The American Spectator

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p> SMELL TESTS br> Re: George Neumayr's People Who Mislead People : /p>

I found George Neumayr's article on the People magazine interview with Howard and Judy Dean fascinating. As a practicing physician, I think I may be able to shed some light on two very interesting statements made by Dr. Judy Dean. The first is, "We both worked there (Planned Parenthood) when we were residents." The implication is that this work was an official part of the residency curriculum. But was it? Or were the Deans, like many other residents, "moonlighting" outside of official medical training? Most residents do it to earn extra money, but I have my doubts that Howard and Judy Dean were hurting for cash.

My suspicions were further aroused when Judy Dean said "we were there basically to get GYN experience because you don't generally do it on hospitalized patients." Oh come on, Dr. Dean! When I was in medical school at Johns Hopkins, I did all sorts of GYN training on hospitalized patients from pelvic exams and PAP smears to delivering babies. (I am a Rheumatologist today, but I still remember how scared to death I was the first time I delivered a baby, and how gratified I was that I didn't screw up.) Furthermore, her use of the word "hospitalized" is curious since training programs also use hospital outpatient clinics. The Deans are acting very defensively, and when someone does that, there is usually a reason.

p>There is a great line in Cat On a Hot Tin Roof when Big Daddy asks "do you smell that odor of mendacity?" I think I smell something here. A good investigative reporter needs to find out whether or not the Drs. Dean were performing in an officially-sponsored training rotation during their association with br> Planned Parenthood. br> -- Timothy L. Huettner , M.D.

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