The problem is that of a Vascular Surgeon writing an editorial opinion on behalf of American College of Surgeons in an area where he lacks clinical experience. In my Clinical Practice of Medicine in India, women often reported either anxiety or depression after the experience of unprotected conjugal activity. It depends upon the psychological expectation of pregnancy after unprotected sex. Young married women who are eager to conceive soon after their marriage feel very disappointed if conception does not occur as per their expectation. The frustration and anxiety often causes Clinical Depression if they continue remain sterile after a few years of married life. They seek help and medical intervention for problems of Depression. As Family Planning became more popular, and prior to the availability of post-coital contraception, young couple often seek help to postpone pregnancy after unprotected sex and they usually express anxiety about unwanted pregnancy. I doubt the validity of the research study and apparently it did not involve Physicians who made independent evaluation of the research subjects to make a clinical diagnosis of depression or absence of depression. To comment upon such unsubstantiated study is irresponsible and most certainly it can not be equated to eating Chocolate.
free form
Tue, Apr 19, 2011 : 11 p.m.
Oi vey. I read the first aa.com story on this controversy. I read the NYT article. I read the original editorial. I'm not reading the actual scientific journal because it is irrelevant to the case. I still don't get it. I can't believe that a well respected surgeon would be subjected to such extreme pressure that he would be forced to resign over THIS? Seriously? It was an editorial. He was stating an opinion, not stating a scientific fact. And for the love of St. Valentine, it was supposed to be a joke! It's sad that the cry babies of the world have ruined the fun for everyone. Sorry, Dr. Greenfield!
Heidi Salter-Ferris
Tue, Apr 19, 2011 : 4:19 p.m.
I am a local female attorney and business owner and have always considered myself a "feminist". However, I feel that Dr. Greenfield has been treated very unfairly. I know exactly what he meant when he wrote that editorial and do not feel he was attempting to be sexist. As a physician/surgeon writing to other surgeons, it appeared to me he was writing from a biological perspective, not a social one. But it is social criticism he received. In fact, I heard a radio talk show host, Dr. Laura Berman, reference the same thing on her show just last week (Oprah satellite radio). Dr. Berman said that men and women react differently to sex because women receive the hormone oxytocin which binds the female to the male. She was making the point that casual sex ends up being much more hurtful for women than men because of the natural bonding process they feel with the oxytocin release. Dr. Greenfield made the same point in a slightly different contex as Dr. Berman, however I doubt she received the same if any of the criticism he did. I would surmise the reaction Dr. Greenfield received from women surgeons was a reflection of how women are treated generally in surgical practice, and this was an outlet for them. I have been hearing about sexism in surgery circles ever since my sister was a medical student many decades ago. This problem should be addressed head on, but Dr. Greenfield's editorial shouldn't have been the sacrificial lamb for it. Dr. Greenfield has a history of supporting women professionals, not degrading them. Certainly, it isn't right that our society still allows sexisim to exist in certain areas. However, as a woman I do not think we should be quick to send someone to the gallows without giving them the benefit of their true intentions. Dr. Greenfield was making a biological point and tried to add humor for Valentine's Day. He should not be crucified for it in the name of sexism that exists elsewhere. Heidi Salter-Ferris
Dog Guy
Tue, Apr 19, 2011 : 2:45 p.m.
What happened to the feminists? They heard about the man-eating sharks, so they went swimming.
REBBAPRAGADA
Tue, Apr 19, 2011 : 2:23 p.m.
Thanks for publishing this story. The issue is not that of political correctness. This is about an editorial published in Surgery News and it reflects upon the institution called American College of Surgeons. The problem is not that of research about effects of semen. The issue involves the inferential statement about that research. The view shared by the Surgeon would not be supported by several others who work in the field of Preventive Care, particularly the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, and prevention of unwanted pregnancies. The editorial displays a lack of concern for the consequences of unprotected sex in the absence of a binding relationship between the sexual partners. It would be immoral, and unethical if American College of Surgeons promtes a view, or attitude that would encourage unprotected sexual activity in the absence of emotional bonding between the sexual partners.
REBBAPRAGADA
Wed, Apr 20, 2011 : 5:51 p.m.
The problem is that of his lack of understanding about issues that pertain to human reproduction, and reproductive biology. The reported finding of depression or no depression is not clinically supported by the findings of an independent panel of Physicians who were not the authors of the Research paper.
Will Warner
Tue, Apr 19, 2011 : 5:15 p.m.
"The view shared by the Surgeon would not be supported by several others who work in the field of Preventive Care, particularly the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, and prevention of unwanted pregnancies" If Dr. Greenfield had said or implied that the benefits of condemless sex outweighed the risks (when there are risks) then yours would be a valid point. Did he?
Elaine F. Owsley
Tue, Apr 19, 2011 : 12:51 p.m.
Quick, call the orthopedic department!! with that many knee-jerk reactions from the surgery folk, there must have been injuries.
oldblueypsi
Tue, Apr 19, 2011 : 11:21 a.m.
Is it politically incorrect to have a sense of humor?
snapshot
Tue, Apr 19, 2011 : 3:59 a.m.
Nature is full of exotic and erotic examples of the bizzare and improbable. Why would we attempt to censure such research? Are we heading back to the dark ages under the premise of "political correctness"? Sad, sad, sad. I thought the article was really interesting. I don't agree with the female Black Widow eating and/or killing the male after mating either. Now that's just wrong.
Sandy weimert
Tue, Apr 19, 2011 : 3:57 a.m.
Say it isn't so! This article was found interesting and amusing to me. I have totally missed the boat on any sexism aspects coming from this article. I certainly don't see it as cause for dismissal as editor of the publication. if there are questions surrounding judgment maybe the article could have been published in a different format and understood/enjoyed in a less biased manner. Dr Lazar Greenfield is productive, accomplished, respected and to quote a women surgeon on his team, "one of the most gender neutral physician surgeons I could have had on my team. Really
Kara
Tue, Apr 19, 2011 : 2:54 a.m.
I don't know anything about Dr. Greenfield, but this just seems stupid to me. Only people who are just looking for something to be offended about would take his article that way. Political correctness is going to suck every bit of humanness out of the world.
Old Salt
Tue, Apr 19, 2011 : 12:23 a.m.
If my wife of over sixty years were stll here she would agree with Dr. Greenfield. P.S I do too
Charley Sullivan
Tue, Apr 19, 2011 : 12:19 a.m.
OK, openly gay man here, so I can't say I know much about women and sex, but doesn't it make sense, that since one of the primary biological goals of heterosexual sex is to cause pregnancy, that there would be an evolutionary advantage for women to have positive experiences with contact with semen? So, if that's how that works, his only "crime" seems to be pointing this out, in, I would point out, a sex-positive way. There is just no sexism here. There are simply doctors who have no ability to deal with the realities of sexual lives, which, given their particular specialty, is actually shocking. Gay men have been being asked to forgo an intimate relationship with our partners' semen since HIV has hit, and consistently, we have problems doing that. Perhaps we feel less depressed with sex without condoms too? Who knew? But considering that isn't sexist, in fact, it's simply sex positive. The folks who kicked him out need to get real lives.
DBH
Fri, Apr 22, 2011 : 6:58 p.m.
Well, johnnya2, the problem with relying on correlation to jump to the conclusion that the two events are causally linked is that often you will be wrong. For example, as I had mentioned in my previous comment (see above), "...one could with as much validity (not much validity, mind you, but just as much) conclude that less depression in women causes them to have unprotected sex more often." Do you know if either or both conclusions is/are true? If so, how? Another example of correlation leading to the wrong (and, in some cases, fatal) conclusion (see <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Correlation_does_not_imply_causation)" rel='nofollow'>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Correlation_does_not_imply_causation)</a> is well known by many. "In a widely-studied example, numerous epidemiological studies showed that women who were taking combined hormone replacement therapy (HRT) also had a lower-than-average incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD), leading doctors to propose that HRT was protective against CHD. But randomized controlled trials showed that HRT caused a small but statistically significant INCREASE IN RISK [emphasis mine] of CHD. Re-analysis of the data from the epidemiological studies showed that women undertaking HRT were more likely to be from higher socio-economic groups (ABC1), with better than average diet and exercise regimes. The use of HRT and decreased incidence of coronary heart disease were coincident effects of a common cause (i.e. the benefits associated with a higher socioeconomic status), rather than cause and effect as had been supposed." I repeat again; correlation does not equate to causation. Perhaps nothing is truly provable in the sense of knowing with 100% certainty, but the study on which Dr. Greenfield's ill-advised comments were based failed in its due diligence in looking at other factors, or even confirming the supposed variables, to make it worthy of publication except in the most expendable of throw-away journals.
johnnya2
Thu, Apr 21, 2011 : 2:12 p.m.
DBH, Based on that theory NOTHING can be proven. Cigarette smoke could be safe. Maybe it is something else that is causation. The fact is, the study suggests a correlation. Further research would a benefit and the doctor talking about the study seems not only proper, but good.
DBH
Tue, Apr 19, 2011 : 12:36 a.m.
Plausibility of a hypothesis does not make it true, even if there is evidence of a correlation. In order to prove a hypothesis, you have to prove cause and effect. Correlation does not equate to causation.
DBH
Tue, Apr 19, 2011 : 12:16 a.m.
I addressed this three days ago when it was first published on Annarbor.com. The original article can be found at <a href="http://www.springerlink.com/content/wrkl9lc5ueu43rh8/" rel='nofollow'>http://www.springerlink.com/content/wrkl9lc5ueu43rh8/</a> . Unfortunately, it will cost you $34 to access the whole article. Alternatively, you likely could find it at a Medical Library in the stacks. Another option is to read one person's analysis of it at <a href="http://scientopia.org/blogs/scicurious/2009/03/06/friday-weird-science-feeling-down-have-you-tried-semen/" rel='nofollow'>http://scientopia.org/blogs/scicurious/2009/03/06/friday-weird-science-feeling-down-have-you-tried-semen/</a> . From the little I read of the article (I did not read the original), the "study" seems clearly flawed. The conclusion might be true, but that cannot be determined by this particular study. I agree with the previous comment from Meg. There may be a correlation but clearly no proof of causation. From what I know of the article, one could with as much validity (not much validity, mind you, but just as much) conclude that less depression in women causes them to have unprotected sex more often.
beachbaby
Mon, Apr 18, 2011 : 6:46 p.m.
Dr. Greenfield has done so much for the field of medicine, maybe this is a blessing in disguise. Enjoy your retirement Dr. Greenfield and forget about PC police, they are one's who look foolish.
alan
Mon, Apr 18, 2011 : 6:06 p.m.
Wow, some of you are not reading the article. The doctor did not do the study nor advocate anything. The original article is: Gallup, G.G. Jr., Burch, R.L., & Platek, S.M. (2002). Does semen have antidepressant properties? Archives of Sexual Behavior. (31) 3, p. 289 It was a sound scientific study that controlled for any other causal relationships that the authors could think of. It was not "speculation" as Meg suggests.
mtlaurel
Mon, Apr 18, 2011 : 5:59 p.m.
Many factors are involved in "relations" between the sexes. If a clear statement was not made that despite his finding, risks of unprotected sex and its consequences can present undesired outcomes for physical and psycological health, then he is a poor caregiver...and should default to public health professionals whose work melds research with prevention and healthy goals for thousands of men, women, teens, and society as a whole.
Bertha Venation
Mon, Apr 18, 2011 : 5:52 p.m.
There's book sense, then there's COMMON sense.... so here we are "The Brightest and the Best(???)"
Lovaduck
Mon, Apr 18, 2011 : 5:39 p.m.
Perhaps you should read the NY Times article today and see that "wild eyed feminists" were not the reason the article was so offensive. I reflects the macho culture of the College of Surgeons and of that profession in general. Women have a hard time entering it or getting respect when they do. This kind of demeaning humor, combined with its iimplied exhortation to have unsafe sex makes it truly an embarrassment, to say the least. It's a shame when a person of such prominence makes such an awful howler. His resigning is a good solution. By the way, I'm not a woman--and I'm often critical of the extreme fringes of the womens' movement. I don't think, "Mr Murrow (with whom I usually agree) that this is just a case of p.c. gone wild. It reflects something deeper.
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Mon, Apr 18, 2011 : 9:53 p.m.
I read the New York Times article AND I read the editorial. I don't see the problem. Good Night and Good Luck
alan
Mon, Apr 18, 2011 : 5:42 p.m.
The authors of the article made it clear that the perceived benefit did not in any way outweigh the risks of unprotected sex.
alan
Mon, Apr 18, 2011 : 5:36 p.m.
I Think that the medical school should be embarrassed for contributing. The doctor quoted a respected SUNY study which found a strong correlation between depression and condom use. The study also found, among women who did not regularly use condoms, a correlation between depression and length of abstinence. Semen contains a variety of psychoactive hormones including testosterone, estrogen, and a variety of prostaglandins which are absorbed and can be detected in the bloodstream after sex. The result is not a big surprise. Maybe the doctor could have been a little more careful (the chocolates comment) but we all suffer when legitimate scientific study is subject to a political correctness test. How one extrapolates to the conclusion that the doctor is sexist is beyond me.
grye
Mon, Apr 18, 2011 : 5:22 p.m.
His ending comment was perfect and if someone was offended by it, then they need to get a life. Kind of reminds me of the individual called The Dice Man who gives seminars regarding national security. He always ends his seminar regarding how we should up our personal level of security. It ends with "i've upped my level, up yours!". We need to learn to get back to the middle of the road. All this polarization is destroying us.
beachbaby
Mon, Apr 18, 2011 : 6:42 p.m.
not andrew dice clay? ;)
HaeJee
Mon, Apr 18, 2011 : 5:19 p.m.
I think it is sad that a man who has given so much to science would be discarded so easily. My husband mentioned this the article discussing this finding to me last week and I found it interesting. I am surprised that people would find it sexist. I personally am impressed that a study was done centered around women's health.
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Mon, Apr 18, 2011 : 4:58 p.m.
WW wrote: "If it turns out to be true that semen has an anti-depressive effect on women (seems like an odd contention, but, hey, stranger things have happened) then we will have before us a case in which a person was made to walk the plank for dealing playfully with a fact. I'm dying to know if this is the case." The article linked to the NYT says: "The editorial cited research that found that female college students who had had unprotected sex were less depressed than those whose partners used condoms. It speculated that compounds in semen have antidepressant effects." Note: the editorial in question CITED RESEARCH. So now it is sexist to cite research? Between the tea party and wild-eyed feminists, we have gone around the bend as a nation. Good Night and Good Luck
1bit
Mon, Apr 18, 2011 : 11:45 p.m.
PC police run amok. Scientists and comedians are not safe.
Stephen Landes
Mon, Apr 18, 2011 : 7:57 p.m.
Why drag the Tea Party into this discussion? The whole PC mess is clearly of the left where any mention of something that does not support the current orthodoxy is some sort of -ist.
Will Warner
Mon, Apr 18, 2011 : 6:24 p.m.
"Once again, correlation does not equal causation." John: I used to think that correlation implied causation. Mary: But you don't think that anymore? John: Not since I took a class in statistics. Mary: So the statistics class taught you the difference? John: Maybe.
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Mon, Apr 18, 2011 : 6:14 p.m.
And your point? Did his editorial in any way misrepresent the studies it cited? Good Night and Good Luck
Meg
Mon, Apr 18, 2011 : 5:50 p.m.
Speculation about possible causes for a possible correlation between the two is not research. Once again, correlation does not equal causation.
John B.
Mon, Apr 18, 2011 : 4:45 p.m.
People, calm down. This is merely more troll bait, and you're taking the bait. Don't fall for it!
Mick52
Mon, Apr 18, 2011 : 4:44 p.m.
You might want to check the spelling under the photo there aa.com...
Tony Dearing
Mon, Apr 18, 2011 : 4:54 p.m.
Thanks. That's been corrected.
John B.
Mon, Apr 18, 2011 : 4:46 p.m.
Misspellings create more page traffic / comments. Why bother avoiding them?
Will Warner
Mon, Apr 18, 2011 : 4:42 p.m.
If it turns out to be true that semen has an anti-depressive effect on women (seems like an odd contention, but, hey, stranger things have happened) then we will have before us a case in which a person was made to walk the plank for dealing playfully with a fact. I'm dying to know if this is the case.
lumberg48108
Mon, Apr 18, 2011 : 4:37 p.m.
this is such a joke I am often embarassed people this smart are this clueless as to think this is an offense worthy of losing a position or standing america - where are we headed? and media - like .com are leading the way - publicizing NON stories and turning them into "news" line up every person who was TRULY offended with his editorial and then line up those who think this is overblown nonesense which line would be longer? by far and that is why this story and people in charge (who are so paranoid, thanks to lazy media) are clueless