Re: Chiropractic murder


Ralph Kennedy wrote:
<aborgman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> writes:

I'm saying that any "alternative" medicine that shows better results than
placebos is actually functional and will be adopted by the medical
profession.

I'm also claiming that having positive results doesn't in any way imply
efficacy.

You misspelled "prove."

There is a reason double blind testing is done - and it isn't
because people like to waste money.

Double-blind testing is very useful, but since
people are different from each other in ways most
AMA physicians can't even begin to imagine, it is
not the be-all and end-all tool in medicine some
people claim it is.

Double-blind testing in itself is not the be-all end-all, but it is a
rational way of employing the scientific method. Certainly it's more
meaningful than anecdotes and testimonials.

People are different, and that's why randomization is used; sometimes
people are used as their own controls (i.e., in crossover studies) when
possible, to account for variation between people.


Bottom line, you can refuse to accept whatever
you wish without proof of efficacy, and I even join
you in doing that, but none of you clowns have disproven
(which is a different thing altogether than simply
not accepting as having been proven) the vast amount
of alternative medicine you try to categorically dismiss.

Substitute "existence" for "efficacy" and "Bigfoot and the Lochness
Monster" for "the vast amount of alternative medicine" and it follows
in the same way.

I'm all for alternative medicine being tested, and many are. Some
succeed and are integrated into general medical practice. But in large
part, it's not in the interests of the manufacturers to have their
products tested. I mean, if you're making money on snake oil, why
subject it to testing if you don't have to. (No, I don't think all
alternative medicine is snake oil -- there's a wide range that
"alternative" covers).

Regards

.

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