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Complementary and alternative medicine Friday Woo Medicine Quackery

Your Friday Dose of Woo: Coffee, the ultimate cleanser

Earlier this week, I thought that I had identified this week’s woo target. I told myself that this was it, that this was the one for this week. I even started writing it the other day, because, as much as I try to get this thing done early, somehow I always seem to be writing […]

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Complementary and alternative medicine Entertainment/culture Medicine Quackery Television

Dr. House on vaccinations

If you think I’m hardcore when it comes to my disgust at antivaccination advocates like Dawn Winkler, you should check out House, M.D.: [House walks away. Cut to the clinic and House is in an exam room with a young mother and her baby.] Young Mother: No formula, just mommy’s healthy natural breast milk. House: […]

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Complementary and alternative medicine Medicine Quackery Skepticism/critical thinking

The “pharma shill” gambit

It was a late night in the O.R. last night; so I didn’t get to spend my usual quality blogging time. However, it occurred to me. In honor of being called a “pharma moron” on Whale.to, coupled with all the antivaccination lunacy that’s been infesting the comments of this blog, only to be tirelessly countered […]

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Skepticism/critical thinking

The 44th Meeting of the Skeptics’ Circle: Above us only sky

Yes, it’s that time again! This time, the Skeptics’ Circle comes to us by way of Sweden. In fact, it comes to us by way of a Swedish archeologist named Martin Rundkvist, and he’s rounded up a fine collection of skeptical blogging that should serve as your antidote to the woo that so permeates the […]

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Surgery

When “minor” cases go bad

“It’s just minor surgery.” How many times have surgeons said that to patients? How many times have you, as a patient heard that? How many times have I said that to patients? It’s supposed to be reassuring, and most of the time it is. Unfortunately, there’s no such thing as “minor” surgery if it’s you […]