Denial of pregnancy and neonaticide: A historical overview and case report.

While denial of pregnancy and neonaticide are rare, they are potentially associated and share some risk factors. Neonaticide has been proposed as the extreme outcome of a denial of pregnancy. However, the process leading to such a possible outcome is not yet fully understood. The primary goal of this essay is to examine the various definitions and ambiguities surrounding the denial of pregnancy. The case of a young woman with a history of two denied pregnancies with diverse characteristics and outcomes, the latest of which resulted in neonaticide, is then reported and examined. A forensic psychiatric evaluation was also performed to reconstruct the woman's mental state at the time of the crime. The forensic pathological analysis of the newborn, abandoned near the sea while still alive, is described. The victim's body showed signs of shaken baby syndrome. We contend that differing levels of awareness during a denial of pregnancy might not be predictive of the potential delivery outcome in terms of threat to the newborn's survival, according to the forensic pathological and psychopathological data of the current case. Early identification of women affected by denial of pregnancy who pose a danger of committing infanticide is hampered by both intrinsic traits (dissimulation, unawareness, low propensity to seek assistance) and environmental factors (isolation, low socioeconomic level, poor education.). A previous history of denial of pregnancy should activate health and support services to reduce the potential risks for the mother and the child.

O sexo em psicanálise como ontologia negativa / El sexo en el psicoanálisis como ontología negativa / Sex in psychoanalysis as a negative ontology

RESUMO O objetivo deste artigo é defender a tese de que o sexo em psicanálise apresenta caráter ontologicamente negativo. Desde Freud, sabemos que sexo não se restringe a práticas específicas nem se aferra a objetos predeterminados - sexo é encarado como pulsional; sendo assim, perverso, polimorfo e infantil. Desta feita, trata-se de um objeto não positivado e que se manifesta em fenômenos negativos, como as formações do inconsciente - sexo, inconsciente e não saber estão intimamente associados. O impasse ontológico radical concernente ao sexo compõe os desenvolvimentos lacanianos referentes ao desejo e ao gozo. Ater-se à espécie de negatividade que lhe é própria permite extrair outras consequências do aforismo 'não há relação sexual' - para além da ideia de obstáculo ou impedimento, problematiza-se a face ontológica negativa da não relação, correspondente à ligação entre simbólico e real e que pode ser formalizada no matema S (Ⱥ). O artigo também põe em destaque incidências clínicas desta proposta - reconhecer a irredutibilidade ontológica da negação nos desvia das determinações positivas que sustentam normatizações identitárias em horizonte clínico.

RESUMEN El objetivo de este artículo es defender la tesis de que el sexo en el psicoanálisis tiene un carácter ontológicamente negativo. Desde Freud hemos sabido que el sexo no se limita a prácticas específicas, ni se aferra a objetos predeterminados: el sexo es visto como pulsional; así, perverso, polimorfo e infantil. Esta vez, es un objeto no positivo que se manifiesta en fenómenos negativos, como las formaciones del inconsciente: el sexo, el inconsciente y el no-saber están estrechamente asociados. El impasse ontológico radical sobre el sexo constituye el desarrollo lacaniano sobre el deseo y el goce. Cumplir con su propio tipo de negatividad nos permite extraer otras consecuencias del aforismo 'no hay relación sexual': más allá de la idea de obstáculo o impedimento, el aspecto ontológicamente negativo de la no-relación, correspondiente al vínculo entre lo simbólico y lo real, se problematiza. Este marco teórico se puede formalizar en el matema S (Ⱥ). El artículo también destaca las implicaciones clínicas de esta propuesta: reconocer la irreductibilidad ontológica de la negación nos desvía de las determinaciones positivas que sustentan las normas de identidad en el horizonte clínico.

ABSTRACT The purpose of this article was to defend the thesis that sex in psychoanalysis has an ontologically negative character. Since Freud, we have known that sex is not limited to specific practices or attached to predetermined objects - sex is seen as instinctual; therefore, perverse, polymorphous and childish. In this case, it is a non-positivized object that manifests itself in negative phenomena, such as the formations of the unconscious - sex, unconscious and not-knowing are intimately associated. The radical ontological impasse concerning sex makes up the Lacanian developments concerning desire and jouissance. Keeping to the negativity that is proper to it allows to draw other consequences from the aphorism 'there is no sexual relationship' - in addition to the idea of obstacle or impediment, the negative ontological face of non-relation is problematized, corresponding to the link between symbolic and real, which can be formalized in the matheme S (Ⱥ). The article also highlights clinical incidences of this proposal - recognizing that ontological irreducibility of negation diverts us from positive determinations that support identity norms in the clinical horizon.

Negacionismos, anti-intelectualismo e formação da comunidade científica

No dia 12 de agosto de 2021, o professor e pesquisador Flávio Coelho Edler apresentou a conferência intitulada Negacionismos, anti-intelectualismo e formação da comunidade científica, a convite do Departamento de História da Universidade Estadual de Maringá. Flávio Edler também compõe o grupo de pesquisa “O físico, o mental e o moral na história dos saberes médicos-psicológicos”.

Why are people antiscience, and what can we do about it?

From vaccination refusal to climate change denial, antiscience views are threatening humanity. When different individuals are provided with the same piece of scientific evidence, why do some accept whereas others dismiss it? Building on various emerging data and models that have explored the psychology of being antiscience, we specify four core bases of key principles driving antiscience attitudes. These principles are grounded in decades of research on attitudes, persuasion, social influence, social identity, and information processing. They apply across diverse domains of antiscience phenomena. Specifically, antiscience attitudes are more likely to emerge when a scientific message comes from sources perceived as lacking credibility; when the recipients embrace the social membership or identity of groups with antiscience attitudes; when the scientific message itself contradicts what recipients consider true, favorable, valuable, or moral; or when there is a mismatch between the delivery of the scientific message and the epistemic style of the recipient. Politics triggers or amplifies many principles across all four bases, making it a particularly potent force in antiscience attitudes. Guided by the key principles, we describe evidence-based counteractive strategies for increasing public acceptance of science.

[The invisible pregnancy: Clinical characteristics and perspectives about denial of pregnancy]. / La grossesse invisible : caractéristiques cliniques et perspectives autour du déni de grossesse.

Denial of pregnancy is a public health problem due to maternal, fetal, and neonatal morbidity, affecting both physical and mental health. It generally involves an absence of the physical signals associated with pregnancy such as abdominal swelling, amenorrhea, weight gain, or even perception of fetal movements. Despite the potential consequences for mother and child, there is still little data on its clinical features and the neurocognitive mechanisms involved. In this paper, we provide an update on the clinical, socio-demographic, and psychopathological characteristics of pregnancy denial based on contemporary scientific literature. We first define denial of pregnancy by referring to the history of the concept, previous definitions, and nosographic classifications. We then detail the clinic of denial by distinguishing the physical and psychological symptoms of this disorder, then the socio-demographic, gynecological, and psychiatric characteristics. We describe the consequences of denial on the mother, infant, and the dyad, referring to situations of cryptic neonaticide. Finally, we show the importance of perinatal neuroscience research on maternal interoception to understand the mechanisms involved in denial of pregnancy, and improve their medical management in clinical practice.

Are We Getting Less Sexist? A Ten-Year Gap Comparison Analysis of Sexism in a Portuguese Sample.

Widely and slowly, discrimination against women based upon gender has become socially unacceptable. However, less is known about how sexist beliefs have progressed in the last years and if we are responding to this social antagonizing of a sexist discourse. Our goal was to verify the existence of differences in ambivalent sexism and neosexism over a ten-year gap in a Portuguese adult sample and to assess possible modifications in the relationship between the variables. A cross-sectional, correlational study was conducted using two independent groups, with measures taken in 2009 and then in 2019. Both groups were invariant in terms of average age and proportion of sexes. Our results show a decrease in hostile and benevolent forms of sexism, while neosexism remains constant. The relationships between variables suggest that sexist beliefs are changing to accommodate subtler and modernized forms of sexism, like neosexism, that deny the existence of discrimination against women, resent discrimination complaints, and maintain a paternalistic view of women. Neosexism also seems to have a stronger correlation with hostile sexism than with benevolent forms of sexism in the male subsample. This relationship is stronger for the 2019 sample. These relationships suggest that sexism is more deeply rooted than we would like to admit and adapts to social discourse. Despite our best efforts, it is yet to be overcome.

Towards a new understanding of pregnancy denial: the misunderstood dissociative disorder.

Pervasive pregnancy denial is a misunderstood reproductive anomaly which compromises the health of both mother and the developing fetus. Because in extreme cases, the death of the neonate at the hands of his/her mother has criminal repercussions, research has attempted to explain the origins of this clinical phenomenon. The purpose of this review is to analyze the evolution of understanding the association between pregnancy denial and neonaticide. This paper identifies the consistent similarities in symptom presentation, particularly dissociation, when a denied pregnancy ends with the death of the newborn. The common thread across the progression of the literature over time serves as a foundation for considering the development of diagnostic criteria for future inclusion in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. This paper reviews the seminal research from 1969 to current research up to 2020 addressing pregnancy denial and its connection to neonaticide. Peer reviewed and published articles related to key terms around "pregnancy denial," "pregnancy concealment," "neonaticide," and "dissociation" were retrieved from major databases such as PubMed, PsychINFO, JSTOR, ProQEST, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. Reference lists of relevant articles were also scanned to search for further papers pertaining to similarities in symptom presentation across demographic profiles. Papers were excluded if they were not available in English, or if they did not contribute to identifying consistencies in clinical presentation when a pregnancy is denied. There are clear repetitive markers that occur across studies which pertain not only to the frequent absence of certain expected indicators of pregnancy, (i.e. no morning sickness, weight gain, or sensations of fetal movement), but also the misattribution of pregnancy-related symptoms, and the consistent experience of a dissociative episode while giving birth that can unintentionally result in neonaticide. This paper concludes that dissociation is a consistently seen symptom in pervasive pregnancy denial. Dissociation, in addition to other commonly seen symptoms across cases, suggests specific diagnostic criteria that lend themselves to inclusion in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

Pregnancy denial: a complex symptom with life context as a trigger? A prospective case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: To identify risk factors for a woman to experience pregnancy denial. DESIGN, SETTING AND POPULATION: A French multicentric prospective case-control study with 71 mother-infant dyads having experienced a pregnancy denial versus a control group of 71 dyads. METHODS: Data were collected in the week after delivery using an observational leaflet and two psychiatric scales (MINI and QSSP). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Statistically significant differences between the two groups regarding social, demographic, medical and psychiatric data. RESULTS: Not being in a stable relationship (odds ratio [OR] 17.18, 95% CI 3.37-87.60]; P < 0.0001), not having a high school diploma (OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.04-1.38]; P < 0.0001) and having a psychiatric history (OR 6.33, 95% CI 1.62-24.76; P = 0.0002) were risk factors to experience pregnancy denial, whereas being older was a protective factor (OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.79-0.93; P = 0.0054) (logistic regression, Wald 95% CI). Other risk factors included late declarations of pregnancy history and past pregnancy denials (case n = 7, 9.7% versus 0% in controls; P = 0.01), past pregnancy denials in the family (case n = 13, 18% versus control n = 4, 5.6%; P = 0.03), and use of a contraceptive method (75% for cases versus 7% in control; P < 0.0001), primarily an oral contraceptive (75%). CONCLUSION: Family or personal history of pregnancy denial should be part of the systematic anamnesis during the first visit of a patient of child-bearing age. Further, our study points out that life context (young age, single status, socio-economic precarity, pill-based contraception) could be a trigger for pregnancy denial in certain women. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Life context can be a trigger for pregnancy denial.

Denial of Cerebrovascular Events in a National Clinical Quality Registry for Stroke: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate cerebrovascular event (CVE) denials reported by registered patients to the Australian Stroke Clinical Registry, and to examine the factors associated with CVE denial. MATERIAL AND METHODS: CVE denials reported from January 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018 were followed up with hospitals to verify their discharge diagnosis. CVE denials were compared with all non-CVE denial registrants and a 5% random sub-sample of non-CVE deniers according to patient and clinical characteristics, quality of care indicators and health outcomes. Multilevel, multivariable logistic regression models were used. Factors explored were age, sex, stroke severity, type of stroke, treatment in a stroke unit, length of stay and discharge destination. Level was defined as hospital. RESULTS: Overall, 339/23,830 (<2%) CVE denials were reported during the 18-month period. Hospitals confirmed 117 (61%) of CVE denials as a verified diagnosis of stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA). Compared to non-CVE deniers, CVE deniers were younger, had a shorter median length of stay (four days versus one day) and were more likely to be diagnosed with a TIA (64%) compared to the other types of stroke (11% intracerebral haemorrhage; 20% ischaemic; 5% undetermined). CONCLUSION: Very few patients denied their CVE, with the majority of denials subsequently confirmed as eligible for registry inclusion. Diagnosis of a TIA and shorter length of stay were associated with CVE denial. These findings provide evidence that very few cases are incorrectly entered into a national registry, and highlight the characteristics of those unlikely to accept their clinical diagnosis where further education of diagnosis may be needed.

Psychological difficulties of LVAD patients and caregivers: A follow up over one year from discharge.

BACKGROUND: After the rehabilitation program, patients with left ventricular assist device (LVAD) are discharged home, but the adaption to the daily life with the implant is challenging, both with practical and psychological consequences. Literature is lacking detailed information about the quality of life of LVAD patients and caregivers after discharge to home. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed at evaluating the post-discharge outcomes of both LVAD patients and their caregivers in terms of quality of life, affectivity, and psychological health. METHODS: In this observational follow-up study, LVAD dyads discharged home from 1 year to 6 years were re-contacted by phone and received by mail an envelope with self-report questionnaires. Responses of 39 complete dyads of patients (mean age 68.59 ± 4.31; males: 92.31%) and their caregivers (mean age 61.59 ± 11.64; males: 17.95%) were analyzed. RESULTS: Patients and caregivers reported the moderate levels of anxiety, depression, and caregiver strain, and Illness denial and conscious avoidance were associated between them. The couples often reported that the LVAD has impairments for their sleep and for their affective-sexual relationship. Caregivers often reported impairment in social life and self-care. DISCUSSIONS: Despite the satisfaction for the medical and territorial assistance, patients showed psychological difficulties such as anxious and depressive symptoms and caregivers tend to neglect themselves. Even after a long time from discharge to home, the psychological distress of LVAD patients and caregivers is still considerable. Structured and continuous psychological interventions are required to support their psychological health overtime after the discharge to home.

A dimensão ética das representações sociais: o crack entre usuários da rede socioassistencial / The ethical dimension of social representations: crack among users of the social assistance network / La dimensión ética de las representaciones sociales: crack entre usuarios de la red socioasistencial

O consumo de crack na cena pública tem sido simbolicamente apropriado por meio de significados e práticas inseridos em contextos de vulnerabilidade e degradação social. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi investigar as implicações da dimensão ética dos processos de construção de representações sociais sobre o crack em usuários da rede socioassistencial. Foram realizados três grupos focais com 15 homens, todos usuários do Centro de Acolhimento e Apoio do Programa de Atenção Integral aos Usuários de Drogas e seus Familiares (Programa Atitude), em Pernambuco. As comunicações foram transcritas e os dados submetidos a uma análise de conteúdo. Os resultados evidenciam o papel dos afetos na regulação dos modos de ser e agir dos participantes diante das normas do campo representacional do crack e seus fenômenos. Destacaram-se afetos de raiva, ódio, vergonha e humilhação articulados com processos de exclusão e estigmatização social, racial e territorial, que os constroem hegemonicamente como alteridades criminalizadas e desumanizadas. Desse modo, a dimensão ética analisada indica que o sentido de vida que circunscreve as experiências desses sujeitos se conforma pela busca de um status social valorizado, processo no qual a relação com o crack está presente, mas não é exatamente o aspecto mais importante das suas experiências no mundo.(AU)

Crack consumption in the public scene has been symbolically appropriated by use of meanings and practices inserted in contexts of vulnerability and social degradation. This research aimed to investigate the implications of the ethical dimension of the construction processes of social representations about crack among users of the social assistance network. Three focus groups were carried out with 15 men, all users of the Reception and Support Center of the Comprehensive Care Program for Drug Users and their Families (Atitude Program) in the state of Pernambuco. Communications were transcribed and data submitted to content analysis. The results show the role of affections in the regulation of the participants' ways of being and acting in view of the norms of the representational field of crack and its phenomena. Affects of anger, hatred, shame, and humiliation stood out, articulated with processes of exclusion and social, racial and territorial stigmatization, which build them hegemonically as criminalized and dehumanized alterities. Thus, the analyzed ethical dimension indicates that the meaning of life that circumscribes the experiences of these subjects is conformed by the search for a valued social status, a process in which the relationship with crack is present, but it is not exactly the most important aspect of their experiences in the world.(AU)

El consumo de crack en la escena pública se ha apropiado simbólicamente a través de significados y prácticas insertas en contextos de vulnerabilidad y degradación social. El objetivo de esta investigación fue investigar las implicaciones de la dimensión ética de los procesos de construcción de representaciones sociales sobre el crack entre los usuarios de la red socioasistencial. Se compusieron tres grupos focales con 15 hombres, usuarios del Centro de Acogida y Apoyo del Programa de Atención Integral a los Consumidores de Drogas y sus Familias (Programa Atitude) en Pernambuco, Brasil. Los relatos se transcribieron, y los datos pasaron por un análisis de contenido. Los resultados muestran el papel de los sentimientos en la regulación de los modos de ser y actuar de los participantes frente a las normas del campo representacional del crack y sus fenómenos. Se destacaron los sentimientos de ira, odio, vergüenza y humillación, articulados con los procesos de exclusión, estigma social, racial y territorial, que los construyen de manera hegemónica como una figura de alteridad criminalizada y deshumanizada. Así, la dimensión ética en análisis apunta a que el sentido de la vida que circunscribe las vivencias de estos sujetos está conformado por la búsqueda de un estatus social valorado, proceso en el que la relación con el crack está presente, pero no es precisamente el aspecto más importante de sus experiencias en el mundo.(AU)

Arrancando os olhos: reflexões sobre negacionismo / Gouging out the eyes: reflections on denialism / Arrancando los ojos: reflexiones sobre el negacionismo / Crever les yeux: réflexions sur le negationnisme

O texto visa estudar o negacionismo do ponto de vista psicanalítico. Inicialmente se estudam personagens míticos propondo-se que Liríope, Édipo e Jocasta "fizeram vista grossa" para a realidade. Em seguida são discutidas situações clínicas em que os pacientes deformam a percepção da realidade atacando seu aparelho de percepção, em particular a visão. O estudo clínico se articula com a abordagem do negacionismo social. Propõe-se que, nessas situações, aquilo que se nega é substituído por uma nova realidade baseada em narrativas mentirosas que buscam recuperar mitos ancestrais idealizados. São discutidos também aspectos da formação analítica. O trabalho é concluído alertando-se para o risco de negar os perigos representados pelo negacionismo fanático.

The text aims to study denialism from the psychoanalytic point of view. Initially it is studied mythical characters proposing that Liriope, Oedipus and Jocasta "turn a blind eye" to reality. Next, clinical situations are discussed in which patients deform the perception of reality by attacking their perception apparatus, in particular vision. The clinical study is articulated with the approach of social denialism. It is proposed that situations what are denied are replaced by new realities based on lying narratives that seek to recover idealized ancestral myths. Aspects of the analytic training are also discussed. The work is completed by warning of the risk of denying the dangers posed by the fanatical denialist.

El texto tiene como objetivo estudiar el negacionismo desde un punto de vista psicoanalítico. Inicialmente se estudian personajes míticos, proponiendo que Liríope, Edipo y Yocasta "hacían la vista gorda" a la realidad. A continuación, se discuten situaciones clínicas en las que los pacientes deforman su percepción de la realidad atacando su aparato de percepción, en particular su visión. El estudio clínico se articula con el enfoque del negacionismo social. Se propone que, en estas situaciones, lo negado es reemplazado por una nueva realidad basada en narrativas mentirosas que buscan recuperar mitos ancestrales idealizados. También se discuten aspectos de la formación analítica. El trabajo se concluye alertando sobre el riesgo de negar los peligros que plantea el negacionismo fanático.

Le texte vise à étudier le négationnisme d'un point de vue psychanalytique. Dans un premier temps, des personnages mythiques sont étudiés, proposant que Liríope, Odipe et Jocaste « ont fermé les yeux ¼ sur la réalité. Ensuite, des situations cliniques sont discutées dans lesquelles des patients déforment leur perception de la réalité en attaquant leur appareil de perception, en particulier leur vision. L'étude clinique s'articule avec l'approche du negationnisme social. Il est proposé que, dans ces situations, ce qui est nié soit remplacé par une nouvelle réalité basée sur des récits mensongers qui cherchent à récupérer des mythes ancestraux idéalisés. Les aspects de la formation analytique sont également abordés. L'ouvrage se termine en alertant sur le risque de nier les dangers du déni fanatique.

Covid-19 y gripe de 1918-1919: paralelos históricos, preguntas y respuestas / Covid-19 and the 1918-1919 influenza: historical parallels, questions and answers

Resumen El desarrollo de la pandemia de la covid-19 ha motivado un renovado interés por la gripe de 1918-1919 para buscar elementos que facilitaran la comprensión de la experiencia presente, pero también como oportunidad para reevaluar la grave crisis sanitaria del siglo XX a la luz de lo que estamos viviendo. En este contexto y con ese objetivo se inserta esta reflexión histórica sobre estos dos fenómenos pandémicos, que muestra los paralelismos existentes y la necesidad de una toma de conciencia de que nuestro modelo de sociedad está en crisis y se requiere una transformación profunda.

Abstract The rise of the covid-19 pandemic has led to renewed interest in the 1918-1919 influenza in search of aspects that might help us understand the current situation, but also as an opportunity to re-evaluate the serious twentieth-century health crisis in light of what we are experiencing now. In this context and with that goal, this historical reflection shows the parallels that exist and the need for a realization that our model of society is undergoing a crisis and requires profound transformation.

[Covid-19 and the 1918-1919 influenza: historical parallels, questions and answers]. / Covid-19 y gripe de 1918-1919: paralelos históricos, preguntas y respuestas.

The rise of the covid-19 pandemic has led to renewed interest in the 1918-1919 influenza in search of aspects that might help us understand the current situation, but also as an opportunity to re-evaluate the serious twentieth-century health crisis in light of what we are experiencing now. In this context and with that goal, this historical reflection shows the parallels that exist and the need for a realization that our model of society is undergoing a crisis and requires profound transformation.

El desarrollo de la pandemia de la covid-19 ha motivado un renovado interés por la gripe de 1918-1919 para buscar elementos que facilitaran la comprensión de la experiencia presente, pero también como oportunidad para reevaluar la grave crisis sanitaria del siglo XX a la luz de lo que estamos viviendo. En este contexto y con ese objetivo se inserta esta reflexión histórica sobre estos dos fenómenos pandémicos, que muestra los paralelismos existentes y la necesidad de una toma de conciencia de que nuestro modelo de sociedad está en crisis y se requiere una transformación profunda.

The effect of negationism on public health / O efeito do negacionismo na saúde pública

Negacionism refers to the choice to deny a scientifically proven reality, which can reduce life expectancy and quality of life. Within this context, the uncontrolled trajectory of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Brazil has generated great concern due to the lack of consensus on how to manage the pandemic in a scenario of denial of the seriousness of the disease by the government, since on August 2nd, 2021, there are 556,437 Brazilians killed due to the disease. The denial of COVID-19 and the immunizing agent is another pandemic and turns the current scenario into a syndemic.

O negacionismo refere-se à escolha de negar uma realidade cientificamente comprovada, o que pode reduzir a expectativa e a qualidade de vida. Dentro desse contexto, a trajetória descontrolada da Pandemia de COVID-19 no Brasil tem gerado grande preocupação pela falta de consenso sobre como administrar a pandemia em um cenário de negação da gravidade da doença por parte do governo, visto que na data de 02 de agosto de 2021 há 556.437 brasileiros mortos por conta da doença. O negacionismo da COVID-19 e do imunizante é outra pandemia e torna o cenário atual numa sindemia.

Political discourse, denialism and leadership failure in Brazil's response to COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic posed challenges for healthcare systems and political leaders across the globe. In this case study of Brazil, we argue that leadership failings at the highest level contributed to Brazil's relatively high and escalating death rates during 2020. Drawing on an analysis of a large amount of textual documentation drawn from media reports, we emphasise the role and consequences of President Jair Bolsonaro's political discourse and prioritisation of the economy. We focus on the first wave that swept across the globe between January and late June of 2020, arguing that Bolsonaro underplayed the seriousness of the epidemic, leveraged misinformation as a political strategy, promoted pseudoscience, and undermined the Ministry of Health. He also confronted subnational governments for adopting lockdown measures - a move that enabled him to blame regional governors for the short-term economic costs of COVID-19 related restrictions. We suggest that his denialist approach to climate change paved the way for his subsequent denialism of the seriousness of COVID-19 and for his undermining of social distancing, mask-wearing and other preventative responses supported by science. These sobering findings highlight the role that national leaders can play in undermining scientific approaches to both public health and the environment.

Debunking Fringe Beliefs in Child Abuse Imaging: AJR Expert Panel Narrative Review.

Child abuse is a global public health concern. Injuries from physical abuse may be clinically occult and not appreciable on physical examination. Imaging is therefore critical in identifying and documenting such injuries. The radiologic approach for a child who has potentially been abused has received considerable attention and recommendations according to decades of experience and rigorous scientific study. Nonetheless, fringe beliefs describing alternative explanations for child abuse-related injuries have emerged and received mainstream attention. Subsequently, imaging findings identified in abused children have been attributed to poorly supported underlying medical conditions, clouding the evidence basis for radiologic findings indicative of nonaccidental trauma. Fringe beliefs that attribute findings seen in child abuse to alternate pathologies such as genetic disorders, birth trauma, metabolic imbalances, vitamin D deficiency, and short-distance falls typically have limited evidence basis and lack professional society support. Careful review of the scientific evidence and professional society consensus statements is important in differentiating findings attributable to child abuse from fringe beliefs used to discount the possibility that a child's constellation of injuries is consistent with abuse. This review refutes fringe beliefs used to provide alternative explanations in cases of suspected child abuse and reinforces the key literature and scientific consensus regarding child abuse imaging.