August 6, 2016

Health Care Journalists Love Homeopathy

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From Alex Tabarrok:

This isn’t even the worst of it. I once got randomly assigned to a doctor who listened to my complaints and suggested some exercises. I went back two weeks later for a follow-up, and told her that nothing had changed. She was perplexed, and suggested a couple of other things I might try. Also this: “Or you might want to try homeopathic remedies. You can find them at most health food stores.”

I got out of there as fast as I could and never saw her again.1

Also, it turned out the exercises she assigned me were making things worse. When my regular doctor came back from vacation, he ordered me to stop immediately.

1One friend, who obviously tries to see the bright side in people, suggested that she didn’t really believe in homeopathy, but just wanted to prescribe some kind of placebo. Since lots of people seem to believe in homeopathy, she tossed it out in case I was one of them.

Maybe. But I didn’t feel like staying around to find out.

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