Just back from getting a blood-test. Urgh. Having a family history of haemochromatosis means that I’m not unused to looking in the other direction as my left arm gets prodded, but it’s never the most pleasant experience.
But, with reporting of mid-terms now out of the way (editing may still be ongoing though, will see what eventuates) and with my classes now looking at Bioethics and social issues involving life and death – well, I have a tiny amount of time at hand to catch up on blogposts and to get some podcast episodes out.
Let’s start with the one that’ll be out later today – Token Skeptic Episode #23 – a discussion between Leslie Cannold and Michael McRae on perceptions of pharmaceutical companies! 
After reading ‘The Immortal Cells of Henrietta Lacks’ and talking to my students about medical ethics, I really wanted to discuss the public perception of pharmaceutical companies and why it seems to have such a strange ‘either for or against!’ approach amongst many of my friends.
The questions I asked include:
What do you think is the public perception of pharmaceutical companies and why?
Have we learned from history about how drug companies gather and report results and are things improving?
What should be the future of pharmaceutical products and whose responsibility is it to make sure that happens?
In other news – I’m starting to contribute to Geek Feminism! I was asked a while back, but have only just found the time this week to send in a post.
Fashion and The Female Geek – First Steps
“What’s considered a suitable professional wardrobe for front-line geek feminists trying to be taken seriously?”
Local news (Perth, Australia) – Homeopathic treatment in death investigated:
Perth’s Penelope Dingle, the wife of prominent Perth environmental and nutritional toxicologist Peter Dingle, agreed to be treated with alternative therapies and refused to have surgery to remove the cancer soon after she was diagnosed in 2003.
Penelope Dingle died of bowel cancer in 2005. In 2007, her family approached the coroner’s court to investigate her death. The inquest has been told Mrs Dingle was being treated by a homeopath when she developed symptoms from bowel cancer.
…you may be interested to know this link - but the lecture by the AVN, which featured Judy Wilyman? Her supervisor at Murdoch University is Peter Dingle.
and from Perth Now: AMA boss vs Anti-Vaccination groups:
“The head of the Australian Medical Association in WA says parents who don’t immunise their children need to consider that they are putting other children at risk with potentially fatal consequences.”
Thanks to Rikki B for both of those links!
Not related to the above (although a very fascinating read, thanks to Dr Petra): “Most useful piece of research onto sexualisation/pornification I’ve seen to date” – The Scottish Parliment’s Equal Opportunity Report, External research on sexualised goods aimed at children:
There appears to be growing concern from a variety of perspectives about the sexualisation of children, and particularly about the role of media and marketing in this respect. However, we have found that this is a complex topic, which is not amenable to simple explanations – or indeed simple policy interventions.
People define ‘sexualisation’ in different ways, and there is considerable diversity in terms of how they perceive the potentially sexual connotations of products. In general, children recognise and understand these issues in different ways from adults.
…While it may be difficult to develop effective strategies for regulating the market, it may also be misguided to suggest that the ultimate responsibility for dealing with sexualisation should be down to the individual.
On a much more positive note – James Randi Grants for Educators! Very very pleased to see this!
Grants will allow teachers to:
- Purchase materials and / or equipment for the classroom, school or community for use in skepticism and critical thinking education.
- Begin new school and / or community skepticism and critical thinking outreach and educational programs.
- Enhance and expand existing skepticism and critical thinking educational programs.
- Attend courses, workshops or conferences related to scientific skepticism that will significantly enhance their teaching activities.
Yar boo to the people who brought the Blues Power Balance wristbands: “Blues turn to sports wristsbands in bid to gain edge over Queensland in Origin II”
The Daily Telegraph can reveal that Blues officials have ordered in 40 Power Balance wristbands as part of a bizarre attempt to stop Queensland winning a record fifth consecutive Origin series.
The contentious apparel, made famous earlier this year by Wests Tigers ace Benji Marshall, costs $60 a pop and has been labelled everything from sensational to snake oil for Generation Y.
You can watch the video about what Power Balance really means, thanks to the Skeptic Zone (it’s even on iTunes).
Oh – additional update: “Go on , be a good Christian, sign the petition to stop parental choice about ethics classes for kids in public schools.”
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m glad I kept reading till the end. Grants are good!
[Blah Blah about evidence for the book that Dingle said he was writing]
Tina – there’s a link to the article, try clicking it and don’t start thinking that you can start a turf war here, thanks – take it up with the West Australian newspaper for printing it.
Wedding photo shows treatment’s tragic failure
Days before she died in August 2005, Penelope Dingle married the man with whom she and her homeopath are said to have made a pact to publish a book that would make their alternative cure for her rectal cancer famous.
In addition:
6PR drops Dingle as science expert
Associate Professor Peter Dingle was sacked from his regular spot on a Perth radio station yesterday as he continued to give evidence at a coronial inquest into his wife’s death.
Perhaps the most bizarre testimony in the hearing so far is this bit reported on the ABC today…
When he was asked whether he’d analysed the substances she was taking, he said he did not because he was an indoor air quality expert and unless the substances were thrown in the air and breathed in he would not know what to do with them.
This from a man who stated two days ago he would not consider either chemotherapy or radiotherapy because of their potential harm. This also from a man who has warned about the dangers of sunscreen and flu vaccinations and who spends the bulk of his time, apparently, promoting better nutrition.
None of these things are breathed in.
The West Australian, today, just confirms for me that this is a tragic situation all around – with a lot of finger-pointing and claims. I really, honestly don’t know how it’s going to end up, particularly what it might mean for alt med practitioners:
Prominent toxicologist Peter Dingle was too afraid to break his cancer-stricken wife’s trust by confronting the homeopath who was treating her, an inquest was told today.
Dr Dingle, who holds no formal medical qualification, also admitted that from August 2003 he became increasingly irrational in his handling of Penelope Dingle’s illness.
“In a logical rational mind, now, I would say this is ridiculous. Because I was caught up in it, a lot of it I didn’t see.”
Dr Dingle said his wife would often describe symptoms as a sign that she was improving, which he would believe.
He said that only as his wife became more incapacitated from the tumour that was slowly blocking her bowels did he have more to do with her homeopath.
He did not want to confront Ms Scrayen out of fear of breaking his wife’s trust….
Asked by Coroner Alastair Hope why after his wife’s death he had not gone public about the dangers of pursuing the alternative cancer treatments, he said: “If I did write about it and there was an alternative cure, then I would also be wrong.”
The inquest will examine whether the advice and treatment of Ms Scrayen contributed to her death. It will also investigate Dr Dingle’s role.
It certainly is tragic and somewhat confusing and while it’s tempting to point fingers (puts up hand), we have to await the outcome. My take on the matter is admittedly coloured by Dingle’s previous comments in relation to fuel savers, sunscreen and vaccination.
But some of Dr Dingle’s testimony leaves me dumbfounded. He regularly gives advice against mainstream medicine and various consumer products, like sunscreen, apparently without concern that if these things really did work for some people, he’d be wrong.
Also, he’s said he only deals with airborne chemicals yet much of his advice is on diet and nutrition. Indeed, he calls himself a nutritional toxicologist. It’s difficult to understand how someone able to scientifically analyse food and other products feels unqualified to comment on homeopathy, which for the most part has no active ingredients at all. I guess magic is a different specialty.
I suspect the outcome will not be good for Scrayen and might result in some limp-wristed regulation such as registration with a governing body that won’t regulate any better than they do now. In other words, no real change. I’d like to be wrong though.
Well, now I’ve read reports that:
1) He had no intention of writing a book (after both the ABC website and the West Australian reported as such);
2) He denies indemnity claim: http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/7422596/dingle-saw-cancer-as-test-of-faith/
3) Andrew Bolt’s article ‘Learn From This Tragedy’: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/opinion/learn-from-this-tragedy/story-e6frfhqf-1225881062712
4) Andy D’s Blog features a statement from Toni Brown, sister of Penelope Dingle: http://thinkingisreal.blogspot.com/2010/06/penelope-dingle-homeopathy-on-trial.html
Ms Brown repeated the book pact claim on ABC Radio this morning (with Geoff Hutchison) saying it was essentially the trigger for seeking an inquiry.
At this stage everything is “alleged” except for the verbatim extracts from Ms Dingle’s diary (unless there’s any suggestion of tampering).
This WA website, however, is beyond scary.
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