BMJ and its editors are to be commended for this much-needed update.
Unfortunately, it tells us that charlatans remain in the medical
profession as well as in other walks of life. Public trust requires
integrity and accountability, both in research and clinical practice.
Mistakes will continue to occur, but all must remain vigilant to protect
our patients and the public health. Those refusing vaccination because of
this fraud have, unwittngly most likely, contributed to resurgence and
importaion of measles, with risk of its attendant complications.
Another brand of 'snake-oil' is the off-shore promotion of stem cell
transplantation without documentation, and preying on the desperate
looking for miracle cures.Integrity must be taught and part of our
character. Edmund Burke's famous quote is a bluntreminder-'All that is
necessary for the triumph of evil, is for good men to do nothing!'
Robert E. Dedmon, MD MPH FACP FACOEM
1.Sheldon, T. Dutch Clinic is ordered to stop giving stem cell
therapy. BMJ 2006;333:770
2. Dedmon, RE. Stem Cell Tourism:the new 'Snake Oil' of the 21st Century.
Asian Biomedicine 2009;3(3):339-342
Rapid Response:
MMR-Autism Fraud-?Another Brand of Snake-oil?
BMJ and its editors are to be commended for this much-needed update.
Unfortunately, it tells us that charlatans remain in the medical
profession as well as in other walks of life. Public trust requires
integrity and accountability, both in research and clinical practice.
Mistakes will continue to occur, but all must remain vigilant to protect
our patients and the public health. Those refusing vaccination because of
this fraud have, unwittngly most likely, contributed to resurgence and
importaion of measles, with risk of its attendant complications.
Another brand of 'snake-oil' is the off-shore promotion of stem cell
transplantation without documentation, and preying on the desperate
looking for miracle cures.Integrity must be taught and part of our
character. Edmund Burke's famous quote is a bluntreminder-'All that is
necessary for the triumph of evil, is for good men to do nothing!'
Robert E. Dedmon, MD MPH FACP FACOEM
1.Sheldon, T. Dutch Clinic is ordered to stop giving stem cell
therapy. BMJ 2006;333:770
2. Dedmon, RE. Stem Cell Tourism:the new 'Snake Oil' of the 21st Century.
Asian Biomedicine 2009;3(3):339-342
Competing interests: No competing interests