Medical 'Baloney Detection Kit'

[Eos of the Eons]

Tell her it can still be used as kindling for a campfire.

23 bucks fro a starter log is a bit high, but hey, nothing burns so well as CRAP.

Congrats to TriangleMan! There's nothing like being able to point out how crappy something is and having people listen. Did you get any negative feedback? One of my greatest fears is facing someone I've really ticked off with simply doing what you did.

A favorite source of mine as a baloney detection kit is:

http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/spotquack.html

They Suggest That a Questionnaire Can Be Used

They Promise Quick, Dramatic, Miraculous Results

They Use Disclaimers Couched in Pseudomedical Jargon

They Claim They Are Being Persecuted by Orthodox Medicine
and That Their Work Is Being Suppressed Because It's Controversial

 

[Mojo]

Thanks for your suggestions everyone, the presentation was a big hit! Word got around and I've been asked to do it again because a number of co-workers who weren't there want to see it now.

I handed out the "Medical Baloney Detection Kit" (though I didn't call it that in the presentation) to everyone at the end and discussed the various points as to why they were on the list.

Glad to hear it went well!

I'm pleased to inform you that the next day a co-worker came to me and had used the checklist to evaluate a recent book she bought (written by one K. Trudeau) and told me:

"I think I've wasted my money buying this book."

 

[Bronze Dog]

I'm pleased to inform you that the next day a co-worker came to me and had used the checklist to evaluate a recent book she bought (written by one K. Trudeau) and told me:

"I think I've wasted my money buying this book."

And that is what we're here for. Glad to hear of one confirmed success.

 

[TriangleMan]

Did you get any negative feedback? One of my greatest fears is facing someone I've really ticked off with simply doing what you did.

So far no and I'm not expecting any. The message was about doing more due diligence when looking at medical information. I never referred to any specific sCAM, so I don't think any 'true believers' will get upset. Even the checklist said to "do more research if you tick the following" instead of "if you've ticked one or more boxes then this treatment is woo-woo", hopefully once they do more research they'll figure out it's woo-woo themselves.

 

[Ladewig]

Here's an updated 'kit':

If you see at least two or three of the following then do further investigation:

- tries to sell you something directly (book, supplements .etc)
- claims treatment works on a number of unrelated illnesses
- uses any of the following words: quantum, bioelectric, energy, aura, toxins, bioenergy, open mind, magnetism
- claims to ‘strengthen’ or ‘enhance’ the immune system
- claims or implies that something being ‘natural’ automatically makes it better than a manufactured treatment
- uses infomercials to advertise products
- implies that the treatment works because it is patented or has a patent pending
- claims a single unifying cause as the source of most diseases (poor nutrition, metal/mercury concentrations, etc.)
- uses lots of testimonials from individuals in their promotion
- overemphasis on the qualifications of the seller of the treatment (listing their degrees, years of experience, etc. as a selling point)
- lots of mention of ‘chemicals’ without actually naming the chemicals
- claims to cure serious illnesses without any side effects
- claims that unseen parasites are the cause of numerous diseases
- claims that the treatment has been used for ‘centuries’
- you saw the claim in an email

If I may be so pedantic as to insist on parallelism,

- places too much emphasis on the qualifications of...
- mentions lots of chemicals without...
- advertises through e-mails.

As for the introductory line, I might add, "if you see more than five, then just walk away. If you see more than eight, then just laugh uncontrolably."

 

[exarch]

Originally posted by Ladewig
If I may be so pedantic as to insist on parallelism,

- places too much emphasis on the qualifications of...
- mentions lots of chemicals without...
- advertises through e-mails.

Being pendantic towards the pedant:

Advertising through e-mail is quite a different story from seeing the claim in an e-mail. Many sCAM practices rely on patient testimonials, one of which is people "witnessing" to their friends and family, but not everyone would consider that "advertising".
I think it's more encompassing the way it is worded in TM's post.