Pssst, American Academy of Pediatrics!
Since you've shown a willingness to chastise TV shows for promoting arguments that contradict your recommendations and the recommendations of other health authorities, I've got another hot-button one for you.
Apparently, Good Morning America did a report on whether pregnant women should drink, and featured a couple of OB-GYNs saying, "Heck, sure, why not."
Yeah, they're saying "in moderation," a phrase that surely varies from person to tipsy person. But just to remind you, your recommendation for the prevention of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is specific that "Because there is no known safe amount of alcohol consumption during pregnancy, the Academy recommends abstinence from alcohol for women who are pregnant or who are planning a pregnancy."
Which is pretty much exactly the same thing recommended by the CDC and the Surgeon General.
Not "abstinence, unless you're going to a party or something, in which case, you know, use your own judgment." Not "abstinence, or, hey, a glass of wine a night if you prefer." No. Nothing. None. Nada. Not hard to understand.
So I assume you'll be hurrying to chasten Good Morning America for airing such an irresponsible report. Especially since viewers might be expected to take the word of a real doctor on a morning news show even more readily than the word of a fake lawyer on a fantasy drama.
A press release would be fine. A call for cancellation, great. Just walloping those doctors and news producers upside the head would be excellent, too.
Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
I’d say a wallop in the head sounds good. Or, let GMA and their quacks foot all the health/medical and education bills for treating any child born with FASD due to their crappy advise.