Last Week In Science Based Medicine
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- Written by Dr. Harriet Hall
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Here is a recap of the stories that appeared last week at Science-Based Medicine, a multi-author skeptical blog that separates the science from the woo-woo in medicine.
pH Miracle Living “Dr.” Robert O. Young is finally arrested, but will it stop him? (David Gorski) http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/ph-miracle-living-dr-robert-o-young-finally-arrested-but-will-it-stop-him/ Robert O. Young is famous for promoting quack cancer cures and claiming that “the over-acidification of the body is the single underlying cause of all disease.” His answer to everything is to alkalinize. California law permits licensed healthcare providers to practice this kind of harmful pseudoscientific nonsense and Young was only arrested because he was practicing medicine without a license.
Washington State’s Unconscionable, Unconstitutional Child Protection Law (Harriet Hall) http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/washington-states-unconscionable-unconstitutional-child-protection-law/ Washington law mandates reporting of child abuse and neglect and allows parents to be prosecuted for denying essential medical care to a child – unless they are Christian Scientists! The law is clearly unconstitutional, since it gives preference to only one of the many faith-healing religions. And it is clearly immoral, because it denies some children the protection of law and allows manslaughter to go unpunished.
Dowsing For Murder
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- Written by Romeo Vitelli
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It began with a brutal double murder on July 5, 1692. A wine merchant and his wife were killed in the cellar of their shop in Lyons, France. Since the money known to be in the shop was missing, authorities concluded that the couple had been robbed and murdered using the bloody billhook that had been left behind. Forensic science was virtually non-existent at the time and the magistrates had no idea about who might have committed the crime.
Rather than letting the crime remain unsolved however, the magistrates were urged to consult Jacques Aymar. Though actually a stonemason, Aymar had become fairly famous in the area for his skill as a dowser. While dowsing had largely faded into obscurity by the 17th century, local stories quickly spread over Aymar’s success in locating underground springs and other lost items.
I Doubt That - The Media Guide to Skepticism
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A JREF workshop presented by Sharon Hill and Barbara Drescher.
The common notion about being a "skeptic" is that you hold a generally questioning attitude or have a dubious opinion on a certain topic. At the extreme, terms like "climate skeptic" or "truther" express distrust and denial of scientific conclusions. Scientific skepticism, however, is an approach that emphasizes evaluating claims based on evidence. The process of skepticism is of great value to society to lessen the potential of believing or investing in something that isn't all it appears to be, which may have social, financial or even tragic consequences.
This presentation will provide a look into organized skepticism -- what it is, what it means to be a skeptic, what skepticism isn't, and why it's important for everyone to know how to apply it in a world overloaded with questionable information. Come visit with some friendly neighborhood skeptics who can help you sort through the nonsense and critically evaluate some extraordinary claims. Find out the difference between merely saying "I'm skeptical" and REALLY applying skepticism.
I know this stuff sounds ridiculous: This week in Doubtful News for January 28, 2014
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- Written by Sharon Hill
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Here is a rundown of the strange stories that are causing harm or are just downright bizarre courtesy of Doubtful News.
Sadly, we continue on with flu season as more tragedies come to light. Get your vaccination!
Attacks on vaccination teams in Pakistan continue as a security team for polio workers was killed.
In more promising news, a promoter of a quack cancer treatment faces felony charges.
Read more: I know this stuff sounds ridiculous: This week in Doubtful News for January 28, 2014
Last Week In Science Based Medicine
- Details
- Written by Dr. Harriet Hall
- Category: Swift
- Hits: 3871
Here is a recap of the stories that appeared last week at Science-Based Medicine, a multi-author skeptical blog that separates the science from the woo-woo in medicine.
Stanislaw Burzynski: Using 1990s techniques to battle the FDA today (David Gorski) http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/stanislaw-burzynski-trying-to-relive-his-success-beating-the-rap-in-the-1990s/ In the 1990s, Burzynski got cancer patients to lobby Congress to force the FDA to allow him to use antineoplastons. The strategy worked that time, and his supporters are trying it again. Change.org petitions, the ANP Coalition, and other efforts rely on emotional appeals and rhetoric rather than science. How can we counter their influence?
Top 10 Chiropractic Studies of 2013 (Harriet Hall) http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/top-10-chiropractic-studies-of-2013/ ChiroNexus listed the top 10 studies of 2013. One isn’t a study at all, one is a negative study misrepresented as positive, and the rest are poorly designed small studies without control groups or with inadequate controls, with evidence of bias and with questionable clinical relevance. If these are the top 10, the rest must be truly terrible.
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