Witless Idiocy

What else could it be attributed to? The idea that the winning formula to capture peoples' attention is simple enough; confront them with a genuine celebrity, someone who is young, lively and outspoken, often seen on television and who espouses a cause. That this individual uses her public persona as a goad to influence people toward her untutored take on medical science, causing misinformation to guide both herself and those she influences, seems to be no impediment to using her public fame to raise funds for legitimate scientific-medical interventions.

That being said, what else can describe the decision to invite Jenny McCarthy - actor, television personality, model, author of books on topics fundamental to the manner in which people make decisions regarding their family lives - as the lead draw and headliner presentation of the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation for its Bust a Move for Breast Health fundraiser to take place on March 3? She appears as a guest fitness instructor.

And it was the chair of the event, Bernice Rachkowski, who defended the decision to have Ms. McCarthy appear as the featured headliner, to inspire young women to look after themselves and their bodies as a role model, because ... "We chose her because she's funny, she's very much a people person, she's vivacious and full of life. That's what we look for in a celebrity". In other words the event is geared to the intellectual level of those whose inspiration for life's values appeals to the shallow.

Having attained status as a Playboy playmate, a grade B actor in occasional films, but notoriety as someone who has gained credentials as a health-conspiracy-theorist, Ms. McCarthy is qualified to appear as an inspiration to young women. The event to be held at the Ottawa Athletic Club will feature other guest appearances, featuring kick-boxing, fitness dance, yoga classes and urban-dance routines but hers is held to be the number one draw. What a message of incompetent selection of role model the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation has decided upon.

Her anti-vaccination views have resulted in their deleterious effect impacting on the necessity to vaccinate children against medical scourges, causing scientists to label her a menace. Yet even with this reputation, she was the elite choice of the scintillating brains of the fundraising committee.  A woman whose blame of biomedical treatments for causing autism in children - a charge that has been discredited by research and the experts in communicable diseases - viewed as appropriate to aid in fundraising for breast cancer.



When a valuable cause for human health is matched with an exponent of health-denial as a valid spokesperson, something is badly awry. Popular social values coming head-to-head with recognition that those who make an effort to delay and to defeat enterprises meant to further public health advances are in direct conflict. Ms. Rachkowsky feels people who attend the event will look upon Ms. McCarthy's participation as a celebrity, not as someone with controversial views on the connection she insists links vaccination with autism onset.

Can they be separated?  Hardly. "She also appeals to our target demographic because we want to engage younger women in being aware of breast cancer, how to prevent it and to be aware of all the help that is available if they, their aunt or mom are going through it", claims the event's fundraising head. How can this spokesperson for the event to raise awareness legitimately count on the message getting through when the larger message is that someone whose views conflicts with medical science is delivering the medical message?

"It's disappointing that someone who peddles in pseudo science and has had such a negative impact on the health and well-bring of so many children would ever be invited to participate in any type of legitimate health care program. It, unfortunately, could be viewed as a sign of legitimacy of her dangerous, damaging and totally inaccurate pronouncements regarding the importance of vaccines. Her actions have potentially caused innocent children to be unprotected from potentially life-threatening illnesses. That is inexcusable and should never be given a public forum."
Dr. Gary Freed, professor of pediatrics, University of Michigan, former chair National Vaccine Advisory Committee of the United States

However, according to the brilliant vision of the public relations and fundraising group at the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation, this menace to children's health outcomes, must be viewed for her talent in drawing attention to herself however misguided and harmful, and obviously rewarded.