Medical reporting on TV news today really is pretty sad. Last night I happened to catch the same story on all 3 networks about an autism study done in South Korea. NBC had the most disjointed report, one that included several generalizations and unsubstantiated claims. ABC had the shortest take on the story. CBS had the best report but it implied that the autism rates in South Korea translated into a dramatic rise in undiagnosed autism in America.
Not one story recognized that the dietary, cultural and other differences between our two countries could make any extrapolation of the autism rate in South Korea meaningless in America. They were all happy to report the press release almost as written to create a sense of urgency in our country. This new sense of urgency will eventually translate into more prescriptions for drugs.
Watching the same story reported three different ways was an educational experience which only confirmed once again the sad state of journalism in America today, especially when the subject is medicine.
Showing posts with label medical news. Show all posts
Showing posts with label medical news. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
More Research
Western scientists love research ... they just have to get every square peg to fit into their round hole. Sometimes it doesn't work that way. A recent report in the New England Journal of Medicine said that a small study of fibromyalgia sufferers showed that many found relief with Tai Chi. The study was funded by the NCCAM.
The study group was divided into Tai Chi participants and those taking an educational class. After 12 weeks 79% of tai chi participants said their symptoms had improved while only 39% of those in the educational class reported improvement.
Why does it surprise American doctors that a 2,000-year-old medical system might have some beneficial features?
The study group was divided into Tai Chi participants and those taking an educational class. After 12 weeks 79% of tai chi participants said their symptoms had improved while only 39% of those in the educational class reported improvement.
Why does it surprise American doctors that a 2,000-year-old medical system might have some beneficial features?
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Good News, Bad News
The good news is MRSA infection rates are down. The aggressive, drug-resistant staph infection caught in hospitals dropped about 16% from 2005 to 2008 indicating the prevention efforts at hospitals are working. However MRSA rates in schools, locker rooms and other settings were not included in the report.
The bad news is there is a new superbug according to a study published recently in the journal Lancet. Bacteria in south Asia have learned a new way to deactivate the antibiotics that usually kill them using a new gene called NDM-1. Normally confined to Pakistan and India the first case in America was identified in the U.S. this year. Cases have also been reported in the U.K.
The bad news is there is a new superbug according to a study published recently in the journal Lancet. Bacteria in south Asia have learned a new way to deactivate the antibiotics that usually kill them using a new gene called NDM-1. Normally confined to Pakistan and India the first case in America was identified in the U.S. this year. Cases have also been reported in the U.K.
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