Quackery is at least as big a problem in the world as medical malpractice. Lately, health authorities in several countries such as Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Uganda have decided to crack down on quacks. A most disturbing new phenomenon on this issue - indeed a "New Age" phenomenon - is the increasing tendency today of mainstream medical doctors and health professionals to engage in various forms of quackery, and to be easily fooled by pseudoscientific information available on the internet and in self-help, nature "cure", health-fad and "spiritual" books with catchy names. In many cases they become full fledged quacks.
Hints that this problem is afflicting Goan doctors in Goa and abroad can be gleaned from the observed practice of forwarding pseudoscientific and anti-scientific articles to Goanet from political and anti-establishment conspiracy websites such as Huffington Post, rather than from genuine medical, scientific and public health websites. I have learned that because of this quackery menace in India the Medical Council of India is now preparing to submit to the Government of India a position paper describing measures that could be used to take stern action against quacks and doctors who resort to such quack practices. But all this raises one question: Why do doctors and other health professionals become quacks in the first place? The article linked below provides an answer to this question: http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/quackpro.html Some of the reasons stated in the article might apply to the situation here on Goanet. Here are two pertinent quotes in this regard: QUOTE Paranoid mental state - Some people are prone to seeing conspiracies everywhere. Such people may readily believe that fluoridation is a conspiracy to poison America, that AIDS was invented and spread to destroy Africans or homosexuals, and that organized medicine is withholding the cure for cancer. Whereas individuals who complain about conspiracies directed toward themselves are likely to be regarded as mentally ill, those who perceive them as directed against a nation, culture, or way of life may seem more rational. Perceiving their political passions are unselfish and patriotic intensifies their feelings of righteousness and moral indignation. UNQUOTE QUOTE Beliefs encroachment - Science is limited to dealing with observable, measurable, and repeatable phenomena. Beliefs that transcend science fall into the realms of philosophy and religion. Some people allow such beliefs to encroach upon their practices. While one may exercise religious or philosophical values of compassion, generosity, mercy and integrity (which is the foundation of the scientific method's search for objective truth), it is not appropriate for a health professional to permit metaphysical (supernatural) notions to displace or distort scientific diagnostic, prescriptive or therapeutic procedures. Individuals who wish to work in the area of religious belief should pursue a different career. UNQUOTE Cheers, Santosh
