So About That Ultrasound in the Fetus Pooping Column

[Tuckerfan]

In the latest column Cecil states:

For instance, in 1996 two doctors reported on their ultrasonic observation of a female fetus masturbating over a period of 20 minutes.

If they videotaped that, would it be considered kiddie porn? (Or more correctly: Pre-kiddie porn?)

[JDGold]

@Tuckerfan

In the latest column Cecil states:If they videotaped that, would it be considered kiddie porn? (Or more correctly: Pre-kiddie porn?)

Not really. Its covered under the “rights of discovery” rulings for science. Anything that is observed as a by-product of sponsored scientific research is concidered in the “interest of expanding human knowledge”. ( Got that one from my old college text book, NEVER throw away a book!) On the other hand, if the researchers attempted to instigate this activity in a fetus… well… lets just say that their tenure being revoked is the least of their worries.

[RealityChuck]

I will point out the Cecil was wrong in one statement in the fetal poop column:

@Cecil

What else are they doing in there for nine months without cable?

But all fetuses have a cable, atteched in the center of the belly

Don’t they?

[Mathochist]

@JDGold

Not really. Its covered under the “rights of discovery” rulings for science. Anything that is observed as a by-product of sponsored scientific research is concidered in the “interest of expanding human knowledge”. ( Got that one from my old college text book, NEVER throw away a book!) On the other hand, if the researchers attempted to instigate this activity in a fetus… well… lets just say that their tenure being revoked is the least of their worries.

What I’m wondering about is a literature cite for that ultrasound. I couldn’t care less about the video itself, but having a more solid reference to the original report would be interesting.