Category: General article

Monday’s medical myths: vitamin C prevents colds

The following article was published on The Conversation. Monday’s medical myth: vitamin C prevents colds By Michael Tam, University of New South Wales Vitamin C is so often suggested as a treatment for the common cold that it’s almost considered common sense. This well-known vitamin is primarily found in fruits and vegetables, with small quantities …

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Comment: Testicular self-examination

These were comments to the article “Monday’s medical myth: testicular self-examination is a waste of time” by Mark Frydenberg, published in The Conversation. Thank you for your opinion, Prof Frydenberg, but can this really be considered a “myth”? I appreciate that your affiliated organisation Andrology Australia recommends routine testicular self-examination, but this is not the …

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Comment: EBM vs CAM

Comment to the article, “Evidence-based medicine v alternative therapies: moving beyond virulence” by Kerreen Reiger, published in The Conversation: Health claims are empiric claims. They can be tested using empiric methods. Scientific frameworks allow use to gauge the reliability of evidence. For example, the narrative claim from an individual that they were helped by chiropractic is …

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Comment: Homoeopathy, ethics and controversy

Comment to the article “Homeopathy isn’t unethical, it’s just controversial” by Jon Wardle, published in The Conversation. To be frank, it is really quite simple. Homoeopathy isn’t “controversial”. It does not work. There is no good empiric evidence that it does, plenty of empiric evidence that it doesn’t, and entirely lacks scientific plausibility. There is a …

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Short interview on aspirin on Panacea, 2SER radio

I have a short interview with Nancy Notzon on Panacea, on 2SER radio.  This was broadcast on the show at 1900.  This was based on my aspirin article on The Conversation.

Monday’s medical myth: take an aspirin a day after you turn 50

The following article was published on The Conversation. Monday’s medical myth: take an aspirin a day after you turn 50 By Michael Tam, University of New South Wales Aspirin is a historical marvel. It’s been manufactured for more than a century and is still in widespread use. No other medication can claim as many different …

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