AltMed Responses To Criticism – from Holford to Barnett
February 11, 2009 at 5:45 pm (Alternative Medicine, Bad Science) (Alternative Medicine, Ann Walker, BANT, Cliff Richard, Cochrane, Contriversy, David Colquhoun, Gillian McKeith, HFMA, IANT, ION, Jeni Barnett, Jeremy Sherr, Joseph Chikelue Obi, LBC, Manufactroversy, Matthias Rath, New Zealand Chiropractors' Association, Patrick Holford, Professor Frizelle, Quackometer, Society of Homeopaths)
Here, I have some examples of the, fairly limited, debate between sceptics and proponents of Alternative Medicine – and a couple of examples of how scientists generally respond to criticism. The most recent example of a supporter of Alternative Medicine (anti-vaccinationism, with a smidge of homeopathy) responding to criticism is Jeni Barnett. She referred on her blog to incandescently stupid comments she made about MMR during a radio broadcast on LBC, and the fuss that followed the broadcast. The comments section soon included critics explaining why Jeni was so dangerously wrong. Jeni’s response to the criticism? To remove the blog post and the comments. Thankfully, it’s been preserved and is available at The Quackometer website. Further discussion at Holford Watch. LBC’s response to the original criticisms? Legal chill tactics – a pretty disgusting way to tackle legitimate criticism. Other examples of legal chill (and other threats) come from nutritionists, chiropractors, homeopaths, herbalists, and an American Christian organisation. Read the rest of this entry »
Legal Chill and Other Threats
June 6, 2008 at 8:37 pm (Alternative Medicine, Anti-Vaccination, Bad Science, Bloggers, Briffa, Homeopathy, Legal Chill, Nutritionism, Patrick Holford) (Ann Walker, badscience, BCA, British Chiropractic Association, Doctor's Data, Gillian McKeith, Homeopaths, Improbable Science, John Briffa, Legal chill, nutritionists, Patrick Holford, PhDiva, Quackometer, Simon Singh, Society of Homeopaths, Stephen Barrett)
I’ve recently witnessed some examples of slightly threatening behaviour on the internets and I was reminded of a few of the previous spats I’ve seen covered on the various blogs I read. There have been lawyer’s letters, accusations both of libel and of copyright breach, and comments posted or letters sent by angry nutritionists (in the main – there has been the odd homeopath too). Read the rest of this entry »
Stuff And Nonsense 