Petrelis Files

December 20, 2004

GPnotebook.co.uk
c/o Dr Damian C. Crowther
The Cambridge Institute for Medical Research
Hills Road
Cambridge, UK, CB2 2XY

Dear Dr. Crowther:
I see that you've posted the following note on your web site about "gay bowel syndrome:"

>>This was a term that was previously used to refer to a collection of sexually transmitted enteric infections in HIV infected homosexuals (1)

>>The infective organisms included in this "syndrome": Shigella, Giardia, Campylobacter-like organisms, Entamoeba, Chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis.

>>Note however that although that "...Through analysis of biomedical discourse and popular media, it is apparent that Gay Bowel Syndrome is an essentialized category of difference that is neither gay-specific, confined to the bowel, nor a syndrome.." (2). Thus its inclusion as a term in GPnotebook is really as a means of pointing out that the syndrome is not a valid clinical or diagnostic entity. (Source: http://www.gpnotebook.co.uk/simplepage.cfm?ID=-603586526)

While the note is a step in the right direction, I still question why the GP Notebook includes any reference to what you yourselves acknowledge is not specific to gay men, confined to the bowel and not a syndrome.

Since this alleged syndrome is not a valid medical condition, why mention it at all?

Again, I ask you to remove "gay bowel syndrome" from the GP Notebook.

Sincerely,

Michael Petrelis
San Francisco, CA, USA
MPetrelis@aol.com
Ph: 415-621-6267