Updated Edition!
Like probably many of you, I frequently come across claims that Donald Trump is a convicted rapist. No, this is not about the “Epstein files” and the horrible things they imply, it’s about claims that, in the 1990s, he raped E. Jean Carroll. He, of course, denies this. Even though it has nothing to do with the usual topic of this blog (SCAM), I thought it would be interesting and important to establish the facts about this case. So, here they are:
E. Jean Carroll claimed Donald Trump raped her in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room around 1995-1996, an accusation she publicized in 2019, leading to defamation suits after Trump denied it and called her claims a “hoax.”
Subsequently Carroll filed the first suit (“Carroll I”) in 2019 for defamation based on Trump’s denials, including his statement that she was “not my type.” A May 2023 jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse – not rape under New York’s narrow legal definition – and defamation, awarding her $5 million in damages. The second suit (“Carroll II”), filed in 2022 under New York’s Adult Survivors Act, added a battery claim. In January 2024, a jury awarded Carroll an additional $83.3 million ($7.3 million emotional, $11 million reputational, $65 million punitive) for further defamation. The evidence included:
- Carroll’s account of a chance encounter turning violent, supported by friends she confided in, a 1987 photo of them together,
- other accusers’ testimonies,
- Trump’s Access Hollywood
Trump denied even knowing Carroll and maintained the claims were fabricated. He appealed both verdicts, posting bonds totalling about $91.6 million. At present, appeals continue, with a Supreme Court petition filed in 2025. Judge Kaplan upheld the findings, noting Trump’s actions met common definitions of rape despite the jury’s terminology. Appeals upheld liabilities as of December 2024, with Supreme Court review pending.
The two Carroll cases were civil lawsuits, where a jury found him liable for sexual abuse and defamation, not rape under New York’s criminal legal definition. Rape would require penile penetration! Civil cases determine liability by a “preponderance of evidence” standard, resulting in financial damages ($5 million in Carroll I, $83.3 million in Carroll II), not criminal penalties like prison. Therefore, no criminal conviction for rape or sexual assault exists against Trump in these matters.
Judge Kaplan noted the jury implicitly found Trump forcibly penetrated Carroll digitally, aligning with the common understanding of rape, though not New York’s narrow penal code definition. Appeals courts upheld the verdicts as of late 2025, but this remains civil liability. The proper legal description from the two cases is therefore that Trump was found civilly liable for sexual abuse (or battery) and defamation against E. Jean Carroll.
Calling Trump a convicted “rapist,” or “sex offender” is thus not technically correct. Or, to put it differently, according to the common understanding of rape, Trump is a convicted rapist. According to New York’s criminal legal definition, he is a convicted sex offender. Whichever version one might perfer, in my view, he is not fit to be the president of the US. And for what it’s worth, I also believe that any sane country would have not re-elected him or would by now have at least removed this man from office.
Von Willebrand disease (VWD) is the most common inherited bleeding disorder and predisposes patients to hemorrhagic complications following trauma or invasive procedures. Chiropractic spinal manipulation is widely used for musculoskeletal pain; however, serious complications have been reported, particularly in patients with underlying coagulopathies.
Iliopsoas hematoma with secondary femoral neuropathy is an uncommon but potentially disabling condition. A team of US doctors present a clinical case highlighting this rare complication following chiropractic manipulation in a patient with VWD and review the relevant literature. They describe the clinical course and follow-up of a 32-year-old female patient with known VWD who developed acute neurological deficits after chiropractic manipulation. Imaging findings were analyzed using radiographs, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Hematoma volume was calculated using the ABC/2 formula, which has been well validated and shows a high correlation with volumes calculated using planimetric techniques.
After chiropractic manipulation, the patient developed severe lumbar and inguinal pain, followed by progressive weakness and sensory impairment of the left lower limb. Imaging revealed a large left iliopsoas hematoma measuring approximately 896 cc, causing femoral nerve compression. Management included coagulation factor replacement, pain control, and interventional radiology-guided drainage, resulting in significant hematoma reduction and neurological improvement. At the six-month follow-up, residual neuropathy and muscle atrophy persisted, although functional recovery was evident.
The uthors concluded that patients with VWD are at high risk for severe hemorrhagic complications even after seemingly minor manipulative therapies. Chiropractic spinal manipulation may precipitate life-threatening or disabling bleeding events in this population. Early recognition, appropriate imaging, correction of the coagulopathy, and multidisciplinary management are crucial to optimize outcomes. This case highlights the importance of patient counseling, risk stratification, and caution when considering alternative therapies in individuals with inherited bleeding disorders.
The list of complications, including fatal ones, after chiropractic manipulations is long – very long. That they can cause iliopsoas hematoma with secondary femoral neuropathy was new to me. The lesson here seems relatively simple: if you have a bleeding abnormality, avoid chiropractic manipulations at all costs!
This, of course, raises an interesting question:
Considering that ~25% of the general population have some sort of clotting abnormality, do chiropractors routinely check whether their pations have normal blood clotting?
Somehow, I doubt it.
We have frequently discussed the fact that acupuncture, while often promoted as safe, can cause serious harm, including deaths, e.g.:
- Another death by acupuncture
- Death by acupuncture
- Football star, Ellen White, suffered a pneumothorax caused by acupuncture
- Acupuncture: much more than meets the eye!
- Acupuncture for stable angina pectoris… yes, if you aim at killing millions!
- Acupuncture: a treatment to die for?
- How many fatalities has acupuncture caused? And are acupuncturists in denial?
Now, an unusual fatality has been reported. A team of Chinese researchers published the case of a young man who died suddenly after receiving acupuncture treatment. Autopsy revealed multiple needlestick wounds in both lungs, liver, and spleen, leading to traumatic pneumothorax and hemoperitoneum. The man ultimately died of respiratory failure.
Notably, the case documentation mentioned only dorsal acupuncture. However, during the autopsy, the authors discovered additional puncture sites in the bilateral lateral regions, with dimensional discrepancies compared to the dorsal needlestick. They hypothesized that these discrepancies were caused by the use of needles of varying sizes and raised reasonable suspicion of multiple perpetrators. A subsequent law enforcement investigation confirmed that the man’s dorsal and lateral acupuncture were performed separately by a masseur at a private clinic and by his partner. A detailed analysis clarified how injuries to different anatomical regions contributed to the fatal outcome, providing a foundation for legal accountability.
The uniqueness of this case lies in the involvement of multiple suspects, multiple organ injuries, and unlicensed medical practice. This case not only enriches the report on adverse events associated with acupuncture but also highlights the critical importance of meticulous forensic examination and comprehensive case investigation.
The authors stress that improper practices may lead to adverse events. This case involves issues of unlicensed medical practice leading to death, multiple organ injuries, multiple suspects (including one who is the decedent’s partner), and the division of responsibility. It highlights that even minor puncture injuries can result in serious damage, serving as a warning that meticulous and comprehensive forensic examinations, along with the independent analytical skills, are crucial for uncovering key information that may be easily overlooked. These abilities enable timely provision of clues to the police, bringing the case closer to the truth.
I would add that the paper clearly demonstrates that not only acupuncture but also the acupuncturist can cause severe harm, particularly when he/she is poorly or not at all trained.
Lots of important things have happened in the past on the 30th of January, my birthday. Here is a small selection:
- 1649: King Charles I of England is beheaded for high treason, leading to a brief period where England became a republic under Oliver Cromwell.
- 1661: Two years after his death, Oliver Cromwell is ritually executed; his body was exhumed and his head placed on a spike at Westminster Hall.
- 1835: The first assassination attempt on a U.S. President occurs when Richard Lawrence tries to shoot Andrew Jackson. Both of Lawrence’s pistols misfired.
- 1862: The USS Monitor, the first American ironclad warship, is launched during the Civil War.
- 1933: Adolf Hitler is sworn in as Chancellor of Germany, marking the beginning of the Third Reich.
- 1945: The Wilhelm Gustloff, a German transport ship, is sunk by a Soviet submarine. With over 9,000 casualties, it remains the deadliest maritime disaster in history.
- 1948: Mahatma Gandhi is assassinated by a Hindu extremist in New Delhi; that actually is on the same day and year as my birthday..
- 1968: The Tet Offensive begins during the Vietnam War as North Vietnamese forces launch a massive surprise attack across South Vietnam.
- 1972: “Bloody Sunday” occurs in Northern Ireland; British paratroopers open fire on civil rights protesters, killing 14 people.
- 2020: The World Health Organization (WHO) declares the COVID-19 outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
- And, of course, most important of all: TODAY, January 30, 2026, is the official global theatrical flop of the documentary “MELANIA.”
What is my wish on this day?
I’m glad you asked!
My wish would be that all of us obtain the ability to learn from history.
It’s a big wish, I know. It would include things like preventing or getting rid of Trump and all similar politicians who fill their pockets while mistreating lage sections of their citizens and creating global disasters. It would mean heeding the warnings of scientists on issues like golbal warming or prevention and treatment of diseases. It would mean not killing other humans because of their colour, belief or nationality. It would mean using our emapthy and intelligence instead of our primitive instincts and cruel selfishness.
I know, it’s asking a lot – but it’s my birthday!
The rapid expansion of mindfulness research has generated both enthusiasm and controversy regarding its actual clinical value. While meditation is often regarded as the central mechanism of mindfulness-based interventions, other components such as psychoeducation and informal practice may play an equally significant role in improving mental health outcomes.
This critical review examined the relative contributions of these elements to the therapeutic impact of mindfulness and clarifies the extent to which its effects are comparable to established treatments, particularly Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
Evidence from meta-analyses and high-quality trials indicated that mindfulness programs achieve moderate efficacy in reducing symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress, but effect sizes are frequently inflated by the methodological limitations of the studies. Importantly, cognitive and emotional regulation skills, especially acceptance and non-judgment, appear to sustain long-term benefits more consistently than meditation alone.
The authors point out that high-quality studies tend to report smaller effect sizes for mindfulness meditation compared to studies with methodological limitations. This suggests that the benefits of it may have been overestimated in less robust research. However, even in well-controlled trials, meditation has shown moderate effects in reducing stress and anxiety, highlighting its potential therapeutic value while reinforcing the need for continued scrutiny of its long-term impact and mechanisms of action.
Mindfulness meditation is often regarded as the central component of mindfulness programs, yet its role should be critically examined in relation to other key elements. While some studies highlight meditation as a primary mechanism for short-term reductions in stress and anxiety, others suggest that cognitive and behavioral learning processes may play an equally or even more significant role in sustaining long-term benefits. This raises important questions about whether meditation alone is sufficient to drive mindfulness-related improvements or if its effects are dependent on complementary psychoeducational and cognitive strategies.
The authors concluded that the primary challenge in mindfulness-based interventions is determining which aspects are responsible for contributing to their effectiveness, and what mechanisms may be at work. While meditative practice, often associated with mindfulness training and stress reduction, has demonstrated benefits in alleviating symptoms of anxiety and depression, a critical question remains: is meditation alone sufficient to sustain these effects over time, or are additional cognitive, emotional, and behavioral factors necessary? Understanding whether the long-term benefits of mindfulness stem from mindfulness meditation alone, or also from additional contributions from complementary psychological processes, is essential for refining its clinical applications and preventing its overgeneralization as a universal remedy.
Recent high-quality evidence continues to support the moderate but consistent clinical efficacy of MBIs across populations and settings. However, these benefits appear to depend not only on meditation but also on psychoeducational and cognitive–behavioral elements that promote acceptance, non-judgment, and emotional regulation. Such skills have shown comparable or even greater contributions to long-term mental health outcomes than formal meditation practice alone.
Although mindfulness-based interventions have demonstrated effectiveness in reducing anxiety and depression, direct comparisons with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) remain limited. Evidence from recent meta-analyses suggests that both approaches may yield comparable therapeutic outcomes, possibly through shared mechanisms involving cognitive restructuring and self-regulation. In contrast, findings on Transcendental Meditation (TM) are more heterogeneous and should be interpreted with caution, as TM differs conceptually and methodologically from mindfulness-based approaches. Nonetheless, further well-controlled, longitudinal research is required to clarify whether sustained meditation practice provides additional or distinct long-term advantages.
The psychoeducational components of mindfulness, which encourage present-moment awareness and a non-judgmental attitude, may play a significant role in reducing rumination—a core mechanism underlying anxiety and depression. This raises the question of whether long-term symptom improvement is primarily driven by the internalization of these cognitive and emotional strategies rather than by meditation itself.
Overall, mindfulness-based interventions show moderate clinical efficacy, with outcomes highly dependent on their specific components—meditation, psychoeducation, and informal practice. Cognitive and emotional regulation skills such as acceptance and non-judgment may be the most critical drivers of long-term well-being. Identifying how these elements interact to sustain psychological benefits is key for optimizing intervention design and ensuring mindfulness remains a scientifically grounded and contextually adaptable therapeutic tool.
I have often commented on what I see as the current hype around mindfulness. To me, the evidence suggests that it is not nearly as effective as its proponents are trying to make it out to be. Much of the observed outcomes are due to expectation and conditioning, in other words, they are caused by a placebo response. Yet, I think the authors of this review have a point, even though they seem not very good at making it concisely.
The objective of this study was to “critically assess the evidence presented in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about the effectiveness of acupuncture on fatigue in cancer patients”. In April 2024 a systematic search was conducted searching five electronic databases to find studies concerning the use, effectiveness and potential harm of acupuncture therapy on cancer patients.
From all (1599) search results, 15 studies with 1346 patients were included. Acupuncture methods varied – e.g., traditional-, electro-, mind-regulating and ATAS-acupuncture – and were compared to sham acupuncture, usual care, or other controls.
- Studies comparing acupuncture to sham acupuncture reported mixed results: while some found significant effects on cancer-related fatigue, others found no advantages.
- Studies comparing acupuncture to usual care or waitlist controls often reported positive effects. However, the reliability of these findings is limited, as 14 of 15 studies were rated as “high risk of bias” by the RoB-2 tool due to issues like insufficient blinding and incomplete data analysis.
- Only one study, with low risk of bias, showed a significant reduction in fatigue with acupuncture compared to sham acupuncture (p < 0.001).
- GRADE evaluation showed very low certainty of evidence.
The authors concluded that the heterogenous results and methodological limitations of the existing studies prevent us from drawing definitive conclusions about the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of cancer-related fatigue. Despite the inclusion of 15 studies, the overall evidence remains insufficient due to widespread problems in study design and inconsistent results. This analysis highlights the need to use more rigorous designs and more comprehensive assessment tools in future studies to better understand the role of acupuncture in the management of fatigue after cancer treatment.
So, only one study, with low risk of bias, showed a significant reduction in fatigue with acupuncture compared to sham acupuncture. Let’s have a look at it:
Background: Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a distressing symptom that is the most common unpleasant side effect experienced by lung cancer patients and is challenging for clinical care workers to manage.
Methods: We performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot trial to evaluate the clinical effect of acupuncture on CRF in lung cancer patients. Twenty-eight patients presenting with CRF were randomly assigned to active acupuncture or placebo acupuncture groups to receive acupoint stimulation (LI-4, Ren-6, St-36, KI-3, and Sp-6) twice per week for 4 weeks, followed by 2 weeks of follow-up. The primary outcome was the change in intensity of CFR based on the Chinese version of the Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI-C). As the secondary endpoint, the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Lung Cancer Subscale (FACT-LCS) was adopted to assess the influence of acupuncture on patients’ quality of life (QOL). Adverse events and safety of treatments were monitored throughout the trial.
Results: Our pilot study demonstrated feasibility among patients with appropriate inclusion criteria and good compliance with acupuncture treatment. A significant reduction in the BFI-C score was observed at 2 weeks in the 14 participants who received active acupuncture compared with those receiving the placebo (P < 0.01). At week 6, symptoms further improved according to the BFI-C (P < 0.001) and the FACT-LCS (P = 0.002). There were no significant differences in the incidence of adverse events in either group (P > 0.05).
Conclusion: Fatigue is a common symptom experienced by lung cancer patients. Acupuncture may be a safe and feasible optional method for adjunctive treatment in cancer palliative care, and appropriately powered trials are warranted to evaluate the effects of acupuncture.
Fancy that! The only study to produce some apparently sound evidence turns out to be a pilot study. Such studies are supposed to test feasibility, not effectiveness! In view of all this, it is far, I think, to draw a definitive conclusion, after all:
At present there is no compelling evidence that acupuncture works for cancer-related fatigue.
This case report details the death of a 59-year-old woman who succumbed to complications from lead poisoning (cerebral edema and encephalopathy) following the use of an herbal cream to treat hemorrhoids.
The patient with a past medical history of prediabetes was admitted to the emergency department after her husband found her experiencing seizure-like activity that morning. She had been in normal health the previous night, but suffered another seizure in the emergency department that lasted about three minutes and was subsequently started on Levetiracetam. During her most recent physical exam one week ago, her lab workup prompted a follow-up with
hematology due to anemia of unknown etiology. This time, her laboratory results indicated an elevated lactate level of 9.3 mmol/L, and her urine drug screen was negative. Additional labs showed elevations in aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALKP) while her complete blood count still showed signs of anemia.
During her hospital stay, the patient developed neurogenic shock and diabetes insipidus. On the fourth day, a serum lead level drawn on the second day returned, showing a level greater than 200 µg/dL Physicians considered various potential sources of her lead exposure, including environmental or occupational contact, accidental ingestion or inhalation of lead particles, unregulated imported cosmetics, or contaminated herbal supplements.
After asking about her use of herbal medications, suspicion arose around a hemorrhoid ointment that the patient had recently purchased from Vietnam through a Facebook advertisement. Consequently, chelation therapy with oral succimer and a continuous infusion of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid
was immediately initiated.
Cao Bôi Trĩ Cây Thầu Dầu (Castor Oil Hemorrhoid Extract) was promoted for the treatment of hemorrhoids via intra-rectal application . Testing by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) revealed that the hemorrhoid ointment contained 4% lead (39,000 ppm), a highly lethal concentration. Even minimal lead exposure can be harmful and potentially lead to illness or death; thus, it is advised to avoid products likely to contain lead, especially imported items from other countries with inadequate lead testing standards.
As the patient’s condition continued to deteriorate, concerns for brain death arose. After being informed, the patient’s family consented to proceed with brain death testing. A second exam and a nuclear medicine (NM) brain perfusion scan were completed on the eighth day and it shows the absence of brain perfusion. Despite aggressive management, including seizure control, treatment of cerebral edema, and chelation for severe lead poisoning, the patient passed away on the eighth day due to acute neurological complications from severe lead toxicity complicated by cerebral edema.
As we have often discussed, so-called alternative medicines (SCAMs) can often be contaminated with harmful substances including heavy metals such as lead, e.g.:
- Heavy metal poisoning as a result of using Ayurvedic remedies
- If you ask me, Chinese herbal medicines are best avoided
- Death by homeopathy
- Inadequate regulation of Kratom supplements put consumers at risk
- Another death by homeopathy
- Ayurvedic medicines to die for
- Lead and arsenic intoxications due to ‘natural health products’
- How safe are herbal medicines?
- Ayurvedic medicines: efficacy doubtful with considerable risks
- Contamination and adulteration of herbal remedies
- Another death caused by ‘traditional wisdom’
This case underscores the urgent need for stricter regulations and oversight in the herbal medicine industry to prevent such health hazards. Implementing stronger regulatory measures is essential to ensure that all medicinal and cosmetic products are free from harmful contaminants and to safeguard public health against the significant risks associated with SCAMs.
The US stands on the precipice of the destruction of public health. This might be best exemplified by the loss of its measles-free status. In 2000, the U.S. had been classified as having “eliminated” measles, meaning the virus was no longer constantly circulating within its borders. Following a year of record-breaking outbreaks, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is now reviewing whether to officially revoke this status.
The technical definition of losing elimination status is the continuous transmission of the same strain of a virus for more than 12 months. In 2025, the US experienced over 2,400 confirmed cases—the highest count since 1991—driven by major outbreaks in Texas, South Carolina, Arizona, and Utah. While health officials once relied on high vaccination rates to “wall off” imported cases, that protection has now crumbled. National MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccination rates for kindergartners have fallen below the 95% threshold required for achieving herd immunity. This leaves communities vulnerable to the kind of rapid spread seen over the past year.
The resurgence of measles is inextricably linked to the shift in federal health policy under Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the current Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). His influence has transformed vaccine hesitancy in the US from a fringe movement into a pillar of federal discourse. Kennedy has frequently misused his position to question the safety and necessity of the MMR vaccine, at one point suggesting that “natural infection” might be preferable to vaccination—a claim experts call dangerously misleading given that measles can cause encephalitis, permanent hearing loss, and death. Under Kennedy’s leadership, the CDC has been staffed with notorious anti-vaxers and reduced the number of recommended childhood vaccines and emphasized “personal choice” over community mandates. This shift has emboldened several states to loosen school entry requirements, leading to a record number of non-medical vaccine exemptions. By replacing members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) with anti-vaxers, Kennedy has signaled a move away from the decades of scientific consensus that underpinned the 2000 elimination achievement.
Kennedy – who has no medical background and does clearly not understand science – argues that the primary threat to US health is not infectious disease but chronic illness (e.g., diabetes, obesity, and autism), which he feels are linked to environmental factors and food quality. His alternatives include advocating for “real food,” reducing ultra-processed foods, and discouraging the use of seed oils and certain pesticides. He has promoted the consumption of unpasteurized dairy, despite warnings from health officials regarding bacterial risks. He advocates for ending water fluoridation, claiming it contributes to chronic health issues in children. Kennedy also believes that “natural infection” – contracting the disease itself – can be a preferable alternative to vaccination for certain illnesses. He has expressed his support for un- or disproven treatments such as hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin for viral infections, as well as the use of psychedelics and stem cells in broader health contexts. His MAHA plan promotes a “holistic” approach that combines conventional medicine withhis complementary therapies like supplements and acupuncture.
To make matters even worse, the US officially completed its withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) on January 22, 2026. This finalized a process that began on January 20, 2025, when Trump signed Executive Order 14155 on his first day in office. His previous attempt during his 1st term to leave the WHO was reversed by the Biden administration in 2021.
Losing measles-free status is more than a symbolic blow; it has practical and dire consequences. It signals to the world that the US public health infrastructure is failing to contain one of the most contagious diseases known to man. It means that “rare” outbreaks will become a permanent fixture of American life, requiring constant vigilance for infants too young to be vaccinated and the immunocompromised. And it bodes badly, of course, for the time when the next pandemic will emerge.
As the CDC completes its genomic sequencing to determine if the 2025 outbreaks constitute a single, unbroken chain of transmission, the US faces a choice. We are witnessing a “natural experiment” in real-time—one where the cost of Kennedy’s sick ideology is being paid in the form of preventable hospitalizations and lives lost. To put it bluntly: either the US gets rid of Kennedy and swiftly reverses his detrimental initiatives, or many US citizens will suffer ill health and even die because of his actions.
This study compared the analgesic efficacy of acupressure and magnetic therapy (AMT) versus diclofenac sodium (DFS) in acute renal colic. A total of 138 patients with acute renal colic (visual analog scale [VAS] score ≥ 7) were randomized to AMT or DFS treatment. Primary endpoints included changes in VAS scores at baseline, 1-, 10-, 30-, and 120-min post-intervention, along with analgesic duration. Multiple linear regression evaluated the influence of treatment modality, gender, white blood cell (WBC) count, and other covariates on VAS scores at 10 min. Interaction effect analysis was additionally used to assess how these factors modified treatment efficacy.
The AMT group demonstrated rapid onset, achieving an 86 % VAS reduction at 1-min post-intervention (vs. baseline, P < 0.001), though pain rebound occurred after 30 min. The DFS group exhibited slower onset but significantly prolonged analgesic duration compared to AMT (23.6 ± 2.2 h vs. 2.4 ± 1.0 h, P < 0.001). Multiple linear regression revealed that AMT had the best analgesic effect (B = -6.22, P < 0.001). Male gender (B = 0.78, P = 0.026) and lower baseline WBC counts (B = -0.16, P = 0.026) were associated with higher VAS scores. Interaction analysis indicated enhanced AMT efficacy in male patients and those with lower WBC counts.
The authors concluded that AMT and DFS exhibit complementary “rapid-sustained” analgesic profiles in renal colic management, with gender and WBC levels significantly modulating treatment efficacy. A stratified analgesia protocol based on these factors may optimize patient outcomes.
Apart from the fact that, as an equivalence trial, the study is hopelessly underpowered and its results therefore less than reliable, I have a further reason for not trusting its findings.
A renal colic is an acute and severe loin pain caused by a urinary stone moving from the kidney downwards into the ureter. The pain is often resistant to DFS or other conventional pain-killers and might require opioids. The pain usually peaks sharply, lasts for 20 to 60 minutes, and then subsides into a dull ache before the next “wave” begins. These waves are caused by the ureter’s peristalsis—the tube’s rhythmic muscular contractions—as it tries to squeeze the stone toward the bladder.
So, all I need to do to fake the effectivenesss of a so-called alternative medicine (SCAM) like AMT is to start treating patients when a wave is subsiding. This can easily appear as though AMT had a remarkable effect of 86%. Subsequently, the pain will recur. And this is probably what happened in this study! What I am trying to convey is that I am not convinced that AMT did much at all.
Moreover, I find it daft to conduct a trial where two SCAMs are tested together in one single treatment arm. Even if one would be convinced of the value of AMT – which I am not! – one would need to ask: was it the acupressure or the magnetic therapy that did the trick?
My conclusion is therefore yet again: if you design a silly study, you get a silly result.
A recent BMJ letter to the editor is so brilliant that I should show you a few sections from it:
… Whether Trump’s regime is fascist can be endlessly debated, but if you check it against the 14 characteristics of fascism described by the political scientist Lawrence Britt after analysis of seven fascist regimes it scores high. One of the characteristics is a tendency “to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education, and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested.”
… Michael H Kater, the German-Canadian historian of Nazism, writes that “As physicians became Nazified more thoroughly and much sooner than any other profession, and as Nazis they did more in the service of the nefarious regime than any of their extraprofessional peers.”
German doctors after the war unsurprisingly argued that what had happened was the result of a few rogue doctors, but the American psychiatrist Robert Jay Lifton argues in his book The Nazi Doctors that “as a profession German physicians offered themselves to the regime. So also did most other professions; but with doctors, that gift included using their intellectual authority to justify and carry out medicalized killing,” which meant “practicing therapy via mass murder.” …
There is an entirely understandable tendency to think that there is no parallel between what happened in the German in the ’30s and what is happening in America today, but the American Nobel prize-winner Paul Krugman writes this week: “We should be clear about what is happening. American fascism is on the march.”
Leaders in American medicine must stand up to the Trump regime, which will not be easy. Yamey and Shaffer describe how “Many physicians are now pushing back but how “a stronger and more powerful movement is sorely needed.” Now is the time to stand up before it becomes too late, as happened with the German medical profession.
These thoughts align closely with what I have been working on during the last 2 years or so (see here and here, for instance). I thank Richard Smith, the author of the above lines and former BMJ editor, for articulating our concerns so eloquently.
