The outrageous case of Singh versus the chiropractics

[Reg Smeeton]

I've just returned from a packed meeting in Holborn to hear about how the British Chiropractors Association are suing Simon Singh for claiming that they, to quote the original Guardian article, "happily promote bogus treatments". The judge in charge of the case has made an extraordinary and outrageous pre-trial ruling which effectively makes it impossible for Dr Singh to defend himself. You may not have heard about this story because none of the newspapers are covering it (for fear, it is said, that they too will be sued). It's a frightening case, because it is effectively denying free speech.

Read about it on Jack of Kent's blog, and google elsewhere for more information. Anybody who believes in the freedom to put alternative medicine under the scientific spotlight should be worried. Britain's libel laws stink.

http://jackofkent.blogspot.com/

The only mainstream, large circulation publication to have covered the story is the good old Economist:

http://www.economist.com/science/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13643973

[Brendan]

Chiropractic may piss of some off the established medical fraternity because it steps on what they see as their turf but it is hardly ?alternative? in the same sense as say, homeopathy.

[david_carnell]

Hmmm... treating colic or ear infections with spinal manipulation sounds pretty woo to me.

But as the economist article suggests, even Dr Singh merely thinks chiropractors are deluded rather than deliberately dishonest.

What say the EDF's resident medical team?

[DaveR]

From a legal perspective it's quite a surprising ruling, effectively ruling out a "recklessness" based interpretation of the words i.e. "the BCA happily promote treatments that are in fact bogus, without caring or taking any proper steps to check whether they are or aren't". I would have thought that this is an equally natural meaning of the phrase. Bad news for Singh though - he'll have to appeal.

[PeckhamRose]

McTimoney Chiropractic works for me!

I knew about this because the British Humanist Association had links to it.

I couldn't go last night, and thank you for alerting people to it here.

It really is ridiculous.

D Carnell - no real proper chiropractic would seriously claim to cure an ear infection with bone manipulation, but if there is a blockage, the manipulation may unlock/prevent the pushed-together bones from causing that blockage again. Then tell the person to get treatment for the remaining gooey infection.

[david_carnell]

Well, quite, PeckhamRose. No proper chiropractor should claim to be able to do those things since, and I'm happy to be corrected by any qualified Doctor, an ear infection has nothing to do with bones of any sort, let alone the spine. But clearly some are trying to claim this feat of miracle and have been protected by the BCA - and Singh called them on it.

[Mikecg]

If somebody told me that an ear infection could be cured via being man handled by a quack I would think it untenable. Is'nt that what antidiabolicles are for?

[brum]

Isn't this about Egyptian farm vehicles? Oh sorry, no, that's Cairo Tractors.

That's so bad. Sorry.

[annaj]

What say the EDF's resident medical team?

Do you really think I'm going to get draw into another medical debate?

My default response to subjects like this is to see what Dr Goldacre has to say, but I can't tell you what that is, because his site is blocked at work.

But I can tell you that ear infections are nothing to do with bones pressing together and often don't need antibioitcs either.

Edited to say that work have miraculously unblocked bad science - hurrah - and there's an article all about it there, just put Dr Singh into the search box. Oh and also well done Reg for raising the subject.

[RosieH]

Why would they block my fiance, why, why?

[buggie]

....because it could limit the amount of work done.... I still live in hope of crossing his path one day... like SOMEONE did!!

[buggie]

looking through the info - can't believe the judge's ruling was based on what seems to be an inflated definition of the word "bogus"... really hope that sense is regained.

[PeckhamRose]

Thanks annaj - I made the connection through having chiropractic treatment to free a nerve and that worked perfectly. The ear infection idea was thus wrong and thanks for putting me right!

And thanks Reg for starting this post too. Enlightening!

[Reg Smeeton]

Brendan - I think the public image of chiropractic is that it is pretty mainstream (like a version of physiotherapy). That was certainly my impression until this case came up. The reality appears to be rather different. Do they conduct open, scientific research to support their claims? Do they allow the public to scrutinise their training programmes? No - instead their reputation is to respond to criticism by calling in the lawyers. If you do a google, you'll find the word 'cult' used to describe them (but not by me, oh no-sirree, just in case those lovely BCA people of impeccable standing are reading this, which they and their lawyers probably are). I'd say that makes chiropractic at least as 'alternative' as homeopathy.

Brendan Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Chiropractic may piss of some off the established

> medical fraternity because it steps on what they

> see as their turf but it is hardly ?alternative?

> in the same sense as say, homeopathy.

[Reg Smeeton]

An update on this case, Simon Singh has decided to appeal, which will raise the profile of the story considerably. The chiropractics are going to get lots of bad publicity out of this and might deeply regret resorting to litigation. I hope so. (Their alternative course of action was to publish some scientific evidence to back themselves up. If they have any of course).

[Brendan]

Let?s blue sky this one out of the box, past the elephant and around the ball park.

If the medical fraternity had historically accepted chiropractic, a science with more than a 100 years history, would it now be properly regulated along with other medical techniques and would dangerous nonsense ever have found a way into its practice?

[Reg Smeeton]

To quote Wikipedia: "Early chiropractors believed that all disease was caused by interruptions in the flow of innate intelligence, a vital nervous energy or life force that represented God's presence in man; chiropractic leaders often invoked religious imagery and moral traditions." Doesn't sound like science to me. Quack Quack.

[blah]

bah

they will be saying that orgone doesnt exist next