September / October 2003
Data from a San Mateo Medical Centre survey of HIV patients presented at the American Psychiatric Association conference this year revealed that one-third of HIV patients who smoked ìmedicalî marijuana, do so for recreational purposes, and the vast majority smoked the drug for purported mental health reasons.
We expected to see people smoking marijuana to alleviate nausea, pain and to increase their appetite - all the reasons that are commonly cited,î said Diane Prentiss, a research epidemiologist with the Medical Center. ìWe were surprised that 57% say they smoked to relieve anxiety or depression. It is surprising that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is allowing a dangerous, illegal drug to be promoted and abused under the guise that marijuana is a legitimate medicine. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), ìHigh doses of marijuana can induce increased rates of depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation.î According to the American Psychiatric Association it may trigger panic attacks, paranoia, and even psychosis (disturbed perceptions and thoughts). Studies show that 5 marijuana joints per day may have the equivalent cancer-causing chemicals as a full pack of cigarettes per day.
The volume of literature detailing the harmful long and short-term effects of marijuana continues to grow.
Patients that have turned to marijuana as a form of medicine are therefore worsening both their mental and physical health, while missing out on real treatment that could improve their lives.
Sandra S. Bennett, Director of Northwest Centre for Health and Safety: "There is not one ailment of society that isnít caused or worsened by the use of psychoactive and addictive drugs."
Excerpts from a letter sent by US representative, Mark E. Souder to the FDA
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Tygerberg Cape Town Members and friends know DFLís stance on abortion. Therefore, DFL wishes to warn the ëtroops at the battlefrontí of a potential argument to ëpersuadeí them to abandon their life-saving, life-protecting and life-bringing vocation and take up killing.
Spring brings a rash of childhood infections, with rubella outbreaks current in some areas. While rubella is usually a mild childhood illness, there are potentially devastating effects for the unborn child.
Rubella symptoms are absent in 50% of infected mothers. The baby is vulnerable in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy. The worst risk is for babies under 4 weeks gestation; 33% born from an infected mother will contract rubella. Cataract is associated with infection at 8-9 weeks, deafness at 5-7 weeks and cardiac lesions at 5-10 weeks. Congenital rubella syndrome may include purpura, hepatosplenomengally, jaundice, cerebral palsy, microcephally, microphthalmia and may result in spontaneous abortion or still-birth.
Rubella epidemics occur cyclically, every few years. However, even isolated cases are uncommon in countries such as the USA and the UK because there is a routinely administered safe and effective vaccine.
Concerning maternal rubella infection, we are confronted by a dichotomy in SA. The Department of Health does not include rubella in its vaccination programme; whilst on the other hand abortion is a legal option should a pregnant mother contract the infection. Poorly informed health care workers may be persuaded to advise abortion and/or trained to do abortions when faced with a sizeable rubella outbreak. The main message to concerned health care workers is to:
1)
Initiate and implement effective rubella immunisation programmes.
2) Know the correct facts regarding congenital rubella infection when counselling pregnant mothers."
DFL congratulates and stands with the many doctors and midwives who are refusing even to be trained to kill unborn babies. DFL has a 24hr Abortion Info Careline: 073 224 9221 and has published literature on ìThe Abortion Law and Your Rightsî, and is willing to assist any health care worker with ethical or legal advice in this area. DFL is committed to sound science in medicine; ethics founded on Biblical principles and accepts the sanctity of life from conception till natural death.
Dr Johan Smith, Neonatalogist at Tygerberg Childrenís Hospital,
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Diagnosing Down syndrome at 5-weeks
A new test has been developed that could determine if a foetus has cystic fibrosis or Down syndrome from 5 weeks gestation, according to findings released at the International Genetic Congress in Melbourne. Currently, the most accurate prenatal tests involve invasive procedures. Amniocentesis (performed between 16-20 weeks) is associated with a 1 - 2% risk of miscarriage and results may linger up to three weeks.
The new test, in which doctors swab the cervix, could provide same-day results and would be safe for all pregnant women.
Foetal cells are efficiently isolated from cervical smears. The cells are then DNA fingerprinted to distinguish the womanís cells from the foetusí cells. The test was conducted on 600 women. The infants will be tested after birth to determine the testís accuracy, which is expected to be as good or better than amniocentesis or CVS. The test could be available within two years.
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Angola outreach - The Aid To Africa (A2A) team left for Angola and Zambia on 13.09.2003. Watch this space for a detailed account of the 3-week excursion or go to our web site at www.dfl.org.za (johan@dfl.org.za)
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Dr Thindisa works in Ivory Park, Midlands, and is happily married. His qualification is MBChB.
Q: Why do you feel a need to participate in DFL?
DFL gives me a platform for carrying out the aims and objectives of DFL, which happen to vibrate on the same wavelength as my personal aims and objectives in life.
Q: What motivates you?
The love of God and to do His purpose in my life, Acts 13:36
Q: What do you like the most about your work?
Giving hope to people with a myriad of problems.
Q: What do you like the least about your work?
Working for long periods of time at the expense of my family and my health.
Q: How do you see the future of medicine in SA?
Challenging
Q: What advice can you give for doctors to cope with the many AIDS cases in SA?
Doctors should strategise in order to come up with practical programmes and solutions to address the AIDS epidemic.
Q: What is your opinion regarding the role and place of DFL?
DFL should remain the voice of Christian health professionals whenever the laws of the country contradict Biblical principles.
Q: How did you come to join DFL and what are your main roles in the organisation?
I was recruited by Drs Eva and Jacob Seobi. I am involved in executing the mandate of the DFL constitution.
Q: What is your opinion of the role, place and future of DFL?
I believe DFL performs well regarding its role and I also believe we need to make aggressive inroads into the black intellectual community. SA is about 80% black and any organisation that doesnít reflect the demographics of the country in its make-up will not achieve maximally on its mandate. Marketing the organisation is very important.
Q: In what ways do you think DFL - members can help DFL or become involved?
We need to call a ìbosberaadî with all our members and get inputs and submissions.
Q: How do you apply your faith?
I follow the directive that says, ìfaith without works is dead".
Dr. Thindisa, Executive Member, DFL
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Startling facts about the direction, ethics and future of medicine were revealed at the National Medical Ethics Conference hosted by DFL from July 30 to 1 August. The issues addressed at the conference included cloning, HIV, anti-retrovirals as well as the sanctity of human life: all topical in the light of the recent publication of the SA Heath Bill.
World-renowned speakers from the United States, France and South Africa included Dr William Hurlbut (Member of US Presidential Council on Bio-ethics), Dr David Prentice (Prof Life Sciences, Indiana State University), Dr Kgosi Letlape (Chair of SA Medical Association), author and attorney Wesley Smith (Discovery Institute, Seattle) and several others. Cloning and stem cell research was the main theme. The speakers concluded that human life is sacred from conception and that to disregard this for the sake of progress in science or medicine is unethical.
On the subject of human sanctity and rights, Wesley Smith discussed the dangers of euthanasia and the alternative of hospice and home based care, which are very relevant subjects in an AIDS-ridden society. Dr Mlisana and Prof van Niekerk discussed the countryís HIV/AIDS policy and anti-retrovirals. Breast cancer expert, Dr Angela Lanfranchi,
gave evidence for the abortion-breast cancer link - drawing from experience and epidemiological studies, and the proposed legislation on the rights of health workers in Canada and the US was discussed by attorney Iain Benson.
Johan Claassen, Public Relations
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An experiment in the United States has created a mixed-sex human embryo. The team involved insists that the creation of a hermaphrodite human embryo was designed to cure illness, but critics say moral and ethical standards have been breached.
The process they used creates what is known as a ìchimaeraî - a blend of two embryos, each of which would have distinct genetic identities.
In experiments using donated embryos, scientists investigated whether healthy cells from one embryo could be implanted into a second defective embryo. They found that, in some cases, the introduced cells do proliferate and spread throughout the chimaeric embryo. Their hope is that having even a small proportion of cells from a healthy embryo might prevent certain genetic diseases from arising. The experiment showed that just a couple of cells injected into the embryo produced an embryo with, in many cases, an even distribution of cells carrying these new genes. The ìmergedî embryos were never intended to develop into children, and were destroyed after a few days. The theory behind these experiments is that diseases caused by a single genetic defect, having even as few as 15% of the bodyís cells free (from the defect) might be enough to stop the development of the disease.
Dr Norbert Gliecher, who led the research, told the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology annual meeting in Madrid: "It isnít ready for clinical application in humans - but further exploration in animals is warranted - and who knows where this will take us?"
However, senior scientists at the conference roundly attacked his experiment. Professor Alan Trouson, a pioneer of IVF in Australia, told BBC News Online: ìI really canít see the logic of what he is trying to do. It seems completely flawed to me.î He said it would be impossible to test whether the correct versions of the genes had been incorporated widely into the embryo before a decision had to be made whether to transfer it back into the woman. He said the health risks of producing a chimaeric individual were still uncertain. ìUnless you can be certain you are doing some good, you should not be doing something that could cause harm." Prof Lyn Fraser, past president of the society shared the disquiet over the technique: ìI donít see how it can be used to treat single gene disorders. Itís hard to accept what they have done at all."
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Thank Yous
We would like to express our appreciation to all those who have paid their membership fees, for the anonymous donations, and for all the encouraging letters.
Six 11th Hour Counselling courses have been presented this year, and DFL is pleased to observe the response of volunteers. Highlights include the establishment of 11th Hour Malmesbury and Pietermaritzburg Pro-life, where dedication to this front-line ministry are evident. PMB Co-ordinator, Connie Lee, writes: ìWe are trying to get 20 000 signatures from PMB and surrounding areas to show the Director General of Health that there are many people in PMB who are against abortion. 95% of the people I have personally spoken to are opposed to abortion.î
Recently Connie spoke to three abortionists. The first said she feels uncomfortable doing abortions, especially when she sees a leg or hand but does it for the money. The second confided that she doesnít really feel anything, though she doesnít really like doing abortions. The third has performed abortions for the past 5 years and enjoys it very much.
"On 6 September we hosted an awareness breakfast to inform Ministers, their wives and Christian leaders about abortion in PMB. Speakers included DFL, Pregnancy Crisis Centre, and an Orphanage in Winterton. The function was well attended."
Ronell Carstens, 11th Hour Counselling Co-ordinator
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Organisations such as the Russian Mafia are responsible for the trafficking of Russian and Asian women into SA. A study by the International Organisation for Migration reveals that victims are usually unwitting young Thai women from rural areas, or ageing sex workers from Bangkok. They are promised restaurant jobs or told of the money to be earned in sex work. On arrival at the Johannesburg Airport, they are met by an agent who sells them to brothels throughout SA. Clients may ìmarryî victims by buying their contracts, although victims are often forced to continue doing sex work to earn profits for their husbands.
Chinese victims may be recruited by Triad-linked Chinese or Taiwanese agents for work in Chinese-owned businesses in SA. When recruited to work in such restaurants or on fishing vessels, they are forced into prostitution indefinitely. Some, wanting to study English may be allowed to complete their courses, but are then held responsible for an impossible R100 000 debt and are forced to work 12-16 hours a day, even when ill, until the debt is paid off.
Victims have no freedom of movement and their traffickers take their earnings. If they refuse to co-operate, they and their families are threatened with violence.
DFL submitted evidence to the Constitutional Court on the harmful effects of prostitution. Experience in SA and abroad proves the inseparable link between crime and prostitution. Legalising prostitution will enable pimps to continue their practices instead of curtailing this evil. For those affected by prostitution, DFL offers a 24 Hour Careline: 073 224 9221.
Excerpts for the SA Press Association (Sapa)
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DEVOTION
Proverbs 30:26 ìThe rock badgers are a feeble folk, yet they make their homes in the cragsî
We learn a great spiritual lesson from the rock badgers. Like them, man too is weak. Physically and mentally man is actually very vulnerable. This is a mystery that we tend to forget easily. Our natural man always wants to be strong. Meanwhile, God never intended us to be strong because His strength is made perfect in weakness. Our weakness should therefore drive us into the rocks for safety.
God has given us spiritual rocks to hide in. A clean conscience is such a rock, giving us peace of mind and confidence in life. Walking in the Spirit is another. The devil will always try to tempt us into walking in the flesh. But the moment we become carnal, we move out of the rockís safety and are exposed to the devilís attacks and sin. Leaving on the altar what God gives us is another rock. The temptation to take our job, talents, possessions, families off the altar for ourselves is ever present. If we do that, they will immediately become a burden to us.
Sometimes the devil stands outside the rocks holding out temptation like a carrot, trying to lure us out of the rocksí safety. At other times he barks like an angry dog to scare us into leaving the rocksí refuge.
Christ is the ultimate rock in which we should hide. He is the rock of ages cleft for us. Let us therefore remain in Him like the branch in the true vine. Let us rest in God and allow the sap of the vine to flow through us.
Dr Albu van Eeden
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