Lies, damned lies and medical science

elko2



Joined: 24/07/2007
Posts: 4400

Message Posted:
19/10/2010 07:52

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/print/2010/11/lies-damned-lies-and-medical-science/8269



What do you think?

ismet

nurseawful



Joined: 06/02/2009
Posts: 5934

Message Posted:
19/10/2010 08:33

After a quick look at this report, I will print it of and read later, the case of the Albanians and appendicitis. I would think that these people must have presented at the hospital with symptoms of appendicitis and agreed to treatment. It is initially diagnosed to this day by a very simple tool whereas you press the area (McBurneys point)and if great pain and tenderness felt on release, then it is usually diagnosed as appendicitis although same could be said if it was a tumour!

The problem with medical research is that as humans we are all unique, so what works for one person may not work for another million! If we were built like cars for instance with one prototype for each model life would be so much simpler!



Chris

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
19/10/2010 08:33

Ismet,



I have this problem with dietary advice given by well meaning but misguided individuals based on a poor understanding of what the science actually means... case in point:-



Cholesterol... lots of health publications vilify good foodstuffs (like avocado pears) based on the premise that Cholesterol in your blood stream comes largely from food you eat when all the science should tell us this is not the case and it is produced by your liver...



As soon as these pseudo-scientists see that the food contains some cholesterol then it's marked as bad for you, no debate, no questioning whether the type of cholesterol is the good kind.... It brings the science into disrepute as it ends up nobody knows what is good or bad anymore...

Peeky



Joined: 08/05/2008
Posts: 100

Message Posted:
19/10/2010 09:15

NA - If we were built like cars then medical diagnosis would be horrendously complicated. At least dealing with the diagnosis of the human body the organs and sensors are all in the same place. With cars a major stumbling block to diagnosis is that they are not - for instance in one car the brain (The car's main central computer or Ecu) may be under the bonnet, in other under the dashboard, or in another it is in the boot. So the Doctor on first examining a new patient with mental problems may have to spend the first few hours finding that his brain is under his right armpit. Or worse.

Seriously though, not enough medical research is undertaken without outside influences or pre-conceived outcomes. What about when only a few years ago we were told that the worse thing to do with a burn was to immerse in water? - and now we are told that it is the best.