September 23rd, 2010 by Bryan Vartabedian, M.D. in Better Health Network, Health Policy, Medblogger Shout Outs, Opinion, Quackery Exposed, True Stories
Tags: 33 Charts, Doctors and Social Media, Doctors and Social Media Anonymity, Doctors Who Blog, Doctors' Credibility, Dr. Bryan Vartabedian, Healthcare Blogs, Healthcare Social Media Camp, Medbloggers, Medical Blogging, Medical Blogosphere, Medical Blogs, Physician Bloggers, Social Media Behavior, Social Media in Healthcare, Social Media In Medicine, Socially Anonymous Doctors, Unease About Social Media
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I don’t think doctors should be socially anonymous. We need to be seen. Here’s why going underground isn’t good policy for physicians:
Anonymity makes you say stupid things. When you’re shouting from the crowd it’s easy to talk smack. Come up to the podium, clear your throat, and say something intelligent. You’re a physician, not a hooligan.
It’s 2010: Anonymity died a long time ago. You think anonymity offers shelter? You’re funny, you are. Anonymity is a myth. You can create a cockamamie pseudonym, but you can’t hide. And if I don’t find you, the plaintiff attorneys will. They found Flea.
Being a weanie is no excuse. Just as you’re unlikely to consult a lawyer before speaking at a cocktail party, commenting as Dr. You is unlikely to kill you or land you in court. Just a few pointers: Don’t talk about patients, help people out, and be nice. Trust me, I’m a doctor. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at 33 Charts*
September 23rd, 2010 by Harriet Hall, M.D. in Better Health Network, Book Reviews, Opinion, Quackery Exposed, Research
Tags: Brain Damage, Dr. Frank Lawlis, Dr. Harriet Hall, Dr. Phil, Evidence-Based, Mental Health, Neurology, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Psychiatry and Psychology, PTSD, Real Science, Science Based Medicine, Science-Based Evidence, The Doctors, Traumatic Brain Injury
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It infuriates me when someone misappropriates the word “science” to promote treatments that are not actually based on science. I have just read a book entitled The PTSD Breakthrough: The Revolutionary Science-Based Compass RESET Program by Dr. Frank Lawlis, a psychologist who is the chief content advisor for Dr Phil and The Doctors. There is very little science in the book and references are not provided. It amounts to an indiscriminate catalog of everything Dr. Lawlis can imagine that might help post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) patients.
He describes recent brain imaging studies suggesting that signs of traumatic brain injury are associated with PTSD. He thinks PTSD can no longer be considered a psychological condition, but must be approached as a complex biological, physical, psychological, and spiritual condition. He says many of these patients have brain damage. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at Science-Based Medicine*
September 20th, 2010 by JenniferKearneyStrouse in Better Health Network, Health Policy, Health Tips, News, Quackery Exposed
Tags: ACP Internist, Adrenal Fatigue, Dangerous Side Effects, Endocrine Society, Fake Diseases, Faux Medical Conditions on the Internet, General Medicine, Hormone Foundation, LA Times, Public Safety, Wilson's Temperature Syndrome
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Ever heard of adrenal fatigue? Wilson’s temperature syndrome? If not, there’s a good reason: They exist only on the Internet.
The Hormone Foundation, an affiliate of the Endocrine Society, recently issued two fact sheets for patients debunking these so-called conditions, which were “apparently conceived only in an effort to sell products promoted to treat them,” the LA Times reported. No medical evidence supports either faux disease and there are no tests or treatments for them, but patients still try to alleviate them with supplements, some of them potentially dangerous, the Times said.
Adrenal fatigue is characterized by such “symptoms” as having salt and sugar cravings and needing coffee to get you through the day, while the man who discovered Wilson’s temperature syndrome also coincidentally promotes a product to treat it, according to the Times. (Hormone Foundation, LA Times)
*This blog post was originally published at ACP Internist*
September 11th, 2010 by Jeffrey Benabio, M.D. in Better Health Network, Health Tips, Humor, News, Opinion, Quackery Exposed, Research
Tags: Alternative Medicine Nonsense, Caffeine, Cellulite, Dermatology, Dr. Jeff Benabio, Drawing Toxins Out, False Claims, Health Tips in Pursuit of Beauty, Improved Circulation, Medical Quackery, Non-Evidence-Based, Rubbing Coffee Grounds Into Skin, Science Based Medicine, Skin Care
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Last week a popular TV talk show featuring a bunch of doctors (I’m not naming names) discussed how coffee grounds can improve cellulite. They explained how rubbing coffee grounds into your skin imparts caffeine into the cellulite thereby improving the circulation and drawing the toxins out.
This is a great tip, except that rubbing coffee grounds on your skin does not impart any caffeine into it, and there are no toxins in cellulite.
Cellulite is a normal secondary sex characteristic of women. It is the result of thin connective tissue in women’s skin. Massaging the cellulite (with coffee, tea, grapes, cream cheese, or chocolate frosting) pushes the fat back into the skin, temporarly improving the appearance. There is no science behind using coffee to treat this normal condition.
Scientific studies have shown, however, that carrying a wet coffee filter filled with grounds into your bathroom will burn more calories, because you’ll spend 20 minutes later cleaning up the mess in your shower.
*This blog post was originally published at The Dermatology Blog*
September 9th, 2010 by Steve Novella, M.D. in Better Health Network, Health Policy, News, Opinion, Quackery Exposed, Research
Tags: Africa, Anti-HIV Drugs, Anti-Scientific Propaganda, CAM, Complimentary and Alternative Medicine, Evidence-Based, International HIV/AIDS Alliance, International Medicine, Lack of Health Services, Modern Medical Doctors or Facilities, Primary Healthcare, Science Based Medicine, THPAZ, Traditional Healers, Traditional Health Practitioners Association of Zambia, Western Medicine, Western Science, WHO, World Health Organization
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There’s an AIDS epidemic in Africa, and efforts to fight it are hampered by the endemic social problems of that continent. Chief among them are the lack of sufficient modern health resources, the spread of destructive rumors and myths about HIV/AIDS, and even the persistence of HIV denial in Africa (although this last factor is better than in the past).
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the International HIV/AIDS Alliance are teaming up with the Traditional Health Practitioners Association of Zambia (THPAZ) to address the first problem –- the lack of health services.
Most Zambians use traditional healers for primary healthcare. The WHO has therefore decided to utilize traditional healers in the fight against AIDS. There are interesting pros and cons to this policy, but it must first be recognized that there is no ideal solution to the problem. The resources to provide optimal modern health care to treat and prevent HIV/AIDS (which would need to include a massive education program) in Zambia and the rest of Africa simply do not exist. One might argue that the world should provide those resources, but let’s put that issue aside and focus on what to do in the meantime. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at Science-Based Medicine*
