NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #31/NN_1992_31.iso/spool/misc/health/alternat/133

Text File | 1992-12-24 | 2.6 KB | 60 lines

Newsgroups: misc.health.alternative
Path: sparky!uunet!noc.near.net!inmet!inmet!dlb
From: [e-mail] (David Barton)
Subject: Re: War cry of the scientific
In-Reply-To: [e-mail]'s message of Thu, 24 Dec 1992 01:04:48 GMT
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Organization: Intermetrics Inc., Washington Division, USA
References: <[e-mail]> <[e-mail]>
    <[e-mail]>
Date: Thu, 24 Dec 1992 14:23:33 GMT
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In article <[e-mail]>
[e-mail] (Madhav Nerurkar) writes:

   Is there a simple decisive test in modern medicine that will
   determine if a given alternative theory has some merits ?

The term "simple" is relative; however, there are indeed fairly
standard mechanisms for determining the efficacy of a particular
substance or procedure on a specific condition.  The term "double
blind" test tends to be used to cover this (although this is one
procedure that is, admittedly, widely used).

   There can be significant lag, even of lifetimes, between empirical
   observations and an understanding of the underlying mechanisms.
   Without a test won't we either run the risk of passing up on real
   opprtunities or run the risk of taken in by a scam.

Indeed.  There seems to be some confusion in general about the need
for an underlying theory in the use of a particular medication or
procedure.  Many of the medications we now use have mechanisms that
are not well understood.  People just noticed, either within the
medical profession or outside it (sometimes in "alternative medicine")
that something seemed to work.  Upon application of controlled
studies, they are sometimes introduced into normal practice.

A reading of sci.med gives an interesting example.  A couple of
doctors on the net (I think David Nye is one of them) have observed
that acutane seems to help chronic fatigue syndrome.  Several
anecdotal accounts have been posted.  Dr. Nye does not immediately
state, "Everyone start using this!"  He recently posted that he is
preparing the proper notes so this observation may be published as a
speculation, and adequately tested.

This is how science works.

   If in fact such a test exists, is it applied to inventions in
   modern medicines or is it basically the prestige of the
   institutions that decides the outcome ?

In the US, the application of such a test is required for a claim of
efficacy to be made.  The institution that decides is the Food and
Drug Administration.

                    Dave Barton
                    [e-mail]