Month: October 2022

The war on the science-based regulation of medicine accelerates
Last week, it was reported how increasingly there is a war on the science-based regulation of medicine and physicians. It's an old story, but unfortunately the forces arrayed against science-based policy have been emboldened by the pandemic and an stronger alliance with political groups that are against government regulation in general.

A Popular Home Remedy Causes Severe Burns in Pediatric Patients
Garlic has been used medicinally for thousands of years, but the evidence for benefit isn't great. And topical use, particularly in young children, can cause severe burns. Stick to using garlic as a recipe ingredient rather than as a remedy.

Does “therapeutic ultrasound” actually work?
Ultrasound, a commonly used rehabilitation technique, may offer little benefit.

The Subvariants Are Coming
A wave of Omicron subvariants are coming. So get vaccinated.

The Plant Paradox: Steven Gundry’s War on Lectins
Most of what Steven Gundry says in his book The Plant Paradox is demonstrably wrong. There is no science-based reason to avoid lectins.

The making of COVID-19 “contrarian” doctors
In 2009, I tried to answer the question: How do doctors become quacks and antivaxxers? A Twitter encounter suggested to me that an update to that post is massively overdue.

Cutting through the Lies and Misinterpretations about the Updated Standards of Care for the Health of Transgender and Gender Diverse People
The new WPATH standards of care have sparked controversy and intensified debates around gender-affirming care for trans children and adolescents.

Audience Capture: When COVID Influencers Follow Their Followers
Young doctors take heed. Be careful not to develop a brand and cultivate followers you must continually impress. Because instead of leading your followers, you might become their follower.

Some Sepsis Stuff
Sepsis interventions. Some don't work and some don't work.

Sleep Duration and Health
Poor sleep is a genuine concern, but the results of a new cohort study are complex to interpret.