Month: September 2019
Deconstructing Justice Terry Clackson’s outrageous acquittal of David and Collet Stephans for the death of their son Ezekiel
On September 19, in a retrial ordered by the Supreme Court of Canada, Alberta Justice Terry Clackson issued a ruling acquitting David and Collet Stephan of failing to provide the necessities of life to their son Ezekiel, whose bacterial meningitis they had chosen to treat with quackery instead of medicine, leading to his death in 2012. The news reports showed that this...
Vaping is Bad: Respiratory Illness, Banning Flavors, and Bad Behavior
Recent reports on the impact of vaping-associated respiratory illnesses are raising concerns about flavored e-cigarettes, and vaping in general. Adding to the problems are some rather draconian measures being implemented by some schools to "protect" students.
FDA proposes ban on curcumin and other naturopathic favorites in compounded drugs
Based on a thorough review of the evidence by experts, the FDA is proposing a ban on using curcumin, cesium chloride and other naturopathic favorites in compounded drugs.
Fat Shaming Is Counterproductive
Fat shaming not only doesn't work, it is counterproductive. So what might help fight obesity?
Naturopathy in the VA
The VA is contracting with naturopathic doctors to provide non-science-based treatment to our veterans. This is a mistake.
The Verdict is In: There is No Justice for Ezekiel Stephan
Ezekiel Stephan died from bacterial meningitis and his parents' failure to seek appropriate medical care in 2012, and now they have been acquitted after the Supreme Court of Canada ordered a new trial. It appears that there may be no justice for Ezekiel.
Do dietary supplements improve heart health?
Dietary supplements are widely consumed to improve heart health. But what does the evidence say?
Crystal Healing
Crystal healing is back and growing in popularity. What does that reveal about our society and alternative medicine?
Professor Gives Grades to Alternative Medicine
Edzard Ernst assigns a grade to 150 alternative medicine modalities, evaluating plausibility, efficacy, safety, cost, and risk/benefit balance. A very useful reference.
A world-renowned placebo researcher asks, “Does placebo research boost pseudoscience?”
Professor Fabrizio Benedetti is the most famous and almost certainly also the most influential researcher investigating the physiology of placebo effects. In a recent commentary, he asks whether placebo research is fueling quackery, as quacks co-opt its results. The answer to that question is certainly yes. A better question is: How do supporters of science counter the placebo narrative promoted by quacks,...