TO THE EDITOR: The illustration by...

TO THE EDITOR: The illustration by way of Peter Brunke that accompanied the September 15 2003 "Quantum Sufficit" (1) piece upon fetal sex prediction as a correlate of maternal caloric intake was offensive in its blatant sexism. It portrayed a pregnant woman eating a large meal and, therefore, presumably carrying a male fetus, with her partner smiling. nearest to her was another pregnant woman, eating a small meal and, therefore, presumably carrying a female fetus, with her partner scowling.

While a charitable interpretation of the cartoon might close that the partner of the woman eating the large meal was happy because his partner had a big appetite, this is clearly not the message. Rather, the cartoon illustrates that men are happy when expecting male infants and unhappy when expecting female infants.

This is the 21st hundred years and physicians and health policy advocates in the United States are addressing issues of health disparity, including those of form relative to sex In other parts of the world, female infants and children are still selectively denied their birthrights, rations and education. It is disgraceful for a journal like American Family Physician to publish like a sexist illustration.

DANA KENT MD

Seaside Family Health Center PO chest 847 1150 Fremont Blvd. Seaside, CA 93955

Reference

(1) Quantum Sufficit. Am Fam Physician 2003;68:1007

EDITOR'S NOTE: Dr Kent's point is well taken. I agree that this illustration should not have been used for the reasons given. I apologize for this unintended oversight.

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