Yes, @WHO has lost the plot when it comes to quackery. It's fully embraced "integrating" quackery with real medicine. 1/https://twitter.com/DrPChouinard/status/1101649255079600128 …
You can add location information to your Tweets, such as your city or precise location, from the web and via third-party applications. You always have the option to delete your Tweet location history. Learn more
One more bit of quackery in the ICD-11: "F57 Liver qi stagnation pattern (™): A pattern characterized by distending and burning pain of the hypochondrium, along with restlessness, irritability, bitter taste, dry mouth, red tongue with yellow coating or a wiry rapid pulse..." 10/
"... It may be explained by long-term stagnation of liver system qi induced internal fire factor that affects tissues and functions associated with the liver system." 11/
Let me just remind you that these prescientific, vitalistic, superstition-based "diagnoses" are basically co-equal with diagnoses of cancer, heart disease, and other conventional medical diagnoses. 12/
True, the @WHO says that the quack part of ICD-11 is "optional for those who would like to record epidemiological data about traditional medicine practice." Maybe for now, but how long do you think it will remain "optional"? 13/
I highly doubt that the "traditional medicine" part of ICD-11 will remain "optional" for long. Maybe it will for ICD-11, but by the time ICD-12 rolls around, it won't be. Not only that, I bet a lot more "traditional medicine" quackery will be added. 14/
The bottom line is that @WHO has betrayed medicine with its embrace of traditional medicine quackery as valid. ICD-11 is not the only example. 15/
For instance, there is the WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy (2014– 2023), "highlighting the global scientific challenges and showing how a systems biology approach can be applied to diagnosis, leading to integrated network-based medicine." 16/
Yes, @WHO is applying systems biology to quackery. It's the very epitome of quackademic medicine. Worse, @aaas teamed up with WHO to promote quackery in @sciencemagazine in a paid supplement. 17/ https://respectfulinsolence.com/2015/01/05/science-and-the-aaas-sell-their-souls-to-promote-pseudoscience-in-medicine/ …
Quoth @WHO: "Some of the exciting areas in TCM research include the therapeutic potential of herbal remedies against influenza, cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases; the exploration of gut microbiota-targeted dietary interventions against chronic inflammation..." 18/
"...; and the study of the biological activities of complex polysaccharides present in medicinal plants." 19/
Worse, here's a major @WHO objective: "Objective 3: To promote universal health coverage by integrating T&CM services into health care service delivery and self-health care." You read that right. WHO wants to "integrate" prescientific medicine into medicine. 20/
I could go on and on, but I think that's enough. @WHO, for all the good it does in other areas, has totally embraced quackery, as long as it's "traditional." 21/21
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.