great quote on (alternative) medicine
Jul. 27th, 2006 05:37 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
acroyearTrevor Butterworth - A Tale of One Teen and Two Cancer Treatments:
Cherrix here is Mr. A. Cherrix, the father of the teenager who is refusing conventional medicine for his cancer, instead trying to embrace the alternative-medicine Hoxsey treatment (which Orac has pointed out has no basis for its efficacy claims whatsoever). The courts in his state have decided that he is too young to make that decision (though he's now 16) and that his parents by encouraging that are committing a form of child endangerment, and have ordered him back to chemo. From a civil-liberties p.o.v., this is, of course, questionable, but on the other hand, the Hoxsey treatment is a death sentence for the kid, regardless of his "faith". His tumor has, in fact, gotten worse since he started the alternative treatment.
The principles enunciated by Cherrix are, at best, those of 19th century medicine. Adults have the right to choose such principles in guiding their treatment if they so wish; but they need to be aware that you can’t practice 19th century medicine without achieving 19th century mortality rates.Beauty way to put it, 'eh?
Cherrix here is Mr. A. Cherrix, the father of the teenager who is refusing conventional medicine for his cancer, instead trying to embrace the alternative-medicine Hoxsey treatment (which Orac has pointed out has no basis for its efficacy claims whatsoever). The courts in his state have decided that he is too young to make that decision (though he's now 16) and that his parents by encouraging that are committing a form of child endangerment, and have ordered him back to chemo. From a civil-liberties p.o.v., this is, of course, questionable, but on the other hand, the Hoxsey treatment is a death sentence for the kid, regardless of his "faith". His tumor has, in fact, gotten worse since he started the alternative treatment.
