In medicine, there is a long tradition of starting case presentations with a three-part description of the patient’s age, sex, and race. “This 53-year-old White woman presented to the ER with abdominal pain.” “The patient is a 50-year-old Black man with chest pain.” In December 2021 two doctors wrote a… read more "Race and Medicine"
The Science of Abortion
Abortion is controversial but ubiquitous. 1 in 4 American women will have an abortion by the age of 45 and around the world 40-50 million pregnancies end in abortion every year. Anti-abortion activists have long relied on moral and religious arguments to convince others that abortion is wrong, wrong, wrong.… read more "The Science of Abortion"
Stupid Videos and Marketing Ploys
Purveyors of so-called complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) don’t have any credible scientific evidence. If they did, their treatments would not be called “alternative” but would have been accepted into mainstream practice and would just be called “medicine.” They tend not to appreciate science or even to understand it. They… read more "Stupid Videos and Marketing Ploys"
Dietary Supplements and Deception
At least half of Americans (maybe as many as 2/3) take dietary supplements. They assume the government will guarantee safety, efficacy, and truthful advertising. They couldn’t be more wrong. The very term dietary supplement is based on a fiction. Dietary supplements are regulated by the FDA but the regulations are… read more "Dietary Supplements and Deception"
Osteopathy Then and Now
When the President’s doctor, Sean Conley, came down the front steps of Walter Reed Army Medical Center to brief the nation on the President’s health, it caused consternation in some quarters. His name was followed by the letters DO rather than MD. Some people questioned “why the president was being… read more "Osteopathy Then and Now"
Electronic Screen Syndrome: Is It Real?
You may have noticed that children seem to spend a lot of time interacting with screens: cell phones, tablets, computers, and video games. You may have wondered if this is bad for them or good for them. I think the answer is “it depends.” In 2012, Victoria L. Dunckley MD… read more "Electronic Screen Syndrome: Is It Real?"
How You Can Really Boost Your Immune System
As fears of the new coronavirus (Covid-19) spread, alternative medicine was quick to provide false reassurance in the form of misinformation and bogus remedies. A recurring theme in complementary and alternative medicine and a common mantra of those who make questionable health claims has long been “boosting the immune system.”… read more "How You Can Really Boost Your Immune System"
Water Fluoridation: Public Health, Not Poison
I think we can all agree that “Look, Mom – no cavities!” is good news. But we continue to disagree about the best way to achieve that. Fluoridation of public water sources remains controversial as a public health measure despite the strong evidence that fluoride prevents tooth decay. Public debates… read more "Water Fluoridation: Public Health, Not Poison"
Darwin’s Apostles: The Battle Continues
David Orenstein and Abby Hafer have written a delightful new book, Darwin’s Apostles: The Men Who Fought to Have Evolution Accepted, Their Times, and How the Battle Continues. Darwin published On the Origin of Species in 1859. In the 160 years since then, much has been written about Darwin and evolution, but this entertaining,… read more "Darwin’s Apostles: The Battle Continues"
Coconut Oil: Health Food or Health Hazard?
Coconut oil: is it good for you or bad for you? Some sources say it’s a super nutrient that miraculously reverses Alzheimer’s dementia and has a multitude of other health benefits. Others advise avoiding it because it increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes. How can you make sense… read more "Coconut Oil: Health Food or Health Hazard?"