MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'anti-science'. Wed, 21 Jul 2010 11:18:18 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3358979&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D2829 JJump to follow-up Update 12 March. Nine more dimwits signed. An‘early day motion1 (EDM 908) has been tabled in parliament which opposes the conclusions of the science and technology committee report on the evidence for homeopathy. After two weeks it has been signed by an amazing 49 MPs. That is 7.6% of all 646 MPs.  Nothing shows more clearly the scientific illiteracy that prevails in the House of Commons (and, perhaps, the results of the mass mailing of MPs by homeopaths, who are clutching at straws).. These MPs are all people who have difficulty with the idea that pills which contain nothing can have no effect above placebo.  It isn’t rocket science. Those of us who spend quite a lot of unpaid time trying to communicate the joy of science to the public, rather res... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3358979 Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:55:56 +0100 3358979 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3178780&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2Flondon-news-220307_NEW.wmv This article was meant to celebrate their collective efforts and to celebrate the fact that those efforts are beginning to percolate upwards to influence the powers that be. It seems invidious to pick on one example, but if you want an example of beautiful and trenchant writing on one of the topics dealt with here, you’d be better off reading Andrew Lewis’s piece "Meddling Princes, Medical Regulation and Licenses to Kill” than anything in a print journal. I was a bit disappointed by removal of the comment about the Prince of Wales.  In fact I’m not particularly republican compared with many of my friends.  The royal family is clearly good for the tourist industry and that’s important.  Since Mrs Thatcher (and her successors) destroyed larg... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3178780 Thu, 17 Dec 2009 07:01:58 +0100 3178780 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3096864&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D2507 This article was meant to celebrate their collective efforts and to celebrate the fact that those efforts are beginning to percolate upwards to influence the powers that be. It seems invidious to pick on one example, but if you want an example of beautiful and trenchant writing on one of the topics dealt with here, you’d be better off reading Andrew Lewis’s piece "Meddling Princes, Medical Regulation and Licenses to Kill” than anything in a print journal. I was a bit disappointed by removal of the comment about the Prince of Wales.  In fact I’m not particularly republican compared with many of my friends.  The royal family is clearly good for the tourist industry and that’s important.  Since Mrs Thatcher (and her successors) destroyed larg... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3096864 Thu, 17 Dec 2009 07:01:58 +0100 3096864 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3071160&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D2485 Conclusion 62 It is for these reasons that we uphold the Decision Notice. We record our gratitude for the helpful and succinct submissions of counsel on both sides and the incisive contribution of Professor Colquhoun. We wish to add that, whilst we have not accepted the great majority of the arguments advanced by UCLAN, we do not in any way seek to cast doubt on the veracity of the evidence of its witnesses, nor the honesty and loyalty with which they have sought to serve its interests. 63 Our decision is unanimous. Signed David Farrar Q.C.   Watch this space to see what can now be revealed. Follow-up (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3071160 Tue, 08 Dec 2009 19:34:49 +0100 3071160 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2890648&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D2329 Two weeks left to stop the Department of Health making a fool of itself. Email your response to tne Pittilo consultation to this email address HRDListening@dh.gsi.gov.uk I’ve had permission to post a submission that has been sent to the Pittilo consultation. The whole document can be downloaded here. I have removed the name of the author. It is written by the person who has made some excellent contributions to this blog under the pseudonym "Allo V Psycho". The document is a model of clarity, and it ends with constructive suggestions for forms of regulation that will, unlike the Pittilo proposals, really protect patients Here is the summary. The full document explains each point in detail. Executive Summary Statutory regulation lends prestige, but needs to be balanced ... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2890648 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 21:37:04 +0100 2890648 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2688658&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D2043 Conclusion This selection of slides shows that much of the stuff taught in degrees in herbal medicine poses a real danger to public safety and to public health. Pittilo’s idea that imposing this sort of miseducation will help safety is obviously and dangerously wrong. The Department of Health must reject the Pittilo recommendations on those grounds. Follow-up (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2688658 Mon, 10 Aug 2009 18:24:29 +0100 2688658 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2649004&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D1980 Jump to follow-up Today, 29 July 2009, a large number of magazines and blogs will publish simultaneously Simon Singh’s article. The Guardian was forced to withdraw it, but what he said must be heard (even if the word ‘bogus’ is now missing). This is an edited version if the article in the Guardian that resulted in the decision of the British Chiropractic Association to sue Singh for libel. That decision was bad for Singh, though its effects could yet be good for the rest of the world, Firstly the decision to use law rather than rational argument stands a good chance of destroying chiropractic entirely because its claims have now come under scrutiny as never before, and they have been found wanting. Secondly, the support for Singh has been so enormous that there must now b... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2649004 Tue, 28 Jul 2009 23:01:55 +0100 2649004 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2634390&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D1950 Acupuncture has been in the news since, in a moment of madness, NICE gave it some credence, Some people still seem to think that acupuncture is somehow more respectable than, say, homeopathy and crystal healing. If you think that, read Barker Bausell’s book ot Trick or Treatment. It is now absolutely clear that ‘real’ acupuncture is indistinguishable from sham, whether the sham control uses retractable needles, or real needles in the ‘wrong’ places. There has been no clear demonstration of long-lived benefits in any condition, and it is likely that it is no more than a theatrical placebo. In particular, the indistinguishability of ‘real’ and sham acupuncture shows, beyond reasonable doubt that all the stuff about “energy flow in meridians&#8... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2634390 Fri, 24 Jul 2009 07:15:35 +0100 2634390 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2522999&cid=t_362603_97_f&fid=36415&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D1812 Here is a short break from the astonishing festival of chiropractic that has followed the British Chiropractic Association (BCA) v Simon Singh defamation case, and the absurd NICE guidance on low back pain. Singh’s statement already has over 10000 signatories, many very distinguished, Sign it now if you haven’t already. And getting on for 600 separate complaints about exaggerated and false claims by chiropractors have been lodged with the General Chiropractic Council and with Trading Standards offices. Click to sign The BCA has exposed the baselessness of most of chiropractic’s claims more effectively than any sceptic could have done. The University of Westminster is seeing the light? It is only recently that the University of Westminster suspended entr... DC's Improbable Science blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2522999 Thu, 25 Jun 2009 09:09:31 +0100 2522999 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2441449&cid=t_362603_97_f&fid=36415&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D1542 Conclusions Relative to “best care” in general practice, manipulation followed by exercise achieved a moderate benefit at three months and a small benefit at 12 months; spinal manipulation achieved a small to moderate benefit at three months and a small benefit at 12 months; and exercise achieved a small benefit at three months but not 12 months. In other words, none of them worked very well. The paper failed to distinguish between manipulation by physiotherapists, chiropractors and osteopaths and so missed a valuable chance to find out whether there is an advantage to employing people from alternative medicine (the very problem that this NICE guidance should have dealt with) Steve Vogel, another member of the guidance development group, is an osteopath. Osteopathy has cast off it... DC's Improbable Science blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2441449 Fri, 29 May 2009 18:09:14 +0100 2441449 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2441450&cid=t_362603_97_f&fid=36415&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D1516 First the MHRA lets down the public by allowing deceptive labelling of sugar pills (see here, and this this blog). Now it is the turn of NICE to betray its own principles. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) describes its job thus “NICE is an independent organisation responsible for providing national guidance on promoting good health and preventing and treating ill health.” Its Guidance document on Low Back Pain will be published on Wednesday 27 May 2009, but the newspapers have already started to comment, presumably on the assumption that it will have changed little from the Draft Guidance of September 2008. These comments may have to be changed as soon as the final version becomes available. The draft guidance, though mostly sensible, has two re... DC's Improbable Science blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2441450 Mon, 25 May 2009 15:24:25 +0100 2441450 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2365006&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D1372 Jump to follow-up It seems that bits of good news don’t come singly. First honours degrees in acupuncture vanish, Now a big chain of shops selling Chinese herbs and acupuncture has gone into administration. It seems that, at last, people are getting fed up with being conned out of their hard-earned money Herbmedic Barking A local [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2365006 Fri, 24 Apr 2009 15:37:52 +0100 2365006 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2414822&cid=t_362603_97_f&fid=36415&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D1372 This report was on 1st April,  The company’s web site shows no sign of any problems, In fact they are still advertising jobs. So was this an April Fool joke? No it wasn’t.  A visit to Companies House soon settled the matter. The whole company is insolvent, as of 27 March 2009.. Download the whole administration notice and the company report.   Criticisms of Herbmedic This chain of shops was investigated by the BBC’s Inside Out programme. (September 25th 2006). “We sent an undercover reporter to branches of the Herbmedic chain in southern England. On each occasion, the reporter claimed to be suffering from tiredness and was prescribed herbal remedies after a consultation lasting less than five minutes. The herbalists, who describe themselves as ... DC's Improbable Science blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2414822 Fri, 24 Apr 2009 06:49:36 +0100 2414822 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2414824&cid=t_362603_97_f&fid=36415&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D1364 On 24 July 2006, I sent a request to the University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN), under the Freedom of Information Act  (2000)   I asked to see the teaching materials that were used on their BSc Homeopathy course.  The request was refused, citing the exemption under section 43(2) of the Act (Commercial Interests).  Two internal reviews were then held. These reviews upheld and the original refusal on the grounds of commercial interests, Section 43(3), and additionally claimed exemption under Section 21 “that is reasonably accessible to applicants by other means (upon the payment of a fee)….i.e. by enrolling on the course….” In 21 October 2006 I appealed to the Office of the Information commisioner. (The”public authority” means... DC's Improbable Science blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2414824 Thu, 16 Apr 2009 20:04:15 +0100 2414824 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2348073&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D1364 On 24 July 2006, I sent a request to the University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN), under the Freedom of Information Act  (2000)   I asked to see the teaching materials that were used on their BSc Homeopathy course.  The request was refused, citing the exemption under section 43(2) of the Act (Commercial Interests).  Two internal reviews [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2348073 Thu, 16 Apr 2009 20:04:15 +0100 2348073 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2308084&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D1329 In March 2007 I wrote a piece in Nature on Science degrees without the science.  At that time there were five “BSc” degrees in homeopathy. A couple of weeks ago I checked the UCAS site for start in 2009, and found there was only one full “BSc (hons)” left and that was at Westminster University. Today [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2308084 Fri, 03 Apr 2009 20:12:35 +0100 2308084 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2414825&cid=t_362603_97_f&fid=36415&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D1329 In March 2007 I wrote a piece in Nature on Science degrees without the science.  At that time there were five “BSc” degrees in homeopathy. A couple of weeks ago I checked the UCAS site for start in 2009, and found there was only one full “BSc (hons)” left and that was at Westminster University. Today I checked again and NOW THERE ARE NONE. A phone call to the University of Westminster tonight confirmed that they have suspended entry to their BSc (Hons) homeopathy degree. They say that they have done so because of “poor recruitment”.   It was a purely financial decision.  Nothing to do with embarrasment.  Gratifying though it is that recruits for the course are vanishing, that statement is actually pretty appalling   It ... DC's Improbable Science blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2414825 Mon, 30 Mar 2009 18:10:06 +0100 2414825 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2217362&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D1196 Recently I wrote a piece for the National Health Executive (”the Independent Journal for Senior Health Service Managers”), with the title Medicines that contain no medicine and other follies. In the interests of what journalists call balance (but might better be called equal time for the Flat Earth Society), an article appeared straight after mine, [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2217362 Thu, 26 Feb 2009 22:36:36 +0100 2217362 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2414827&cid=t_362603_97_f&fid=36415&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D1196 Recently I wrote a piece for the National Health Executive (”the Independent Journal for Senior Health Service Managers”), with the title Medicines that contain no medicine and other folliesonline casino. In the interests of what journalists call balance (but might better be called equal time for the Flat Earth Society), an article appeared straight after mine, Integrating Homeopathy into Primary Care. It was by Rachel Roberts “Research consultant for the Society of Homeopaths”. This defence was so appalling that I sent them a response (after first doing a bit of checking on its author).  To my surprise, they published the response in full [download pdf of printed version]. Their title was As always, the first step is to Google the author, to find out a bit more. It s... DC's Improbable Science blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2414827 Thu, 26 Feb 2009 08:09:35 +0100 2414827 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2414828&cid=t_362603_97_f&fid=36415&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D1191 BSc courses in homeopathy are closing. Is it a victory for campaigners, or just the end of the Blair/Bush era? The Guardian carries a nice article by Anthea Lipsett, The Opposite of Science (or download pdf of print version). Dr Peter Davies, dean of Westminster’s school of integrated health, says “he welcomes the debate but it isn’t as open as he would like.” Well you can say that again. The University of Westminster has refused to send me anything much, and has used flimsy excuses to avoid complying with the Freedom of Information Act. Nevertheless a great deal has leaked out. Not just amethysts emit hig Yin energy, but a whole lot more (watch this space). Given what is already in the public, arena, how can they possibly say things like this? “Those t... DC's Improbable Science blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2414828 Tue, 24 Feb 2009 09:27:51 +0100 2414828 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2211700&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D1191 BSc courses in homeopathy are closing. Is it a victory for campaigners, or just the end of the Blair/Bush era? The Guardian carries a nice article by Anthea Lipsett, The Opposite of Science (or download pdf of print version). Dr Peter Davies, dean of Westminster’s school of integrated health, says “he welcomes [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2211700 Tue, 24 Feb 2009 09:27:51 +0100 2211700 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2144897&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D984 This letter appeared in the Times on Friday 30 January, 2009. It was prompted by the news from the University of Salford, but its main purpose was to try to point out to the Department of Health that you can’t hope to regulate alternative treatments in any sensible way while continuing to push under [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2144897 Fri, 30 Jan 2009 10:24:14 +0100 2144897 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2125749&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D885 Congratulations to the vice-chancellor of the University of Salford, Michael Harloe. Times Higher Education announced on 15th January 2009 Salford to shut complementary medicine BSc. “The University of Salford is to stop offering undergraduate degrees in acupuncture and complementary medicine because they are no longer considered “a sound academic fit”.” This is the first time that [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2125749 Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:52:36 +0100 2125749 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2104904&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D790 I’m perfectly happy to think of alternative medicine as being a voluntary, self-imposed tax on the gullible (to paraphrase Goldacre again). But only as long as they do no harm and only as long as the obey the law of the land.  Only too often, though, they do neither. When I talk about law, I don’t [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2104904 Thu, 15 Jan 2009 10:49:10 +0100 2104904 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2081469&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D766 Sense about Science have just produced a rather good pamphlet that exposes, yet again. the meaningless marketing slogan “detox”.  You can download the pamphlet from their web site. The pamphlet goes through the claims of eleven products.  Needless to say, the claims are either meaningless, or simply untrue. Garnier Clean Detox Anti-Dullness Foaming Gel “Detoxifies by cleansing the [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2081469 Mon, 05 Jan 2009 19:55:35 +0100 2081469 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2075526&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D675 The National Health Executive (”the Independent Journal for Senior Health Service Managers) asked for an article about quackery. This is a version of that article with live links. Download the pdf version. On May 23 th 2006 a letter was sent to the chief executives of 467 NHS Trusts. It was reported as a front page [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2075526 Fri, 02 Jan 2009 16:27:28 +0100 2075526 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1997017&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D454 Jump to follow-up It’s hard enough to communicate basic ideas about how to assess evidence to adults without having the effort hindered by schools. The teaching of quackery to 16 year-olds has been approved by a maze of quangos, none  of which will take responsibility, or justify their actions, Consider, for example, Edexcel Level 3 [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1997017 Fri, 28 Nov 2008 15:57:36 +0100 1997017 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1947844&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D351 Today brings a small setback for those  of us interested in spreading sensible ideas about science.  According to a press release “The BMJ Group is to begin publishing a medical journal on acupuncture from next year, it was announced today (Tuesday 11 November 2008). This will be the first complementary medicine title that the BMJ Group has [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1947844 Tue, 11 Nov 2008 05:57:50 +0100 1947844 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1933497&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D282 Jump to the homeopathy debate Obama wins! Bush and Blair have gone. Could this mark the beginning of the end of the fashion for believing things that aren’t true? Trinity College Dublin: the Phil. “Creationism is a valid world view” This is the 324th year of the Trinity College Philosophical Society (known locally as the ‘Phil’).  Its [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1933497 Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:25:29 +0100 1933497 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1927995&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D35 I have always thought that our undergraduates had difficulty in expressing themselves clearly, in simple words. But they are models of clear thought compared with Christine Barry’s recent paper (Social Science and Medicine, 62, 2464-2657, 2006). Barry’s work rivals Alan Sokal’s famous spoof paper, “Transgressing the boundaries: the Hermeneutics of quantum gravity”. Sokal’s paper [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1927995 Sun, 02 Nov 2008 21:32:02 +0100 1927995 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1908967&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D261 It was a great delight to visit Amsterdam on 25 October to speak at a meeting off the Vereniging tegen de Kwaksalverij (Society against quackery).  Unfortunately their excellent web site is in Dutch, so the best you can do at the moment is to use the Google translation, with its frequently hilarious renderings.  Better translations [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1908967 Mon, 27 Oct 2008 12:31:21 +0100 1908967 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1876630&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D259 It seems that validation committees often don’t look beyond the official documents. As a result, the validations may not be worth the paper they are written on. Try this one. One of the best bits of news recently was the downfall of Matthias Rath.  He’s the man who peddled vitamin pills for AIDS in Africa, and encouraged [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1876630 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 22:07:27 +0100 1876630 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1790645&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D256 Today is a good day for anyone who deplores dangerous confidence tricksters. In particular it is a good day for Ben Goldacre, and for the Guardian who defended him at potentially enormous expense. Matthias Rath, the Dutch (or is it German) vitamin salesman has dropped his libel action against the  Guardian. He is the man [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1790645 Sat, 13 Sep 2008 22:52:22 +0100 1790645 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1783155&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D254 There have been some really excellent books about quackery this year.  This isn’t one of them. Nice dedication uh? It is about a lot more than quackery  It is about the scientific method in general. and in particular about how often it is misunderstood by journalists.  Abuse of evidence by the pharmaceutical industry is treated just as [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1783155 Thu, 11 Sep 2008 13:15:43 +0100 1783155 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1764447&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D253 The publication of Gilbey’s paper and my editorial in the New Zealand Medical Journal (NZMJ) led to a threat of legal action by the NZ Chiropractors’ Association Inc for alleged defamation.  After publishing a defiant editorial, the editor of the NZMJ offered chiropractors the chance to put their case. In the last issue of NZMJ [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1764447 Fri, 05 Sep 2008 08:11:54 +0100 1764447 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1760355&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D252 After the announcement that the University of Central Lancashire (Uclan) was suspending its homeopathy “BSc” course, it seems that their vice chancellor has listened to the pressure, both internal and external, to stop bringing his university into disrepute. An internal review of all their courses in alternative medicine was announced shortly after the course  closure.   Congratulations [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1760355 Thu, 04 Sep 2008 09:07:16 +0100 1760355 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1764448&cid=t_362603_97_f&fid=36415&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D252 After the announcement that the University of Central Lancashire (Uclan) was suspending its homeopathy “BSc” course, it seems that their vice chancellor has listened to the pressure, both internal and external, to stop bringing his university into disrepute. An internal review of all their courses in alternative medicine was announced shortly after the course  closure.   Congratulations [...] (Source: DC's Improbable Science) DC's Improbable Science blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1764448 Thu, 04 Sep 2008 08:20:14 +0100 1764448 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1739650&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D251 The Times today has done a good job on giving publicity to the case against following the advice of the Pittilo report. It simply makes no sense to have government regulation of acupuncture, herbal medicine, traditional Chinese medicine until such time as there is evidence that they work. It makes even less [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1739650 Fri, 29 Aug 2008 08:04:15 +0100 1739650 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1734446&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D249 Jump to follow-up The first major victory in the battle for the integrity of universities seems to have been won. This email was sent by Kate Chatfield who is module leader for the “BSc” in homeopathic medicine at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN). from Kate Chatfield… Dear All, It’s a sad day for us here at UCLan [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1734446 Wed, 27 Aug 2008 11:20:16 +0100 1734446 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1717883&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D247 My original piece on Integrative Baloney@Yale was posted on May 16th, after I got back from a visit there. The talk I gave there included a short video. My movie, Integrative baloney@Yale, was made entirely from clips taken from Yale’s own YouTube movies which showed something approaching three hours of its “1st [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1717883 Tue, 19 Aug 2008 20:11:16 +0100 1717883 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1692518&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D243 Samuel Hahnemann (1755 - 1843) was the originator of homeopathy. He was clearly a well-intentioned man.. There is good reason to believe that he thought dilution could not go on for ever, but he died 22 years before it became possible to calculate that his favourite 30C dilution already contained nothing at all. The [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1692518 Fri, 08 Aug 2008 23:01:14 +0100 1692518 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1634960&cid=t_362603_131_f&fid=34991&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Fevolgen%2F%7E3%2F338487819%2Fcreationist_love_baseball.php The Creation Museum is located in northern Kentucky, just across the Ohio border from Cincinnati. Answers in Genesis, the folks behind the so-called "museum", claim that their "museum" is within a 6 hour drive of 2/3 of the US population. This is not true -- Kentucky is in the middle of bumfuck nowhere (I'm an expert on cities in the middle of bumfuck nowhere), and most people in the US can't get there in 6 hours. But the museum is damn close to Cincinnati -- it's in what people would call the "greater Cincinnati area", and it's closer to the so-called Cincinnati airport (which is actually in Kentucky) than the airport is to Cincinatti. Anyway, it's so close to Cincinnati (how close is it?) that Answers in Genesis is advertising their "museum" on during what can be considered the most imp... evolgen blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1634960 Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:15:00 +0100 1634960 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1561528&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D239 During the last year, there has been a very welcome flurry of good and informative books about alternative medicine. They are all written in a style that requires little scientific background, even the one that is intended for medical students. CAM, Cumming | Trick or Treatment | Snake Oil Science | Testing treatments [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1561528 Wed, 02 Jul 2008 07:47:08 +0100 1561528 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1532074&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D235 A report has appeared on Regulation of Practitioners of Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine. The report is written by people all of whom have vested interests in spreading quackery. It shows an execrable ability to assess evidence, and it advocates degrees in antiscience It would fail any examination. Sorry, Prof Pittilo, [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1532074 Fri, 20 Jun 2008 20:05:15 +0100 1532074 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1446635&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D231 The extent to which irrationality has become established in US Medicine is truly alarming I wrote about Quakademics in the USA and Canada on my last trip to the USA, and on my May trip I visited Yale, where I decided to try a full [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1446635 Fri, 16 May 2008 15:15:37 +0100 1446635 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1394104&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D227 Times Higher Education has published a league table showing that the University of Westminster is head of the league table for the number of courses in quackery. With fine timing, I just acquired the slides for their lecture on "vibrational medicine". See a selection of them. It seems that Amethyst; the 'Transmutator' . . .emits high Yin energy so transmuting lower energies and clearing and aligning energy disturbances . . .". This is part of a vocational "Bachelor of Science" degree. It is beyond parody. You couldn't make it up. (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1394104 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 20:16:15 +0100 1394104 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1387089&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D228 This blog, along with many others, has had plenty to say about the Prince of Wales’ unconstitutional meddling in public affairs. The lovely description, Quacktitioner Royal, was coined by NHS Blog doctor. The Times published a letter from Edzard Ernst and Simon Singh on April 16th. In their forthcoming book, Trick or Treatment? Alternative [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1387089 Mon, 21 Apr 2008 06:47:42 +0100 1387089 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1385828&cid=t_362603_131_f&fid=34991&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Fevolgen%2F%7E3%2F273714736%2Fthe_natural_selection_of_ideas.php It's funny because some people think both groups are wrong: Originally from Tom the Dancing Bug. Read the comments on this post... (Source: evolgen) evolgen blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1385828 Sat, 19 Apr 2008 21:15:00 +0100 1385828 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1362540&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D226 This is a fuller version, with links, of the comment piece published in Times Higher Education on 10 April 2008. If you still have any doubt about the problems of directed research, look at the trenchant editorial in Nature (3 April, 2008. Look also at the editorial in Science by Bruce [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1362540 Thu, 10 Apr 2008 07:50:02 +0100 1362540 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1329315&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D224 In a wonderful demonstration of common sense, the BBC has removed all the alternative medicine pages from BBC Health web site. I expect that it was helped in making that decision by the many complaints it had received about statements on these pages that were simply not true, The existence of these pages [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1329315 Wed, 26 Mar 2008 21:36:12 +0100 1329315 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1300847&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D223 Boots the Chemists have proved themselves dishonest before, over their promotion of homeopathy and of B Vitamins “for vitality” In a press release dated 12 March 2008, they have hit a new low in ethical standards Boots help boost the nation’s energy levels in just one week “Health and beauty expert Boots has launched an exclusive energising vitamin [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1300847 Thu, 13 Mar 2008 20:01:20 +0100 1300847 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1288700&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D221 We are all interested in the relationship between our health and what we eat. What a pity that so little is known about it. The problem, of course, is that it almost impossible to do randomised experiments, and quite impossible in most cases to make the experiments blind. Without randomisation there is no [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1288700 Sat, 08 Mar 2008 21:38:24 +0100 1288700 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1252695&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D220 This afternoon I went to the Coliseum to see a revival of Jonathan Miller’s 1986 production of the Mikado. It was beautifully staged. The well-known patter song of Ko-Ko, the Lord High Executioner of Japan, begged for a version that deals with anti-science (original here). The serious post will come later. [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1252695 Sun, 24 Feb 2008 08:16:44 +0100 1252695 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1238293&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D219 This is the third post based on a recent trip to North America (here are the first and second) One aspect of the endarkenment, the Wal-Mart model of a university, is very much the same in the US as in the UK. At one US university, an excellent scientist offered the theory that an alien spacecraft [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1238293 Sun, 17 Feb 2008 21:36:35 +0100 1238293 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1218443&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpodcast.cbc.ca%2Fmp3%2Fsundayedition_20080204_4624.mp3 Thursday 24 Jan. The original reason for going to North America was an invitation from the Toronto Secular Alliance and Center for Inquiry. The talk for them was given a lot of publicity, for example here and here and from the totally admirable Orac. Toronto seems to be no worse than anywhere else when it [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1218443 Fri, 08 Feb 2008 18:07:16 +0100 1218443 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1220900&cid=t_362603_97_f&fid=36415&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D218 A great deal has been written about media ‘nutritionist’, Patrick Holford. He’s the chap who thinks that chromium and cinnamon can treat diabetes (watch the video), among other odd beliefs. For all the details, check badscience.net, holfordwatch and here. For a quick symopsis, look at Holfordmyths.org. Patrick Holford and Drew Fobbester are joint researchers and [...] (Source: DC's Improbable Science) DC's Improbable Science blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1220900 Thu, 07 Feb 2008 18:41:39 +0100 1220900 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1142877&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D215 As I have often said, you don’t need to be a scientist to see that most alternative medicine is bunk, though it is bunk that is supported and propagated by an enormously wealthy industry.. There were two good examples this week, John Sutherland, who was until recently professor of English literature at UCL, understands it very [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1142877 Thu, 10 Jan 2008 22:24:23 +0100 1142877 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1113676&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D211 A merry christmas to one and all (or, depending on your mood, possibly bah humbug). After the last post (and the next one), here’s something a bit lighter. Last week I was in Brighton at the British Pharmacological Society Winter meeting in the Hilton Metropole (the less said about that hotel [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1113676 Sun, 23 Dec 2007 11:38:43 +0100 1113676 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1081828&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D210 The Times Higher Education Supplement (THES) last week had a headline “Staff loyalty key to Hefce report”. Staff loyalty is something I’m interested in, so I read on eagerly. The article was about report from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). It came from their Leadership, Governance and Management Strategic Advisory Committee (dated 2-3 [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1081828 Sun, 09 Dec 2007 14:14:09 +0100 1081828 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1081645&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D210 The Times Higher Education Supplement (THES) last week had a headline “Staff loyalty key to Hefce report”. Staff loyalty is something I’m interested in, so I read on eagerly. The article was about report from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). It came from their Leadership, Governance and Management Strategic Advisory Committee (dated 2-3 [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1081645 Sat, 08 Dec 2007 23:16:35 +0100 1081645 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1070456&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D208 Well, guess what turned up in a brown envelope this morning. A copy of the Society of Homeopaths’ Newsletter It makes interesting reading, not least when the homeopaths’ discussion group are abuzz with talk of the demise of homeopathy “The Society is urging its members to be cautious when responding to phone calls and e-mails following [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1070456 Tue, 04 Dec 2007 14:56:26 +0100 1070456 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1063759&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D207 Jump straight to follow up Today is World AIDS Day, and the Society of Homeopaths is holding a meeting to “discuss the evidence” concerning the idea that you can treat AIDS with sugar pills. Needless to say, there is no evidence to discuss, but that doesn’t put them off for a moment. Not content [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1063759 Sat, 01 Dec 2007 12:45:58 +0100 1063759 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1044262&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D203 This advertisement has to be one of the sneakiest bits of spin that I’ve seen in a while. It appeared in today’s Guardian.  And a lot more people will see it than will look at the homeopathic nonsense on the Boots ‘education’ site. What on earth does it mean? One interpretation could be this. We [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1044262 Wed, 21 Nov 2007 20:20:29 +0100 1044262 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1040378&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D202 Here is an interchange of letters from the BMJ. George Lewith says more money should be spent by the government on research on alternative medicine. Well, only if it is spent properly, and that is not what has happened in the past. In all probability spent in this way would be [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1040378 Tue, 20 Nov 2007 18:45:49 +0100 1040378 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1033177&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D200 If you read nothing else on the topic, read Ben Goldacre’s best ever piece, A Kind of Magic? (Guardian, 16 Nov 2007). This started as response to “In defence of homeopathy” in the same newspaper on 13 November. On the same day, the Lancet carried a rather more academic piece by Goldacre “Benefits [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1033177 Fri, 16 Nov 2007 19:54:59 +0100 1033177 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1031299&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D200 If you read nothing else on the topic, read Ben Goldacre’s best ever piece, A Kind of Magic? (Guardian, 16 Nov 2007). This started as response to “In defence of homeopathy” in the same newspaper on 13 November. On the same day, the Lancet carried a rather more academic piece by Goldacre “Benefits [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1031299 Fri, 16 Nov 2007 15:16:35 +0100 1031299 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1021495&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D197 This was not written by me, but by a homeopath, in an email that has been circulating recently. It comes from the editor of hpathy.com, not one of the bigger players in the homeopathic fantasy business. Serious panic seems to be setting in. One amusing aspect is the description of the “huge and systematic campaign”. [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1021495 Mon, 12 Nov 2007 22:54:11 +0100 1021495 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1018990&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D196 Thanks to a correspondent for alerting me to a medical emergency in France. You can read the press release here, from Agence Française de Sécurité Sanitaire des Produits de Santé (AFSSAPS, the French equivalent of the MHRA or FDA). Withdrawal of batches of Gingko biloba and Equisetum arvense AFSSAPS has been informed by Laboratoires Boiron of an [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1018990 Sat, 10 Nov 2007 23:19:09 +0100 1018990 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1018991&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D195 No longer are we just told what to do from the top. Important decisions are preceded by a long period of consultation. That is a wonderful contribution to democracy. Sometimes. But in truth, these consultations are only too often totally sham public relations exercises. Here are a couple [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1018991 Sat, 10 Nov 2007 19:00:03 +0100 1018991 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1009694&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D193 The Corporate Corruption of Higher Education: part 2. Scientists are no longer perceived exclusively as guardians of objective truth, but also as smart promoters of their own interests in a media-driven marketplace. Haerlin & Parr, Nature, 1999, 400, 499. This is a continuation of the previous post on Universities Inc, but with two examples from the UK. University [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1009694 Tue, 06 Nov 2007 20:21:31 +0100 1009694 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1010770&cid=t_362603_97_f&fid=36415&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D192 The Corporate Corruption of Higher Education: part 1 The next post is about examples from the UK. Academic biologists and corporate researchers have become indistinguishable, and special awards are now given for collaborations between these two sectors for behavior that used to be cited as a conflict of interest. Richard Strohman, 1999. Every academic, and especially every university administrator, [...] (Source: DC's Improbable Science) DC's Improbable Science blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1010770 Tue, 06 Nov 2007 14:39:31 +0100 1010770 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1007821&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D192 The Corporate Corruption of Higher Education Academic biologists and corporate researchers have become indistinguishable, and special awards are now given for collaborations between these two sectors for behavior that used to be cited as a conflict of interest. Richard Strohman, 1999. Every academic, and especially every university administrator, should read this book. Although it is entirely about the [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1007821 Tue, 06 Nov 2007 14:39:31 +0100 1007821 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1002600&cid=t_362603_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D191 Trust Boots Boots the Chemists (now Alliance Boots) is a very big business in the UK. There have 1,450 pharmacies in the UK and employ over 100,000 people. I posted the item below a while ago, on the old Improbable Science page. I thought it deserved a bit more publicity, for the following reason. I mentioned [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1002600 Sun, 04 Nov 2007 07:39:42 +0100 1002600 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=970348&cid=t_362603_97_f&fid=36415&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D172 Remember Kate Birch? She was the homeopath who was caught out recommending homeopathic treatment for malarie prevention (”Homeopathy is more effective that any western medication”). Still worse she advocated homeopathic cures for malaria at a clinic in Tanzania”. The follow up to that outrageously wicked claim is posted here. Imagine my amazement when Kate Birch [...] (Source: DC's Improbable Science) DC's Improbable Science blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=970348 Mon, 22 Oct 2007 20:43:40 +0100 970348 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=943226&cid=t_362603_97_f&fid=36415&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D171 Many people now have written about the disgraceful and dangerous claims by homeopaths to be able to prevent and cure malaria. My contribution was “Homeopathic ‘cures. for malaria: a wicked scam” One of the best contributions was on the Quackometer blog, The Gentle Art of Homeopathic Killing. But the post has vanished! Quackometer’s ISP has [...] (Source: DC's Improbable Science) DC's Improbable Science blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=943226 Thu, 11 Oct 2007 13:46:49 +0100 943226 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=931544&cid=t_362603_97_f&fid=36415&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D170 You know those silly e-petitions on the 10 Downing Street site? Not only do they give you a spurious feeling that you are being listened to, but they are now being hijacked for surreptitious free advertising. Just for a laugh, why not go to sign this one, at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/health-claims/#detail We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to [...] (Source: DC's Improbable Science) DC's Improbable Science blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=931544 Fri, 05 Oct 2007 22:03:05 +0100 931544 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=926442&cid=t_362603_97_f&fid=36415&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D169 A paper published in the Postgraduate Medical Journal, October 2007, has been reported widely. In the same issue there was a commentary by Edzard Ernst. They show the astonishingly poor evidence than herbal treatments work, despite the fact that they have been around for thousands of years. They looked at 1330 [...] (Source: DC's Improbable Science) DC's Improbable Science blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=926442 Thu, 04 Oct 2007 13:41:25 +0100 926442 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=923886&cid=t_362603_97_f&fid=36415&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D168 The British Medical Journal ran an article on “doctor bloggers” last week. Photo ©Mark Thomas The BMJ put the article behind a paywall, but you can download a reprint here. The picture at the top should have been Ben Goldacre, whose badscience.net is now number two in the world. That picture prompted the child of a friend to [...] (Source: DC's Improbable Science) DC's Improbable Science blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=923886 Wed, 03 Oct 2007 11:33:56 +0100 923886 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=914850&cid=t_362603_97_f&fid=36415&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D166 Back pain is a big problem, and Ben Goldacre has already written about the new study The German Acupuncture Trials (GERAC) for chronic low back painRandomized. Multicenter, Blinded, Parallel-Group Trial wth 3 groups. Sadly, the Journal of the American Medical Association have told me to remove the link to the original paper, so if you want to [...] (Source: DC's Improbable Science) DC's Improbable Science blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=914850 Wed, 26 Sep 2007 09:58:06 +0100 914850 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=914851&cid=t_362603_97_f&fid=36415&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D165 21 September 2007 Channel 4 News reported on the pressure to save money by stopping NHS funding for “unproven and disproved treatments”. Watch the video. The report started badly when the journalist, Victoria Macdonald, said that the bottles of homeopathic pills contained “only natural ingredients”. Wrong They contain NO ingredients. That is just as well perhaps, when you recall [...] (Source: DC's Improbable Science) DC's Improbable Science blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=914851 Sat, 22 Sep 2007 17:17:58 +0100 914851 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=914852&cid=t_362603_97_f&fid=36415&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D163 A new judgment today from the Advertising Standards Authority . A direct mailing for books by Patrick Holford, a nutritionist, contained a booklet entitled “100%health”. Headline text stated “You don’t swallow junk food. Why swallow junk health advice?” Text in a letter from the “Editor of 100%health”, Patrick Holford, on an inner page [...] (Source: DC's Improbable Science) DC's Improbable Science blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=914852 Wed, 19 Sep 2007 04:09:35 +0100 914852 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=914854&cid=t_362603_97_f&fid=36415&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D162 Steven Novella, MD, an academic neurologist at Yale University, runs The Skeptics Guide to the Universe: Your Escape to Reality He is author of Weird Science , a monthly column featured in the New Haven Advocate. He is the co-founder and President of the New England Skeptical Society, Associate Editor [...] (Source: DC's Improbable Science) DC's Improbable Science blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=914854 Sun, 16 Sep 2007 18:00:34 +0100 914854 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=914855&cid=t_362603_97_f&fid=36415&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D161 It sounds as though Tennessee pharmacist, Larry Rawdon, is in trouble. According to a report in the Tennessean (11 Sept, 2007) “. . . for more than 20 years, the Hohenwald man treated customers at his health-food store with juices and dietary supplements for ailments ranging from obesity to cancer. Some of Rawdon’s patients credit him [...] (Source: DC's Improbable Science) DC's Improbable Science blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=914855 Sat, 15 Sep 2007 17:22:33 +0100 914855 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=914856&cid=t_362603_97_f&fid=36415&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D160 The British Pharmaceutical Conference (2007) staged a debate on “Homeopathy or Allopathy. Which would you choose”. On one side was Felicity Lee (ex Chair of the Society of Homeopaths). I was on the other side. Ben Goldacre was there and he recorded the whole thing. You can listen to it here [...] (Source: DC's Improbable Science) DC's Improbable Science blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=914856 Wed, 12 Sep 2007 08:47:03 +0100 914856 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=914857&cid=t_362603_97_f&fid=36415&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D159 I have received today (11 September 2007) a rather threatening letter from Patrick Holford. He says “I am writing to you directly to complain about both your article in The Guardian of 15 August, in which you falsely claim that my advocacy that Vitamin C is better than conventional drugs to treat AIDS is [...] (Source: DC's Improbable Science) DC's Improbable Science blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=914857 Wed, 12 Sep 2007 07:51:14 +0100 914857 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=914858&cid=t_362603_97_f&fid=36415&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D158 Curiouser and curiouser. Not only have we the curious case of Dr Marks, but Holford’s CV on his web site, and as submitted to the University of Tesside, has alway said that his degree from the University of York in experimental psychology was taken in 1973 - 1976. But an enquiry to the [...] (Source: DC's Improbable Science) DC's Improbable Science blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=914858 Sat, 08 Sep 2007 21:49:51 +0100 914858 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=914859&cid=t_362603_97_f&fid=36415&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D45 Two more high quality trials have failed to show any benefit from alternative medicine. Acupuncture no help for knee osteoarthritis This trial is particularly interesting because osteoarthritis of the knee is the one thing that is always cited as a triumph for acupuncture. It is common to hear people talk about acupuncture as though [...] (Source: DC's Improbable Science) DC's Improbable Science blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=914859 Sat, 01 Sep 2007 11:09:58 +0100 914859 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=914860&cid=t_362603_97_f&fid=36415&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D44 There was some surprise when the University of Teesside recently appointed as a visiting professor, Patrick Holford, the “media nutritionist” and supplement salesman. This has elicited some indignation from within Teesside as well as without. The CV that was submitted to the University of Teesside in support of his appointment at Teesside included the following glowing [...] (Source: DC's Improbable Science) DC's Improbable Science blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=914860 Tue, 28 Aug 2007 13:23:56 +0100 914860 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=914861&cid=t_362603_97_f&fid=36415&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D43 A recent post, Homeopathic “cures” for malaria: a wicked scam, revealed two more cases of claims to cure malaria with homeopathic funny water. One was the claim of Kate Birch, the vice president of the North American Society of Homeopaths, that “Homeopathy is more effective that any western medication” for treatment of malaria. This is so dangerous [...] (Source: DC's Improbable Science) DC's Improbable Science blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=914861 Sun, 26 Aug 2007 21:42:02 +0100 914861 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=914862&cid=t_362603_97_f&fid=36415&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D42 On 21 August 2007, the Taxpayers’ Alliance produced a report that “compiled Britain’s first ever list of university “non-courses” – university degrees that lend the respectability of scholarly qualifications to non-academic subjects – and calculated their annual cost to students and taxpayers.” In this they list 400 degree course, at 91 institutions in the UK, which [...] (Source: DC's Improbable Science) DC's Improbable Science blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=914862 Tue, 21 Aug 2007 11:19:38 +0100 914862 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=914863&cid=t_362603_97_f&fid=36415&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D39 There is no nutrional “therapist” whose doings have been the butt of more attention on the web. Ben Goldacre has been through his writings in meticulous detail. “Patrick Holford - “Food Is Better Than Medicine” South Africa Tour Blighted By HIV Claim” is particularly rivetting. The Holfordwatch web site is a mine of [...] (Source: DC's Improbable Science) DC's Improbable Science blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=914863 Fri, 17 Aug 2007 18:49:12 +0100 914863 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=914864&cid=t_362603_97_f&fid=36415&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D38 This article appeared on 15th August 2007, on the Guardian Science web site. This article spans the topics of both IMPROBABLE SCIENCE and GOOD SCIENCE. The full entry is on DC’s Goodscience, where comments can be left. (Source: DC's Improbable Science) DC's Improbable Science blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=914864 Wed, 15 Aug 2007 11:23:02 +0100 914864 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=914865&cid=t_362603_97_f&fid=36415&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D24 Homeopathy doesn’t poison your body, it poisons your mind Often that is true. Not always though. Homeopathy is worse than just a cultural poison if you die of malaria as a result of advice from a homeopath. The Newsnight TV programme exposed the fact that many UK homeopaths advise homeopathic pills for prevention of malaria. This [...] (Source: DC's Improbable Science) DC's Improbable Science blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=914865 Fri, 10 Aug 2007 07:51:18 +0100 914865 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=914866&cid=t_362603_97_f&fid=36415&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D20 Peter A. Lawrence of the Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, and the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge has written a beautifully argued article, The Mismeasurement of Science. It shows very clearly the bad effects on good science of recent government and university policies. The full entry for this is on the goodscience site, at [...] (Source: DC's Improbable Science) DC's Improbable Science blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=914866 Thu, 09 Aug 2007 14:30:19 +0100 914866 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=914867&cid=t_362603_97_f&fid=36415&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D23 For once, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has done a good job. Legal loopholes prevent them from doing much about fraudulent advertisements for homeopathy, but they have upheld complaints about the Body Detox Clinic in Newcastle upon Tyne. The ASA “. . .considered that, because the substantiation supplied was anecdotal in nature, it was not robust [...] (Source: DC's Improbable Science) DC's Improbable Science blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=914867 Wed, 08 Aug 2007 15:21:48 +0100 914867 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=914868&cid=t_362603_97_f&fid=36415&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D18 Channel 4 TV, Monday 13 August, 8.00 pm in the UK The Enemies of Reason: new age therapies cause ‘retreat from reason’ The Sunday Telegraph (5 August 2007) gave a bit of advance publicity for “The Enemies of Reason”. Prof Dawkins says that alternative remedies constitute little more than a “money-spinning, multi-million pound industry that impoverishes our culture [...] (Source: DC's Improbable Science) DC's Improbable Science blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=914868 Mon, 06 Aug 2007 08:25:09 +0100 914868 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=592326&cid=t_362603_131_f&fid=34991&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Fevolgen%2F%7E3%2F114558520%2Fraise_your_hand.php ...if you don't believe in evolution. Read the comments on this post... (Source: evolgen) evolgen blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=592326 Sun, 06 May 2007 13:45:00 +0100 592326