Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Miracles just rate better, okay?

510 Responses

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  • Andre,

    The McCarten Ghaddafi column was awesome. He was correct in that no other media actually reported the speech's content and since his article was published McCarten has been attacked on all fronts. Reasoned debate was shut down in favour of cultural attacks on Ghaddafi. Admittedly the guy did himself no favours by ranting on for 90 minutes but some of the points he made were valid such as the unfairness of the UN Security Council's permanent members blocking anything they don't agree with. The UN is an organisation in trouble - maybe they should have listened to the guy.
    The stem-cell case sounds shonky as. It sounds like a great Media7.

    New Zealand • Since May 2009 • 371 posts Report Reply

  • Glenn Pearce,

    Russell I don't think that $5000 figure is accurate for Cordbank. It's about 1/2 that and $200 per annum from memory

    Auckland • Since Feb 2007 • 504 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic,

    Lyprinolgate, anyone? The snake oil medicine showmen strike again.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Russell I don't think that $5000 figure is accurate for Cordbank. It's about 1/2 that and $200 per annum from memory

    Thanks -- I was going on a figure quoted elsewhere. It's $2750 plus $200 per year, and I've updated the post to that effect.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Stephen Judd,

    Cripes, you'd think that it would be a red flag that an American doctor's only clinic is in Mexico. Apologies to the dedicated and professional medical practitioners of Mexico, but isn't it a common phenomenon that dodgy quacks who've been shut down in the US set up in Mexico beyond the reach of regulation?

    Where is the famous skepticism on which journos pride themselves so much?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report Reply

  • James Green,

    Russell I don't think that $5000 figure is accurate for Cordbank. It's about 1/2 that and $200 per annum from memory

    $2750 plus 10 years storage x $200/yr is approx 5k. I guess it depends on how long it might be kept for...

    Limerick, Ireland • Since Nov 2006 • 703 posts Report Reply

  • st ephen,

    "Where is the famous skepticism on which journos pride themselves so much?"

    It's selective skepticism. Journos have decided not to trust Big Pharma and the Medical Establishment. You know the deal - doctors in the US are in the pockets of the Insurance and Drug companies, and suppress anything that goes against their dogma, so the little guy who actually wants to help people is forced to set up shop across the border etc etc.

    dunedin • Since Jul 2008 • 254 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Where is the famous skepticism on which journos pride themselves so much?

    Quite. Five minutes' Googling would have done the job.

    I think 60 Minutes has the worst case to answer. They actually travelled to Steenblock's clinic and featured him in their programme. Did they ask any questions at all?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole,

    the UN Security Council's permanent members blocking anything they don't agree with

    And, in a wonderful case of fox guarding hen house, my understanding is that this can't be changed without, wait for it... a vote by the Security Council. Which means that any of the permanent members can veto a proposal that would change the rules.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Where is the famous skepticism on which journos pride themselves so much?

    I'm wondering when media watchdogs like the ASA, BSA and/or Press Council are going to decide dangerously irresponsible junk science disguised as news is at least as important as over-imaginative people seeing pink jelly cocks in ice cream ads or prelates (and Bob McCoskrie) whose knowledge of "love balls" is disturbingly comprehensive...

    EDIT: OK, I know that's slightly unfair as the BSA has to apply legislation, and whatever the flaws of the Press Council and ASA I'm not sure direct government regulation would be much of an improvement. But still, when you've got media outlets printing stories under headlines like "anti-depressants don't work" that just aren't true, that's not only stupid and careless. That's dangerous.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Stephen Judd,

    Craig, I think the idea of a special dance for young people to find romance is very sweet and you are wrong to mock. I had to do things the old-fashioned way via the internet. I am sure these love balls are a marvellous tool for satisfying the longing feelings experienced by the lonely. Haven't we all felt that emptiness inside? I know I have.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report Reply

  • Mrs Skin,

    Stephen, you just made my day.

    the warmest room in the h… • Since Feb 2009 • 168 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Craig, I think the idea of a special dance for young people to find romance is very sweet and you are wrong to mock.

    The next time I have naughty thoughts while fingering my beads, I'll think of you. But since you asked for it, here's Frank Zappa's unnervingly catchy take on God-fearing social intercourse, and what evil flows when you stray from the path ...

    (Really really unsafe for work unless you have headphones and no fear.)

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace,

    Hyperbaric oxygen chambers are pretty popular with a certain section of parents of autistic children. But not, I imagine, with the children who get shut inside them.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Lucy Stewart,

    Hyperbaric oxygen chambers are pretty popular with a certain section of parents of autistic children. But not, I imagine, with the children who get shut inside them.

    I recall seeing a "segment" (read: ad) on...probably 3 News about these, touting them as basically the next big thing for whatever ails you. No actual evidence, no airtime for skeptics, just uncritical reporting of what the company that sells time in them was saying. Not that I expect any different these days, but. Sigh.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2105 posts Report Reply

  • B Jones,

    Cord blood banking is marketed quite heavily to new parents. When it's mixed in with the info on epidurals and newborn hearing screening and immunisation, the effect's a lot stronger than set alongside $80 organic cotton bassinette sheets and other similar baby luxuries.

    They don't mention the price of it, and it took me a couple of reads to establish that there isn't anything they know they can actually cure with individual cord blood. And I couldn't find out if I could donate it to a general cord blood bank where it could benefit people without several thousand dollars to spend.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 976 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    And I couldn't find out if I could donate it to a general cord blood bank where it could benefit people without several thousand dollars to spend.

    That's exactly what is actually recommended. For the small range of conditions that can actually be treated with umbilical stem cells, it's more efficient and much, much cheaper to have a public store. Having everyone pay thousands of dollars to store their own child's cord blood is basically wasteful.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Roger,

    I recall seeing a "segment" (read: ad) on...probably 3 News about these, touting them as basically the next big thing for whatever ails you.

    They are quite good for treating decompression illness (bends) in divers, I believe!

    Hamilton • Since Jun 2007 • 179 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    But still, when you've got media outlets printing stories under headlines like "anti-depressants don't work" that just aren't true, that's not only stupid and careless. That's dangerous.

    The weird thing about that story was that the Herald et al (and "et al"includes The Guardian) missed the real story: that Roche had cherry-picked results from the original trials to get FDA approval.

    Years of clinical practice since have established that SSRIs do work for many people, but the drug-company sleight of hand that got them to market sooner was something to worry about.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Andre,

    The US government has just released studies showing autism is more widespread than at first thought and they have assured the public that substantial government resources are being devoted to understanding autism... http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1927824,00.html?iid=tsmodule

    New Zealand • Since May 2009 • 371 posts Report Reply

  • Ross Mason,

    Lyprinolgate, anyone? The snake oil medicine showmen strike again.

    Dr Milan Brick. Laetril. Is another.

    Realising the date one can assume that the Science Media Centre didn't have any input. However, it is certainly a bloody good reason for the SMC to exist! I do hope they become proactive and nip such items in the bud. Or at least take the opportunity to try.

    Ignorance is such a powerful weapon preyed on by quacks.

    It makes me sad that such knowledge and life skills are not imparted to our children sufficiently well for them to understand chance, the distinct lack of evidence for and of miracles, the ability to think rationally and that all important fact their life is/was the result of race that is a life or death lottery. But for a slightly earlier sperm........it might have come out "better"......or "worse"......or....not at all.

    What is it about Mexico? Could be in the water. Maybe the Spanish inquisition? The conquistadors and their imposed catholicism? Gold GolD GOLD!!! There is still plenty there for the quacks anyway.

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report Reply

  • dyan campbell,

    Ignorance is such a powerful weapon preyed on by quacks.

    Ignorance doesn't make people nearly as vulnerable to quacks as desperation.

    What is it about Mexico? Could be in the water. Maybe the Spanish inquisition? The conquistadors and their imposed catholicism? Gold GolD GOLD!!! There is still plenty there for the quacks anyway.

    The thing about Mexico is the lack of regulatory bodies and laws to protect those desperate enough to try literally anything.

    auckland • Since Dec 2006 • 595 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole,

    I recall seeing a "segment" (read: ad) on...probably 3 News about these, touting them as basically the next big thing for whatever ails you.

    They are quite good for treating decompression illness (bends) in divers, I believe!

    Also good for injuries and diseases that lead to tissue destruction, according to Wikipedia. And whilst Wikipedia may not be all that and a bag of chips for authority, I knew about the use of hyperbaric treatment for burns and the others in the "approved treatments" list are sufficiently similar that it is a logical extension.

    I can certainly see how hyperbaric O2 therapy could be considered useful for "whatever ails you", just through the basic physiological implications of increased O2 saturation of the tissues, but it is definitely a big step from that to using it for psychiatric/psychological disorders.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Sara Bee,

    Sounds just like an episode of Eleventh Hour I happened across the other week - Wikipedia entry

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 67 posts Report Reply

  • Stephen Judd,

    Another thing I'd like to know is -- if journos are so obviously gullible, and keen to tell emotional stories , bugger the facts -- what other fields do they do this in? What reason do we have to believe any of their reports in any field? This particular story is one where a well-informed punter can spot the problems, but there are lots of stories where we have to rely on reporters. There's a spillover effect, for me anyway. It's great to have medical authorities on the show, but the issue is wider than bullshit in medical/science reporting, it's journalism in general.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report Reply

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