SI DIGEST 11-12-97
SkeptInq@aol.com
Wed, 12 Nov 1997 16:43:28 -0500
SKEPTICAL INQUIRER ELECTRONIC DIGEST
November 12, 1997
SI Electronic Digest is the weekly e-mail news update of the Committee for
the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP.)
www.csicop.org.
The Digest is written and edited by Matthew Nisbet and Barry Karr. SI
Digest has over 1600 readers worldwide, and is distributed via e-mail from
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introductory price, call 1800- 634-1610. The November/December features Dave
Thomas on "Hidden Messages and The Bible Code.")
In this week's SI Digest edition:
1) Leading Physicians and Scientists Condemn NIH Conference On Acupuncture.
2) Scientific American Frontiers Broadcasts "Beyond Science?"
3) Rules to Remember About Libel.
4) X-FILES' "Smoking Man" A Committed Skeptic!
5) Viewer Comment Information for Discovery Channel, A&E, and Learning
Channel.
6) NUTRITION FORUM Explores "The Dietary Supplement Mess."
7) Woman Wins Suit Claiming Therapists Invoked Traumatic Memories.
1) NIH CONFERENCE ON ACUPUNCTURE CONDEMNED
November 10, 1997
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Dr. Wallace Sampson 408-885-4146.
Dr. Steve Barrett 215-437-1795 (x1177)
Matt Nisbet 716-636-1425 (SRAM Public Relations)
Scientists and Physicians Condemn NIH Endorsement of Acupuncture
Cite Lack of Evidence and NIH Panel Bias.
AMHERST, N.Y.-- Leading physicians and scientists, all editors of the
Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine(SRAM), dispute the National
Institute of Health's(NIH) endorsement of acupuncture as a treatment for pain
and other conditions. "Acupuncture is an unproven treatment. The best
studies of acupuncture show that it is no more effective than
placebos(inactive treatments.) The NIH panel was conceived in all likelihood
with an agenda to promote the acceptance of acupuncture by the public, press,
insurance plans, HMOs and Federal and state medical plans," says Dr. Wallace
Sampson, M.D., Editor of SRAM and Clinical Professor of Medicine at Stanford
University.
On November 6, the NIH Consensus Development Conference concluded that
"there is sufficient evidence... of acupuncture's value to expand its use
into conventional medicine and to encourage further studies of its physiology
and clinical value." The panel also suggested that the federal government
and insurance companies expand coverage of acupuncture to allow more people
access to treatment.
The NIH Consensus panel is the offspring of the NIH's Office of Alternative
Medicine(OAM.) The OAM was started by the NIH in 1992 to evaluate alternative
treatments and to provide information on unconventional health-care services.
But since its formation, it has come under harsh criticism for its bias. "
The 'consensus' was a consensus of proponents, not a consensus of valid
scientific opinion. The presentation of acupuncture for the conditions
suggested by the conference is classic pseudoscience. It showed the promoters
as ideologically motivated instead of scientifically objective," says
Sampson.
"It is outrageous to suggest that insurance premiums rise in order to
provide for acupuncture visits. These conclusions do not fit with science,
rather they reflect the bias of the NIH panelists who were selected by a
planning committee dominated by acupuncture proponents," says Dr. Stephen
Barrett,M.D., Contributing Editor to SRAM and head of Quackwatch, Inc.
Answers to the reported success of acupuncture can be found in human
psychology. "Perceived effects of acupuncture are probably due to a
combination of expectation, suggestion, counter-irritation, conditioning, and
other psychological mechanisms" says Barrett. The confounding influence of
these psychological mechanisms create a number of experimental difficulties
in accurately evaluating acupuncture's effectiveness. Few studies have
satisfied control requirements, leaving supportive scientific evidence
insufficient or non-existent.
"It is easy to reach a consensus when dissenters are systematically excluded
from the discussion. At this point I would have to say that the consensus
report is seriously flawed because contrary and cautionary voices were not
heard," says Barry Beyerstein, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology at Simon Fraser
University, British Columbia.
Traditionally acupuncture has been based on the premise that there are
patterns of energy flow (QI) through the body that are essential for health.
Disruptions of this flow are believed to be responsible for disease. The
acupuncturist can supposedly correct imbalances of flow at identifiable
points close to the skin. However, despite considerable efforts to
understand the anatomy and physiology of the "acupuncture points," the
definition and characterization of these points remains controversial. Even
more elusive is the scientific basis of some of the key traditional Eastern
medical concepts such as the circulation of Qi, the meridian system, and the
five phases theory, which are difficult to reconcile with contemporary
biomedical information but continue to play an important role in the
evaluation of patients
and the formulation of treatment in acupuncture.
Concludes Sampson: "The report states that 'the data in support of
acupuncture are as strong as those for many accepted Western (sic) medical
therapies.' The 'consensus' stretches the point to unacceptable conclusion.
When consensus conferences are held at the NIH on controversial methods with
as little evidence for them that acupuncture has, the usual scientific
response is to recommend against use of those methods, not to approve and
adopt them."
**To read the National Council Against Health Fraud's position paper on
acupuncture, visit the Quackwatch Inc. webpage at
http:/www.quackwatch.com/acuhtml.**
--30--
The SCIENTIFIC REVIEW OF ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE, is the only peer-reviewed
medical journal in the world devoted to the scientific evaluation of
alternative medical claims. The review publishes original research,
critiques published studies, reviews available evidence for claims, and
discusses the methods and principles of valid research. Topics covered in
the current issue include homeopathy, therapeutic
touch, the alleged anticancer cure hydrazine sulfate, chelation therapy,
Deepak Chopra's claims regarding quantum healing, alternative medicine
proponent Andrew Weil, and more. The journal is published by Prometheus
Books, Amherst, N.Y.
To Subscribe to the Review call 1-800-421-0351.
2) SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN FRONTIERS BROADCASTS "BEYOND SCIENCE?"
SANTA MONICA, CA-- What's science fact and what's fiction? What's the
difference between a hoax and a genuine unsolved mystery? Who's a crackpot
and who's a scientific visionary? And how can we, the lay public, tell?
These are the thorny questions tackled in the "Beyond Science?" episode of Sc
ientific American Frontiers. Host Alan Alda tries to dowse for water and
takes part in an experiment to see if it works. He also conducts an alien
autopsy, has his handwriting analyzed by graphologists, tracks down a
purportedly unlimited new energy source, and explores the idea of healing by
manipulating a patient's "energy fields."
The episode features prominently CSICOP Executive Council members Ray Hyman,
Barry Beyerstein, and Nobel laureate and CSICOP fellow Steven Weinberg.
Wednesday, November 19, 8:00 PM EST PBS
(Check your local listings.)
3) RULES TO REMEMBER ABOUT LIBEL.
WRITERS DIGEST, 10/97-- In "Basics of Libel", lawyer and writer Michael
Baroni outlines useful rules of libel for writers and skeptics. By
definition, a libelous statement must "injure reputation... hold someone up
to hatred, ridicule or contempt, or cause someone to be shunned or ostracized
or suffer mental anguish and humiliation." Determining libel is an imprecise
art. Baroni outlines seven rules:
--Publication: "Libel must be shown to someone (other than the one libeled)
to be actionable at law."
--Statement of Fact: "The statement must be reasonably understood by others
to purport fact. Opinions, satire, fiction, and other forms of clearly
nonfactual communications can never be libelous."
--Falsehood: "If your statement is true, it can never be libelous."
--There are four categories of statements which are always held defamatory:
imputing criminal conduct; a loathsome disease; being incompetent or
dishonest in one's business or profession; or unchaste behavior.
--Identification: "No statement is libelous without identifying the one
attacked."
--Actual Injury: "No one can recover money from you unless he or she has
suffered some kind of injury."
--Fault: "Liable will hinge on whether the object of your linguistic
assault is deemed either a public or private person. Public persons include
people holding positions of high government responsibility, those who
willingly thrust themselves into the public-controversy limelight or assume a
role of special prominence in society's affairs(such as Ralph Nader), and
celebrities and others of 'pervasive fame and notoriety' (Madonna, Joey
Buttafuco.) For a public person, the standard of writer's fault can be
summed up in a word: malice."
Finally, Baroni identifies the following words as red flags to stay away
from in writing:
addict, adultery, alcoholic, bankrupt, blackmail, bribery, cheater, child
abuse, corrupt, deadbeat, drug abuser, drunkard, ex-convict, fraud, hooker,
incompetent, liar, mafia, mental disease, morally delinquent, perjurer,
racist, scam, spy, unethical.
4) X-FILES "SMOKING MAN" A SKEPTIC!
By Allison Cossitt
AMHERST N.Y-- Okay. I admit it, I'm an X-FILES addict. So when I found
out that William B. Davis, the actor who plays the nefarious Cigarette
Smoking Man (CSM), was going to be speaking at the State University of New
York At Buffalo as part of the People's Speaker Series, there was no keeping
me away.
Arriving obnoxiously early, I managed to get a front row seat, and smiled
pleasantly at all the people walking past me to the higher rows. Not even
when the fire alarm suspiciously went off did my fellow front rowers and I
dare to move lest we lose our prime seats. A rough headcount of about eighty
truly obsessed fans could be found eagerly awaiting CSM's appearance.
Finally, there he was; the vile, loathsome, conniving, infamous, Cigarette
Smoking Man, being humbly polite as only a Canadian can. He thanked everyone
for coming, and confessed that he was a little afraid about coming to
Buffalo, mentioning the episode in which CSM vowed that Buffalo would never
win the Super Bowl as long as he was alive. He also thanked everyone for
coming on the last night of the baseball World Series, but we needn't watch
anyway: he had arranged it so that Cleveland would win. I guess even CSM
can't control everything.
Opening a typed manuscript with an alien head on the cover, he began his
lecture by pointing out a common misconception about the show. "You see," he
paused for effect, "I think that CSM is really the hero, and Mulder and
Scully are the bad guys." He explained that if Mulder got his way, and the
truth was revealed, everyone would panic and terrible things would result.
But if CSM got his way, everything would stay the same; so why is everyone
rooting for Mulder? He wondered further, comparing and contrasting the
different characters, each time making it seem like CSM was doing the
honorable thing.
After his prepared speech, he opened up the floor for questions. Not
surprisingly, one of the first questions asked was whether or not he was a
believer. Instead of answering right away, he turned the question back at
the audience. "How many of you believe aliens are among us?" About half of
the audience raised their hands. Then he smiled and surprised a good deal of
the audience by confessing that he was, indeed, a skeptic! To the audible
disappointment and disapproval of several audience members, Davis made it
clear that he did not believe that aliens are among us. Then he asked if
anyone knew of Harvard psychologist John Mack, and let loose a sly grin.
Another audience member asked if Davis was aware that Chris Carter had
visited Buffalo last summer. He answered in the affirmative, and then
mentioned CSICOP and SKEPTICAL INQUIRER magazine, which he reads whenever he
can.
Finally, for all of you who watched the last episode of X-FILES in which
Cigarette Smoking Man is shot and apparently killed, have no fear. Davis
indicated that he would appear in next summer's X-FILES movie, leading one to
suspect that CSM is indeed still alive.
--------
Allison Cossitt is a freshman at the University at Buffalo. She is the
assistant to the Executive Director of CSICOP and has been a diehard X-FILES
fan since the second episode.
5) VIEWER COMMENT INFORMATION FOR DISCOVERY AND A&E.
Want to send comments to Discover Channel or A&E about programming on
science, pseuodscience and the paranormal? Here's how:
---Discovery Channel
www.discovery.com
1-800-813-7404
viewer relations@discovery.com
Air Dates 1-800-813-7409
(For written comments on network policy.)
Discovery Communications, Inc.
7700 Wisconsin Ave.
Bethesda, MD 20814
Attn: Communications Dept.
Learning Channel (Owned by Discovery Communications.)
www.discovery.com/diginets/learning/learning.html
---Arts and Entertainment (A&E)
www.aetv.com
(A Hearst Corp, ABC Inc., NBC joint venture.)
Viewer Line 212-210-9085
235 East 45th Street, New York, NY 10017
aetv.com/feedback/program.feedback.html.
6) NUTRITION FORUM EXPLORES THE "DIETARY SUPPLEMENT" MESS
AMHERST, NY-- In the July/August issue of NUTRITION FORUM (Prometheus
Books), Dr. Stephen Barrett, MD, explores legislation and recent commission
recommendations that weaken the Federal Drug Administration's ability to
protect consumers against the claims of dietary supplements.
Also included in the July/August, is Varro E. Tyler on "Sex Herbs: As Good
as Love Potion Number 9?" Varro finds that " there is no credible published
evidence supporting the utility of green oats as an aphrodisiac."
THE NUTRITION FORUM is a bi-monthly publication of Prometheus Books,
Amherst, NY. To subscribe call 1800-421-0351. Manuscripts and all
correspondence should be directed to Lewis Vaughn at FIVAUGHN@aol.com.
7) WOMAN WINS TRAUMATIC MEMORIES LAWSUIT
CHICAGO, November 6-- As reported by the NY Times, insurance companies for
two doctors and Rush-Presbyterian-St. Lukes's hospital agreed to pay a $10.6
million settlement in a lawsuit alleging that therapists had invoked false
memories in patient Patricia Burgus.
Burgus alleged that she was "convinced by doctors that she had memories of
being part of a satanic cult, of being sexually abused by numerous men, and
of abusing her own two sons," reported the NY Times.
Several articles questioning the validity of repressed memories recovered
through hypnosis have been published in the pages of SKEPTICAL INQUIRER over
the last decade. The most recent, "Remembering Dangerously: The Repressed
Memory Debate" by Elizabeth Loftus appears in the March/April 1995 issue of
SI.
Dr. Paul McHugh, chairman of psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins School of
Medicine commented to the NY Times: " This has been a craze that built up in
the 1980's. As in most cases, it has produced its damage and most people are
coming to see the kinds of problems it represents. Could there have been
someone who is abused and not remember it? I'm not saying that's not
possible. I'm saying first that these memories can never be validated
without corroborating evidence. And secondly, it's a slippery slope opening
the door for these conspiracy theories about satanic cults and alien
abductions."
------------
CSICOP is an international, non-profit organization dedicated to the
critical examination and investigation of claims of the paranormal and fringe
science. Founded in 1976, CSICOP is always receptive to departures in
thought, yet insists that they be tested before they are accepted. The
bi-monthly journal the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, The Magazine for Science And
Reason, is the main forum for publication of these inquiries. Both CSICOP
and the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER are based at the Center For Inquiry, Amherst N.Y.
www.csicop.org