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John S. Santelli, MD, MPH

The author is with the Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY.

Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to John S. Santelli, MD, MPH, Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 60 Haven Ave, B2, New York, NY 10032 (e-mail: js2637{at}columbia.edu).

Recently, many states have implemented requirements for scientific or medical accuracy in sexuality education and HIV prevention programs. Although seemingly uncontroversial, these requirements respond to the increasing injection of ideology into sexuality education, as represented by abstinence-only programs.

I describe the process by which health professionals and government advisory groups within the United States reach scientific consensus and review the legal requirements and definitions for medical accuracy. Key elements of this scientific process include the weight of scientific evidence, the importance of scientific theory, peer review, and recognition by mainstream scientific and health organizations. I propose a concise definition of medical accuracy that may be useful to policymakers, health educators, and other health practitioners.