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Medicine Politics Religion Science

Fundamentalist religion, misinformation, and the controversy over embryonic stem cell research in Michigan

Two years ago, there was a brouhaha in Missouri over a ballot proposal to allow state funding for embryonic stem cell research using discarded embryos from fertility clinics. The issue made national news, including some rather despicable rhetoric from Rush Limbaugh about Michael J. Fox, who made ads in support of the Missouri initiative, as […]

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Entertainment/culture Science fiction/fantasy Television

Best Doctor Who adventure ever?

I don’t recall where I saw this, but I’ve been meaning to post it. What better time than a not-so-lazy Sunday, when I have to work on a talk, paper, and other things? (It’s either this, or no blog for you on Monday; I think you know which you’d prefer.) For those of you not […]

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Politics

Think this election is bad?

Think this election is bad? Think it’s really negative? Think it’s really vicious and nasty? Think again. Negative campaigning and vicious attacks by candidates on each other have been with us since at least the election of 1800. If anything, these days elections are probably tamer. The difference is the media. Between robocalls, television, radio, […]

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Antivaccine nonsense Autism Cancer Complementary and alternative medicine Medicine Quackery

Dr. Rashid Buttar wants you to ask him a question

You remember Dr. Rashid Buttar, don’t you? He’s that blight on North Carolina’s medical establishment, known for his “transdermal chelation therapy” that he’s unable to demonstrate as being able to be absorbed through the skin, much less chelate anything (arguably a good thing, actually, because at least it probably doesn’t hurt anyone, as a real […]

Categories
Bioethics Medicine

The gentle art of persuasion

There are times in every physician’s career when he or she faces a patient with a serious, even life-threatening disease or condition, who, for whatever reason, does not want treatment. These can be incredibly frustrating and challenging patients. Most physicians try reason, cajoling, and persuasion. Believe it or not, physicians are still held in enough […]