reproductive and sexual health and rights – Page 2

Is eradication of congenital syphilis feasible?

Mar 5, 2012

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On 1 March, the Global Congenital Syphilis Partnership held a press conference to announce the launch of a global campaign to eradicate congenital syphilis, motivated by evidence from a seven-country pilot study that used a rapid blood test for screening. The aim of the studies was to test pregnant women for syphilis, treat any who…

In defence of abortion on a woman’s request, including on grounds of fetal sex

Feb 24, 2012

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margeberer

in Abortion, Women

Published on the British Medical Journal Guest Blog, 24th February 2012 Ach, what a furore. The Daily Telegraph is in its element and having a ball printing nasty allegations about doctors doing abortions illegally on grounds of sex selection. Let’s look at the issues a bit more dispassionately. First, is it actually illegal? Yes and…

Hormonal contraception and risk of HIV: new studies, the issues, and the response of the World Health Organization

Feb 20, 2012

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margeberer

in Contraception, WHO, Women

Many feminists, including me, actively opposed the hormonal injectable contraceptive Depo Provera (DMPA) three decades ago ̶ it was at a time when certain women weren’t being given a choice of method or any information about possible side effects, and before long-term post-marketing studies began to be done to monitor long-term safety. Here in the…

An open letter to Shirley Williams

Feb 17, 2012

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margeberer

in Health services, Private medicine

Dear Baroness Williams, I have greatly appreciated your continuing efforts during the debate on the NHS Bill in the House of Lords until recently and that you took the time to send out the group emails that have kept those of us on the outside informed. I am writing now, however, to say how disheartened…

The breast implant fiasco: a scandal of private medicine

Jan 18, 2012

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margeberer

in Breast implants, Cosmetic surgery, Private medicine

First published 17 Jan 2012 on the BMJ Group Blog So, the silicone’s hit the fan. The use of industrial-grade silicone intended for mattresses, the possible fraud in hiding information from inspectors at production stage, and the failure in quality control in the regulatory phase, are particularly outrageous. However, the rapidly expanding private sector provision of breast…

Independent abortion counselling? Whose problem?

Sep 5, 2011

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margeberer

in Abortion

Published on the BMJ guest blog, 1st September 2011 Nadine Dorries MP is a very skillful politician. She decides there is a problem, for which she has absolutely no evidence. She not only manages to get her problem onto the front pages of the newspapers but also onto the agenda of the House of Commons.…

“Human beings have only a 50-50 chance of surviving to the end of the 21st century”

Jun 5, 2011

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margeberer

in Population

On 25-26 May, I attended a conference in London, organised by University College London Centre for Global Health, called Population Footprints, on sustainability. The prediction that we humans have only a 50–50 chance of surviving to the end of the 21st century serves to focus the mind wonderfully. It is based on the seriousness of…

The Berer Blog

Tag: reproductive and sexual health and rights

Is eradication of congenital syphilis feasible?

In defence of abortion on a woman’s request, including on grounds of fetal sex

Hormonal contraception and risk of HIV: new studies, the issues, and the response of the World Health Organization

Independent abortion counselling? Whose problem?

“Human beings have only a 50-50 chance of surviving to the end of the 21st century”