Here are some terms you should know when considering the value of any course of Medical Treatment.
Anecdotal Evidence- Is the personal opinion, lacking properly controlled studies, given by an individual regarding the effectiveness of a course of treatment or a given drug. This is, unfortunately, of no real use to the prospective patient. There is no reasonable way to know if any positive or negative affects were a direct result of the Medicine and /or a prescribed change of lifestyle. They are simply relating what they believe to be true, which is subject to selective bias. Cultural, Ethical and Spiritual backgrounds can affect objectivity.
Endorsement- Is simply a recommendation, by an individual or group, that something achieves the claimed results and should be considered beneficial.
The key is researching the "Expertise" of anyone who provides an endorsement.
In the field of Medicine;
- What are the Educational or Professional qualifications of those offering an opinion?
- Is there a financial component that may influence the stated conclusions?
- Is there an agenda, Moral or Political, that the endorser may be seeking to
promote which could cloud their judgment?
- Just because someone has M.D or PHD following their name, does not necessarily mean that the given opinion is correct and should not be questioned. Never rely on one persons judgment, search out opinions of other qualified persons or groups.
In future posts, I will discuss some of the most bogus and falsifiable
medical scams prevalent in society today.
Date-9/12/2013.
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