And as Daniel Finkelstein of the Times asked, what does it do for the
MMR controversy?
I have not heard that "they" are doing anything about gathering
evidence about the effects of drinking in the very early stages --
not hard to do when many women do give up alcohol as soon as they
know they are pregnant.. The current advice will lead to months of
worry for many who become pregnant unwittingly, and to prolonged
abstinence from alcohol for those who hope to do so wittingly. But
what does that matter in a bureaucrat's scheme of things?
Pam
At 09:26 26/05/2007, you wrote:
>I'm reminded of a story my cousin told me some years ago. One day
>her child, aged around 2, picked up her father's ashtray. It was
>full to the brim with floaty, flyaway ash. The mother, knowing that
>the child responded to the word 'hot', but not the word 'dirty',
>rather unwisely said, "No Kayleigh, put that down! It's hot!".
>
>Kayleigh looked at her mother, looked down at the ashtray, and,
>deciding to cool the offending object down, sucked in a deep breath and blew.
>
>You can imagine the mess.
>
>Giving different advice when there is no change in evidence affects
>trust. How long before we are all wondering what other health advice
>changes have similar origins?
>
>If pregnant mums are choosing to justify very high levels of alcohol
>consumption with 'oh, they make all the advice up anyway', then it
>is not inconceivable that the latest move could have the effect of
>reassuring these women that they are right.
>
>Ash, ash, everywhere!
>
>Jen
>
>
>Dr Jennifer Gristock
>SPRU, University of Sussex
>www.sussex.ac.uk/spru
>
>
>
>------------ Forwarded Message ------------
>Date: 25 May 2007 13:20 +0000
>From: barbara keating <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Alcohol and Pregnancy
>
>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6687761.stm
>
>"The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists says there is no
>evidence that a couple of units once or twice a week will do any harm to
>the baby. The Department of Health said the revision was not based on new
>scientific evidence but was needed to help ensure that women did not
>underestimate the risks to their baby."
>
>
>>
>>
>>Sallie Robins <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>> I must admit I haven't read deeply into this issue but what does it say
>>about scientific evidence if you change advice to the public when there
>>has been no change in the scientific evidence?
>>
>>Sallie Robins - publicist Cheltenham Science Festival and NESTA FameLab
>>srPR
>>14 Shannon Court
>>Dynevor Road
>>London
>>N16 0DD
>>020 7249 4858
>>07733 330344
>>[log in to unmask]
>>
>>Cheltenham Science Festival 6-10 June 2007
>>www.cheltenhamfestivals.com
>>NESTA FameLab. First open audition 6 March London
>>www.famelab.org
>
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