Categories
Bad science Biology Clinical trials Medicine Quackery

The Lung Institute and the stem cell hard sell

The Lung Institute is more evidence that all for-profit stem cell clinics are predatory clinics selling snake oil. EVERY. SINGLE. ONE. OF. THEM. If there’s an exception, I haven’t found it yet.

Categories
Antivaccine nonsense Autism Medicine Popular culture Pseudoscience Quackery

Antivaxxer Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. writes to Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi about measles in the middle of an outbreak

As a deadly measles outbreak continued to kill children in Samoa, antivaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. wrote to Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi. His deceptive pseudoscientific talking points became the template for antivaxers seeking to deflect blame from themselves.

Categories
Antivaccine nonsense Bad science Medicine Quackery

Antivaccine activists and the deadly measles outbreak in Samoa

There is a deadly measles outbreak in Samoa. It is fueled by low vaccine uptake sparked by a tragic case in which two children died because of a screwup mixing up vaccines. Antivaxers have used this case to spread fear, uncertainty, and doubt.

Categories
Medicine

The tragic case of John Lawlor and death by chiropractic neck manipulation

John Lawlor trusted a chiropractor. That chiropractor, Arleen Scholten, manipulated his neck to treat leg pain. The result? Mr. Lawlor died. Why do chiropractors keep doing neck manipulation?

Categories
Friday Woo Medicine Pseudoscience Quackery Skepticism/critical thinking

Perineum sunning: Real woo, social media clickbait, or both?

This week,a ridiculous practice called “perineum sunning” (or “butthole sunning”) went viral on social media and the news. It’s so ridiculous a practice that I have to wonder if social media influencers made up for clicks.