tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2308282620289958037.post3251375708871858623..comments2023-08-08T08:41:19.586-04:00Comments on The Medical Contrarian: Overstating certaintyThe Medical Contrarianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09240492315542223258noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2308282620289958037.post-47105511436353187842011-01-27T19:24:13.628-05:002011-01-27T19:24:13.628-05:00I am basing this on articles published in the Scie...I am basing this on articles published in the Scientist and the BMJ (BMJ 2010; 340:c1989 doi: 10.1136/bmj.c1989 (Published 13 April 2010)<br />News Doctors in shaken baby syndrome case are accused of “scientific prejudice”) and the timing of the GMC decision. <br /><br />Are you implying that there was another reason other than her purported "scientific prejudice" for restriction of her license. I may never know since the GMC does post the reasons for the suspension on their website, only the conditions of the suspension (http://www.gmc-uk.org/). <br /><br />I fail to see any particular smear. I am not even suggesting that Dr. Cohen is unquestionably correct. I know what has been reported - she holds an opinion that is different from what is currently held by many other experts and that her opinions are guided by her scientific work which has been published in peer reviewed journal. I also know she was publicly chastised for this followed by restrictions placed on her license. Is there something which is incorrect about any of those items?<br /><br />If I am smearing anyone it is those who have no doubts that they are correct. I am certain only that there are few things that one can be certain of.The Medical Contrarianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09240492315542223258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2308282620289958037.post-40563697199666598862011-01-27T13:39:42.259-05:002011-01-27T13:39:42.259-05:00You purport to be certain you know why the GMC mad...You purport to be certain you know why the GMC made their decision.<br />Do you know this?<br />If so, please share it. Your blog appears to do no more than smear them for reaching a highly unusual conclusion that doesn't please you.<br />http:mclementhall.comM Clement Hallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14422621517381625768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2308282620289958037.post-49005752758277850382010-08-05T08:36:18.792-04:002010-08-05T08:36:18.792-04:00One thing I learned from this post is your gender....One thing I learned from this post is your gender. Certainty should invite skepticism, especially in our profession.Michael Kirsch, M.D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07555280388086931097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2308282620289958037.post-70094240344824019552010-08-03T12:08:30.915-04:002010-08-03T12:08:30.915-04:00" We prove what we want to prove..." a ..." We prove what we want to prove..." a quote from the French philosopher Alain who understanding the plasticity of the mind checked himself saying also that "Every idea I get I have to deny, that's my way of testing it." An anecdote from my internship when doing a peds rotation, I admitted a 12 mo old with a broken skull and bite marks and his parents were being accused of child abuse of the worst sort although this indigent couple said that the infant had fallen out of the bed that they, the infant and a toddler all slept at night. My impression was of two loving and concerned if poor parents, TV melodramas of a perfect family on every block harboring abusive adults notwithstanding. I could certainly not envision them being so malicious as to inflict bite wounds on their child—but I could certainly conceive of a jealous toddler doing so, having his place in bed with his parents displaced by the newcomer. But the pediatricians and social service workers were ready to pounce on the parents and remove the child from the home until I went down to the gift shop, got some gum and made impromptu dental impressions of the adults and the two year old and showed conclusively that it was the infant's brother who had bitten him, and therefore not unlikely pushed him out of bed in the middle of the night too. To quote Alain again, "There is nothing more dangerous than an idea when you have only one idea,"chauncey McHargue M.D.noreply@blogger.com