Comments for What To Do If Your Doctor Sells Woo at http://www.randi.org/site , comment 1 to 6 out of 6 comments http://www.randi.org/site Thu, 23 May 2013 16:02:55 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/1919-what-to-do-if-your-doctor-sells-woo.html#comment-26145 because it turns out I am skeptical of many almost universally accepted medical treatments as well. - ICDogg Sat, 24 Nov 2012 20:42:37 +0100 http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/1919-what-to-do-if-your-doctor-sells-woo.html#comment-26137 I found writing a letter of complaint worked after I was offered acupuncture by a Medical Practitioner. The letter included references to PubMed studies I had heard about from Dr Novella. I made references to what I considered to be suspect ethics of the treating doctor. No acknowledgement was ever received but within weeks that doctor's name no longer appeared on that clinic's list of practitioners and their website was changed. (I noticed after attending that their website offered acupuncture as one of their services - it no longer does so.) I'm not sure if my complaint made the difference, but I like to think it did. My condition was fixed by another clinic. - Clintsc9 Sat, 17 Nov 2012 17:55:52 +0100 http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/1919-what-to-do-if-your-doctor-sells-woo.html#comment-26136 Thank you Dr. Novella. I have had the discussion internally, on what I would do if confronted with this situation. I am pretty sure I would have to change doctors, but not before putting my 2¢ in on the topic. Fortunately, it has not come up. Thank you for addressing it. - 6ball Sat, 17 Nov 2012 16:30:27 +0100 http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/1919-what-to-do-if-your-doctor-sells-woo.html#comment-26134 It really does depend on the level of Woo. Chiropractic can get away with it, herbal and TCM may fool a busy doctor who's taken his eye off the ball. But if any GP I attended mentioned homeopathy I would seriously launch and demand evidence. I always mention Placebo, Regression to the Mean and Confirmation Bias. And I always do it nicely! - Peebs Sat, 17 Nov 2012 14:07:11 +0100 http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/1919-what-to-do-if-your-doctor-sells-woo.html#comment-26133 I've had doctors who were simply unable to diagnose a conditions I had and, rather than say "I don't know," they'd say "Have you tried acupuncture?" hoping that they could just treat something psychosomatic with placebo. Not terribly helpful, of course, and later I'd just figure out what the condition was on my own and come up with a treatment plan that was actually workable. (Or maybe just a placebo. But at least a placebo based in something acceptably rational.) - fluffy Sat, 17 Nov 2012 10:33:55 +0100 http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/1919-what-to-do-if-your-doctor-sells-woo.html#comment-26131 A couple of years ago, while in hospital, I attended group therapy sessions. The therapist was a great believer in woo and discussed TT, reiki, etc. and "demonstrated" how a pendulum can detect moods. I mentioned the ideomotor effect; she said she knew about it and dismissed it. I spoke to an administrator which was a waste of time and effort. This therapist was exposing emotionally weak patients to woo, from a position of authority. This is frightening. And insidious. And apparently not rare. - skepticnj Sat, 17 Nov 2012 06:18:22 +0100