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From: dyer@wivax.UUCP (Stephen Dyer)
Newsgroups: net.med
Subject: Re: Another dramatic cancer cure for macrobiotics (flame)
Message-ID: <18734@wivax.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 6-Oct-83 18:58:33 EDT
Article-I.D.: wivax.18734
Posted: Thu Oct  6 18:58:33 1983
Date-Received: Sat, 8-Oct-83 20:32:58 EDT
References: <98@houxk.UUCP>
Organization: Wang Institute, Tyngsboro, Ma.  01879
Lines: 26

I may get roundly trounced for this comment, but here goes:

The comments in "Another dramatic cancer cure for macrobiotics"
are TOTALLY WITHOUT SCIENTIFIC MERIT.  The point is that there have
been no controlled studies which demonstrate that a macrobiotic
diet has any beneficial effect on human disease.  The statement is about as
meaningful scientifically as stating "Another dramatic cancer
cure for daily toothbrushing" if someone who followed this practice
would be found to have gone into spontaneous remission.

A sample size of one person just cannot demonstrate the beneficial
effect of anything.  Or conversely, proponents of anything are willing to
use an individual's good fortune to back up their arguments.  It would
be wonderful if macrobiotics had a salutary effect in cancers.
But all too often, rather than evidence, one reads harangues in which
political beliefs are interwoven with semi-religious jargon.
Intimating that Evil Organized Medicine has a financial stake in
ensuring that cancer continue, is not only false, but insulting and
demeaning to those members of the profession who care deeply about
their patients.

/Steve Dyer
decvax!wivax!dyer
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