Bad Science

Dr Vivek Agarwal

Ben Goldacre

Doctor, journalist, broadcaster Bad science column in the guardian

since 2003 Newsnight, watchdog, QI BBC documentaries Various awards

Recently

Bad Pharma – top 10 in UK Test, Learn, Adapt: Developing Public

Policy with Randomised Controlled Trials

Bad Science – the book

Published by Fourth Estate 2008 Over 500,000 copies sold Reached #1 in non-fiction Published in over 18 countries

Bad Science

Brain gym Progenium XY complex Homeopathy Dr Gillian McKeith Fish oils MMR

Dr Gillian McKeith, PhD

Green leaves for chlorophyll Abdominal examination – inflammation of

organs Food enzyme deficiencies “Dr” PhD – thesis – “Miracle superfood” Membership of AANC References – magazines, books Medicinal claims

Gillian McKeith

Living food powder, claimed to have been tested in clinical trials - Challenged by Prof Garrow

Threats of legal action No indexed articles

Homeopathy

Hahnemann Late eighteenth century Better alternative to blood-letting Authority figures could devise new

treatments without much evidence to back up their claims

Theoretical concept

Homeopathy - pseudoscience Dilution – ‘potentise’ Succussion Proving – ‘Prufung’

Still done today, often described as trials

Dilution effect

Typically 30CWhat does this mean?

Avagadro’s number ‘memory’ of water Or sugar

Challenges

James RandiAmerican conjurer

Sir John ForbesPrivate physician to Queen Victoria

Ben Goldacre

How does it still work then

Placebo effect One to one interaction Therapeutic relationship Natural course of illness or regression

to the meanEg; Sports Illustrated jinx

MMR and autism

Andrew Wakefield – Lancet Case series – 12 cases Selection Investigations Media and public figures views Retraction

Ben Goldacre - Prescribing analytics

Ben Goldacre - Randomise me

Things to remember

? Anecdotal evidence – pros and cons Clinical trials should be..... Flaws in research – so peer review,

publication and critical appraisal necessary

Always be wary of being quoted evidence from unpublished research!

Power is not just in the pill!