Press Releases

Media Release

Embargo: Immediate release	Enquiries: Doctors For Life Int.
Date: 11 July 2017	Telephone: 032 481 5550

Gender DynamiX, SWEAT, the Sexual and Reproductive Justice Coalition, Partners in Sexual Health and Triangle are the few mentioned LGBT NGO’s that have made submissions to the South African Government which they might consider adopting. Some of these submissions include Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) that teaches South African children about homosexual practises and sex. Children who think they might be transgender will be allowed to use any bathroom they wish, compromising the privacy of both boys and girls. South African identity documents could be permitted to reflect the individuals’ preferred gender with which they identify as, this might sound harmless, but think of how identity fraud is made easier. The LGBT NGO’s are also calling for health facilities to be made available to trans-gender people for hormone treatment and surgeries. Prostitution and drug use is also called to be decriminalised and any practise or policy that excludes transgender or homosexual persons could be challenged and invalidated by the department. Dr. McHugh, who has studied transgender people for 40 years, said in an article for The Witherspoon Institute, that all such people “become feminized men or masculinized women, counterfeits or impersonators of the sex with which they ‘identify”. He also said that it is a scientific fact that “transgendered men do not become women, nor do transgendered women become men”. Dr. McHugh, who was psychiatrist-in-chief at Johns Hopkins Hospital, the medical institute that had initially pioneered sex-change surgery – and later abandoned the practice – stressed that the cultural meme, or idea that “one’s sex is fluid and a matter of choice” is extremely damaging, especially to young people. The idea that one’s sexuality is a feeling and not a biological fact “is doing much damage to families, adolescents, and children and should be confronted as an opinion without biological foundation wherever it emerges,” said Dr. McHugh in his article, Transgenderism: A Pathogenic Meme. “Think, for example, of the parents whom no one, not doctors, schools, nor even churches, will help to rescue their children from these strange notions of being transgendered and the problematic lives these notions herald.” They rarely find therapists who are willing to help them “work out their conflicts and correct their assumptions,” said McHugh. “Rather, they and their families find only ‘gender counsellors’ who encourage them in their sexual misassumptions.” There is plenty of evidence showing that “transgendering” is a “psychological rather than a biological matter,” said Dr. McHugh. “In fact, gender dysphoria – the official psychiatric term for feeling oneself to be of the opposite sex, belongs in the family of similarly disordered assumptions about the body, such as anorexia nervosa and body dysmorphic disorder. Its treatment should not be directed at the body as with surgery and hormones any more than one treats obesity-fearing anorexic patients with liposuction,” he said. In fact, at Johns Hopkins, where they pioneered sex-change-surgery, “we demonstrated that the practice brought no important benefits,” said Dr. McHugh. “As a result, we stopped offering that form of treatment in the 1970s.” In recent years, though, the notion that one’s sex is fluid has flooded the culture. It is “reflected everywhere in the media, the theatre, the classroom, and in many medical clinics,” said McHugh. It is biologically false that one can exchange one’s sex, explained McHugh. “The most thorough follow-up of sex-reassigned people – extending over 30 years and conducted in Sweden, where the culture is strongly supportive of transgendered people – documents their lifelong mental unrest.” “Ten to 15 years after surgical reassignment, the suicide rate of those who had undergone sex-reassignment surgery rose to 20 times that of comparable peers,” said McHugh. We need a public uproar for coherent science. Doctors for Life International represents 1600 medical doctors and specialists. Since 1991 DFL has been actively promoting sound science in the medical profession and healthcare that is safe and efficient for all South Africans. For more information visit: https://doctorsforlife.co.za]]>

Media Release

Embargo: Immediate release	Enquiries: Doctors For Life Int.
Date: 30 May 2017	Telephone: 032 481 5550

Doctors For Life International (DFL) as an overview of Project 107 (adult prostitution) commends the South African Law Reform Commission (SALRC) on being fundamentally practical about the final draft legislation on prostitution. DFL would also like to emphasise from the body of work we have compiled and the SALRC’s report, that we strongly acknowledge and support the global trend of success achieved through Partial Criminalisation by countries as far afield as Sweden, Norway, Canada, and France. This recommendation by the SALRC places South Africa (SA) beyond the realms of becoming a sex tourist destination. DFL has detected a new radical shift in the methodology of the Partial or Full Criminalisation options in the Draft Amendment Bill of the SALRC. As we understand the report, they are using existing laws to be enforced in new practical ways; to demolish the pillars that allow prostitution to exist. This would be achieved by the total eradication of brothels, banning every and any form of advertising, and ensuring prevention of third parties (pimps) from benefiting financially from the practice of prostitution. We concur with the SALRC’s report from a medical and scientific research standpoint, which highlights the inherently harmful lifestyle that prostitutes endure. In DFL’s experience with working together with multitudes of street prostitutes, we have found that 90-95{01b0879e117dd7326006b2e84bcaac7e8fa1509c5c67baf2c9eb498fe06caff4} of the surveyed prostitutes would rather exit prostitution altogether. Written and oral submissions made to the SALRC have shown that intrinsic to prostitution are numerous violations to human rights: sexual harassment, economic slavery, educational deprivation, job discrimination, partner and family violence, racism, classism, vulnerability to frequent physical and sexual assault, and being subjected to bodily invasions equivalent to torture.1 “Criminalisation would send out a clear message to society that buying sexual services that are provided largely as a result of the prostitute’s poverty, inequality and unemployment is exploitative and therefore illegal.” Research supports this finding by the SALRC; it however does not diminish the importance of attempting a move toward abolishing the dehumanising effect of prostitution. Prostitution does not fit comfortably into the international definition of decent work. On the contrary, although prostitution may seem to provide superficially attractive short-term financial benefits, it has not been shown to lift women out of a lifetime of poverty and economic inequality. The SALRC recommends that prostitution should not be recognised as a reasonable means to secure a person’s living in South Africa, and from a formal labour perspective should not be considered to be work or decent work. Thus there remains no justification to legitimise brothels and / or related enterprises by third parties. Furthermore, it is worth noting that the SALRC is quoted as saying “South Africa has all the appeal to attract high tourist volumes without the need to erode its brand value by positioning the country as a sex tourist destination.” This takes into consideration the aftermath of sex tourism such as wide spread urban decay and a general decline in general tourism channels and revenues. “The Commission believes that it would be naive to think that prostitution could be neatly excised from activities such as money laundering, drug dealing, sexual violence, assault, extortion and blackmail, through non-criminalisation.” This pattern confirms reports from other countries such as Australia and the Netherlands. 2 A shift away from criminalisation would cause an increase in child prostitution. Although illegal, the preference of some buyers for younger girls has repeatedly been observed due to the inclination of sexual addiction. The SALRC believes that child and adult prostitution cannot be separated as many adult prostitutes started out selling sexual services when they were children and at their most vulnerable. The report stipulates that by screening “women only” (the prostitutes) insofar as health checks are concerned, simply does not make sense. From a public health perspective monitoring “women only” and not screening “prospective buyers” would deliberately not protect the prostitutes from acquiring Sexually Transmitted Infections or HIV / AIDS. This is because male clients can and very often do originally transmit these diseases to the women. The SALRC and DFL agree that criminalisation provides a legal mechanism to remove a prostitute from coercive circumstances and to provide her with an opportunity to enter rehabilitation, training and reintegration programmes. To conclude, Doctor’s for Life is immensely appreciative to the South African Law Reform Commission for the in-depth report rendered to date, and hopes to see a tangible and real difference in South Africa through these laws and the enforcement thereof to eliminate prostitution. Doctors for Life International represents 1531 medical doctors and specialists, three-quarters of whom practice in South Africa. Since 1991 DFL has been actively promoting sound science in the medical profession and health care that is safe and efficient for all South Africans. For more information visit: https://doctorsforlife.co.za 1) Melissa Farley: Prostitution and Trafficking in nine countries Document. 2) Donna Hughes: Sexual Exploitation is nobody’s job (Panel Discussion) 2017]]>

Media Release Embargo: Immediate release Date : 03 April 2017 Enquiries: Doctors For Life Int. Telephone: 032 4815550/5807 Doctors For Life International (DFL) is deeply concerned by the judgment of the Western Cape High Court that allows, subject to legislation to be passed in the next 24 months, the private growing and use of Cannabis Sativa.  The court has rushed into an area they should only tread into after reviewing systematic, evidence-based research. This, the Pretoria High Court was set to do in August of 2017. What people do with Cannabis in the privacy of their homes is relevant to the whole of society. Firstly because of the semi-long-term effects of Cannabis that last up to 21 days after ingestion. These include poor coordination and slowed reaction time etc. which can lead to fatal traffic and work place accidents. Secondly, the decision has disastrous consequences for the youth. It will be virtually impossible to prevent children from being exposed to the smoking of cannabis and its detrimental health consequences such as impaired verbal IQ, memory, reduced decision making and an increased prevalence of psychosis later in life. The drop in IQ has been thoroughly researched: IQ drop was demonstrated if used and quit before 18 years of age. IQ drop is highest when used before age 18 and still addicted at age 38. IQ drop is associated with the length of time addiction. During the teenage years the brain is especially vulnerable because it prunes unneeded connections, grows in size, wires cortical dopamine circuits, strengthens connections and reorganizes brain function as a whole. Furthermore, the US state of Colorado’s experience clearly shows an increase in emergency admissions to hospitals due to small children ingesting cannabis by mistake due to the reckless behaviour of parents. There is no doubt that any cultivation of Cannabis Sativa, even for research purposes, can have serious public health consequences and that it should be properly regulated by legislation.

Doctors for Life International represents 1531 medical doctors and specialists of which three-quarters practice in South Africa. Since 1991 DFL has been actively promoting sound science in the medical profession and health care that is safe and efficient for all South Africans. For more information visit: https://doctorsforlife.co.za

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Embargo: Immediate release Date: 23 February 2017 Enquiries: Doctors For Life Int. Telephone: 032 4815550

Media Release

Doctors For Life International (DFL) is concerned about the way news reporting on the Medical Innovations Bill keeps presenting the issue of ‘medical marijuana’ to the public. These reports pose the danger of confusing critical issues in the debate to legalise cannabis for medicinal use. Actually there is no such thing as ‘medical marijuana’; that is, there is not a particular type of marijuana/dagga used for medicinal purposes, let alone for specific medicinal purposes. Conflating marijuana with isolated cannabinoids misunderstands the scientific literature and confuses physicians, policy makers and patients. The medical marijuana movement was created to blur the regulatory and legal boundaries. In most states in the USA with medical marijuana laws, the vast majority (>90{01b0879e117dd7326006b2e84bcaac7e8fa1509c5c67baf2c9eb498fe06caff4}) of those holding registry cards are young males with vague ‘pain’ or sleep problems. Their profile is not representative of a patient in need of compassionate medicine such as at end stage cancer or Aids, as was initially sold to the public. Whereas DFL is not against the use of using herbs in their whole state for medicinal purposes, the case with dagga or Cannabis Sativa is different. We know for a fact that amongst the +/- 700 molecules in the cannabis plant there are some very harmful substances which cause serious, permanent brain damage on their own, or in combination with other substances in the plant. The effects of smoking or ingesting the whole cannabis plant have certain harmful effects on the body as a whole, such as the lungs, reproductive system and brain development in unborn babies etc. Negative effects on the executive functions of the brain can be divided into those experienced during the phase of acute intoxication; those associated with the 21 days following ingestion and those that are considered long term. The negative effects on executive functions that can last up to 21 days after smoking include: poor decision making, poor concept formation and planning deficits. What is of especially grave concern are the long term / permanent impairment in executive functions of the brain. Adolescent long term use is associated with significant reduction in IQ measured at 38 years, reduced motivation and increased prevalence of psychoses and schizophrenia later in life. A recent article by the National Institute of Drug Addiction in the USA voiced concern that the spread of marijuana through the medical or legalisation route, is troublesome in view of the growing evidence of adverse effects of cannabis including: addiction, poor school performance, memory impairment, compromised lifetime achievement, gateway drug effects, plus risks of cancer and motor vehicle accidents. No other prescription drug has this peculiar combination of risk factors. There is strong scientific support for concluding that adequate assurances regarding whether whole plant dagga can be safely used under medical supervision, are lacking. The psychoactive effects of cannabis present a significant ethical obstacle to designing double-blinded clinical trials on the plant as a whole. In addition, the only indications for the medical use of dagga offered by its proponents, have been for chronic conditions which imply long term use, which does the most harm. Added to this is the fact that the THC (delta-9th- tetrahydrocannabinol) levels vary from <1{01b0879e117dd7326006b2e84bcaac7e8fa1509c5c67baf2c9eb498fe06caff4} to >30{01b0879e117dd7326006b2e84bcaac7e8fa1509c5c67baf2c9eb498fe06caff4}. It varies from strain to strain; from plant to plant; is affected by the water supply; the time of the year when harvested; the soil quality; the light quality; microbial environment; mineral content of the soil; fertilizer and pesticides used – and even by how long the plant has lain after harvest before it was processed. In the case of being smoked, it is also influenced by the concentration of Cannabidiol (CBD) and dosages depend on the depth of inhalation and the length of time the smoke is retained in the lungs before exhaling. Physician recommendations for medicinal use of smoked cannabis (obtained in a dispensary) are not grounded on systematic, evidence-based research – which is the hallmark of our health system THC is the most active constituent of cannabis that has been produced synthetically and is available as Dronabinol or Nabilone or Cesamet (a synthetic cannabinoid to THC). Sativex which contains THC and CBD in a 1:1 equal amount combination is currently approved in the UK, plus several European countries and – Canada and is in the fast track false III studies to be registered with the FDA in the USA. A Cannabidiol (CBD) based drug called Epidiolex has recently been developed for childhood epilepsy. In a clinical trial comparing the effects of smoked dagga with Dronabinol (THC alone) under controlled conditions, marijuana and Dronabinol both decreased pain, but Dronabinol produced longer lasting decreases in pain sensitivity – and lower ratings of abuse-related subjective side effects Consequently, Doctors For Life International is of the opinion, with other experts, that if there is any future in dagga as medicine, it lies in its isolated components: the cannabinoids and their synthetic derivatives.

Doctors for Life International represents more than 1500 medical doctors and specialists, three-quarters of whom practice in South Africa. Since 1991 DFL has been actively promoting sound science in the medical profession and health care that is safe and efficient for all South Africans. For more information visit: https://doctorsforlife.co.za

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Media Release Embargo: Immediate release Date: 07-12-2016 Enquiries: Vaughan Luck Cell: 078 748 9884 Doctors For Life International is delighted with the outcome of this court case which was the culmination of decades of conferences, educating Health Professionals and the public, taking part in debates, and finally this legal battle to prevent legislation that would use the SA public as guinea pigs in a tragic social experiment. Legalising physician assisted suicide would have created a legal precedent that would have led to floods of euthanasia contagion. The judgement will serve to protect the sick, the aged and the vulnerable in SA who are the ones who would be most harmed through such a law. The Supreme Court of Appeal pointed to several flaws in Judge Fabricius’ ruling: One being that Mr Stransham-Ford passed away prior to Fabricius making his judgement. Circumstantial evidence seems to indicate this information may have been deliberately withheld from the court. DFL first testified  as a separate party and later as an amicus in support of the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, the Minister of Health, the National Director of Public Prosecutions and the Health Professionals Council of South Africa who have filed a “Notice of Leave to Appeal” to the Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa against the whole of the judgement handed down by Judge Fabricius on the 4th of May 2015. But Judge Wallis upheld the appeal on 6 December, overturning the lower court’s decision that approved death of Robin Stransham-Ford by active euthanasia or assisted suicide. During the court case, the Centre for Applied Legal Studies at Wits submitted arguments suggesting that euthanasia and assisted suicide were working well overseas. But DFL and others submitted evidence that proves this is far from the truth. Belgium and Netherlands for example (as with all countries that have legalised it) could not regulate or contain this form of suicide, once legalised it spreads similarly to a contagious disease. Euthanasia was only legalised in Belgium in 2002 and this is how far it has gone;

2002 – Euthanasia legalized. 2003 – Euthanasia of children proposed in Belgium. 2004 – Euthanasia kills 1 person per day. 2005 – Belgium pharmacies offer euthanasia kits. 2006 – Euthanasia rates double. 2010 – 30{01b0879e117dd7326006b2e84bcaac7e8fa1509c5c67baf2c9eb498fe06caff4} of cases did not give consent. 2011 – Doctors harvest organs from disabled euthanasia cases. 2012 – Prison euthanasia introduced. 2013 – Euthanasia deaths increase 25{01b0879e117dd7326006b2e84bcaac7e8fa1509c5c67baf2c9eb498fe06caff4}. 2014 – Now legal to euthanize children over 12. 2016 – First child, 17 years, euthanized in Belgium.

Some of the new developments in the Netherlands;

2016 – not only for sick or dying but also for those considering their lives to be complete.

2016 – euthanasia allowed for alcoholics.

Other reasons that emerged in the court’s ruling was that the picture of Mr Stransham-Ford’s final illness as depicted in the legal affidavits, bore little resemblance to reality as found in his medical records. The applicant’s doctor’s medical records indicate he was wavering in his desire for suicide/euthanasia. The estate of Stransham-Ford apparently had refused to release these medical records until a court order was issued for them. Retracting euthanasia requests are not uncommon with those seeking euthanasia, an argument DFL has often made in the past. Judge Wallis also pointed out that the applicant’s affidavit was factually and medically doubtful on many points. Judge Fabricius’ ruling was also decided in haste (in one day) on something that is clearly a matter of national importance, and that DFL believed would have had devastating consequences. This urgency was apparently manufactured on an individual case by the lobby group Dignity SA. In the process the applicant’s attorneys had refused to provide the opposing party and amici of the court, like Doctors For Life International’s legal teams, with information they needed to respond. DFL was represented by Advocate Reg Willis and Adrian De Oliveria and Arno Bosch from Robin Twaddle Attorney’s and are very thankful for their hard work and time devoted to this case.

Doctors For Life International is an association of more than 1600 specialists and medical doctors. Doctors For Life endeavors to promote public health by upholding sound science in the medical profession. For more information, please visit www.doctorsforlife.co.za

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