Another voice speaking out against pseudomedicine classes at the University of Maryland School of Medicine

Finally, another voice complaining publicly about the University of Maryland School of Medicine teaching quackery pseudo-medicine through its Center for Integrative Medicine!

In Why Medical Schools Should Not Teach Integrative Medicine, Steven Salzberg, a faculty member at the University of Maryland College Park, writes:

"Academic freedom allows professors to proclaim all sorts of wild ideas, including nonsensical ones, but we don’t have to allow them to teach courses with no basis in reality." You'd think that would be a pretty basic standard for any valid educational institution, especially a high-regarded medical school, but apparently not.

Salzberg points out, frankly, that the CIM's "clinical services" such as qigong, reiki, and reflexology are scientific and medical "nonsense." And he asks about CIM's use of homeopathy through its clinical services, "Why isn’t this malpractice? I haven’t figured that out yet." Why indeed?

Why aren't members of the faculty at the Medical School who believe in science and science-based medicine protesting, often and loudly, the teaching of pseudoscience and alternative-to-real-medicine to future doctors at their school? Why is the school allowed to offer classes that make our future doctors dumber, and put their future patients at risk?

And why aren't doctors who work within the University of Maryland Medical System protesting the CIM's providing clinical services that offer pseudo-medicine as valid equivalents of science-based medicine, thereby confusing, misleading, and eventually harming the public? Isn't there an ethical problem in offering pseudo-medicine to patients as if it were real medicine?

The only class in CIM the medical school should be teaching is "Why Complementary and Integrative Medicine is Utter Nonsense."

To woo, or not to woo

My friend Abbie invited me to go with her to a Spa Day that's a fundraiser for the non-profit group Cancer Support Foundation, Inc.

At first, I thought, "Sure, sounds good. $20 for a day of pampering." I imagined a nice massage, a manicure, a facial. And, in addition, I'd be supporting a non-profit group helping cancer patients.

Then I checked to see what was actually being offered at the Baltimore Spa Day event and found it heavy with woo. 

Yeah, the list includes makeovers, facials, and seated massages, but those are outnumbered by the woo:
Reflexology
Foot Detox
Acupuncture
Shiatsu
Reiki
Vibroacoustic Harp Therapy
Quantum-Touch®
Heart-Centered Healing 

After reading that, I was definitely "not going." But since then, I've started to have second thoughts. I've never tried any of these types of woo. Maybe I should go for the experience if for no other reason than it would give me something to blog about. And I do like the idea of investigating woo in a more personal way. 

Plus, then when woo-believers ask me, "Well, did you ever try it?" instead of just trying to explain why my personal anecdotal experience wouldn't provide reliable evidence about the effectiveness of woo, I could say, "Yes, I have, and my personal anecdotal experience doesn't provide reliable evidence about the effectiveness of woo."

So, for a moment, I was seriously considered going.

But then I checked the Maryland Charities Database for information on the Cancer Support Foundation, Inc., which appears to be based in Howard County, and found that it spends 30% of its income on "management and general expenses" which would appear to give it a "0" score in that area under Charity Navigator's evaluation ratings method, so now I'm strongly leaning against going.

Bad enough to donate for woo, but worse to donate for woo to a less-than-exemplary non-profit.

More community college woo

The Community College of Baltimore County's Continuing Education program offers a wide range of excellent,  beneficial classes to its adult and child students such as GED prep, vocational training,  technology skills, and recreational activities.

So, what the hell, CCBC, with also offering a goodly number of classes teaching people woo, quackery, and pseudoscience?!

Not classes teaching about these subjects. Not classes warning people of the dangers of medical quackery and health scams. Not critical thinking classes teaching healthy skepticism about the paranormal and non-science based healing techniques. Not classes debunking beliefs in the paranormal, supernatural, and pseudoscience. Those types of classes would be perfectly fine, valuable to CCBC students and the community. Teaching those types of classes would be laudable.

No, what CCBC is offering are classes that present pseudoscience, health and wellness quackery, and frauds and hoaxes involving the supernatural and paranormal as true and factual, subjects worthy of being taught by a respected community college.

In addition to some of the same classes I wrote about in yesterday's post: Kundalini Reiki I; Dreams--Self Healing through Dream Analysis; and Understanding Traditional Chinese Medicine, CCBC is offering the following Continuing Education courses for its spring session:

Ghost Studies: Identify the different types of ghosts, spirits, and entities among us. If you've ever felt that you are not alone, learn how to find and investigate suspected haunted areas and sightings. You will apply what you learn and undertake a special investigation.

Advanced Studies in Reflexology: Gain additional tools and skills to use as a reflexologist. Practice ear  reflexology and energy balancing techniques. Unlock personality and health cues with foot analysis. Utilize referral and helper areas. Learn to synthesize technique to create a cohesive treatment plan.

Egyptian Reflexology: [Me: Ooooh, Egyptian reflexology. The exotic Egyptians built those magical, mystical, power-emitting/absorbing pyramids. So this must be more potent and effective than the other type of reflexology. Unless there's a class in, perhaps, ancient Indian reflexology.] Discover how to unlock your body's own natural ability to heal itself through Egyptian reflexology. Learn through touch and pressure techniques how to alleviate mental and emotional stress and tension painlessly. Experience the benefits of improved breathing, balance, and relaxation.

Awaken Your Purpose through Numerology: Discover the world of modern numerology, spiritual awareness, and universal and personal life energy patterns. Understand life's lessons and your inner desires and learn how to fulfill them physically, mentally, emotionally and intuitively.

Healing with Gemstones and Crystals: Discover the benefits of gemstones and crystals for first aid, emotional healing, mediation, space clearing and psychic protection. Learn ways to program, cleanse, charge and intuitively select personal healing stones. Topics include a hands-on introduction to over 20 different gemstones and crystals and their function based on mineral composition and structure.

CCBC, are you so hard up for cash that you are willing to sell your educational integrity to teach these scams, frauds, and hoaxes?

Is no one at CCBC embarrassed that their school is offering instruction in pseudoscience and the paranormal?  Is no one at CCBC concerned that courses are being offered that aren't based in reality and on rationality?

These are not beneficial classes; they are of no value. They are scams, flim-flams, preying on the gullible. By taking the money of students who take these courses, CCBC is complicit in an educational scam. Instead of teaching students to be rational thinkers, instead of offering its students reality-based information, instead of offering courses that benefit its students and the community, CCBC is harming its students and the community by teaching misinformation, magical thinking, and educational garbage. This is a scandal that needs to be stopped. Now!

Community College Woo

I was looking through The Community College of Baltimore County's catalog of upcoming Continuing Education Courses, and found that CCBC is supporting the teaching of irrationality and magical thinking by offering a number of classes in woo. I'm not surprised, but I am disappointed.

As a matter of educational principle, it shouldn't matter that there may be a demand for these courses, and students who are willing to pay for them. Aren't our schools of higher ed supposed to be teaching and supporting rationality and critical thinking? I would have said "yes," but apparently CCBC sees things differently.

Are our community colleges--or any school for that matter--supposed to teach classes that amount to defrauding the students who take these courses? I would have said "no," but, nevertheless they are.
CCBC, you should be ashamed. Where are your ethics? Are you going to offer classes in Alchemy and Reading Entrails next?

Among the offerings:

Fundamentals of Foot Reflexology: Learn to restore balance and harmony to the entire body through foot reflexology. This non-invasive modality involves thumb and finger techniques to help open the energy channels through the body. Topics include zone theory and basic techniques for performing a foot reflexology session on oneself or a partner. 

Kundalini Reiki I: Experience the benefits of how to change one's life mentally, physically and spiritually through this healing energy. Discover the history of Kundalini Reiki, receive a Kundalini healing treatment and learn how to give a healing treatment. 

Usui Reiki I: Enhance your life through healing energy! Usui Reiki heals on mental, physical, and spiritual levels. Receive a Usui Reiki I attunement and learn how to give a healing treatment on yourself and others. 

Usui Reiki II: Continue the Reiki experience. Receive a Usui Reiki II attunement and prepare for the Master of Master/Teacher certification....Includes valuable information on how to set up a Usui Reiki healing practice. 

Dowsing for a Healthy Home: Practice the ancient art of dowsing. Used for centuries to find underground water, it is being used now to identify positive and negative earth energies that may affect your home and overall state of health. Discover ways to transform energy drains and enhance beneficial energy throughout your home. 

Dreams-Self Healing through Dream Analysis:  Discover recurring symbols and themes that are sending messages on health, romance, employment and family. Learn to recall your dreams and use this guidance in daily affairs. Bring to class your most troublesome dreams that defy explanation. 

Soul Coaching: Rediscover the soul and gain skills to live life more fully. Receive guidance to tame emotions, decode excuses, embrace the shadows, recognize life themes, identify personal spirit type and retrain the brain for creativity, concentration and self-control. 

Understanding Traditional Chinese Medicine: Gain a better understanding of how Traditional Chinese Medicine can be beneficial to overall health. Develop an understanding of acupuncture and identify the location of Chinese acupuncture points. Learn about the principles of Qi, Yin-Yang, Five Elements and more and how they relate to body and mind. 

WICCA Traditions: Discover the earth's healing powers and walk along nature's path. Learn a new way to see yourself, spiritually, mentally and physically. Open your mind; enrich your life and cut through the confusion. Learn more about ancient Wicca teachings where love and trust preside.

I was going to be snarky and ask why CCBC doesn't offer a course in Astrology, Divination, or Tarot Card Reading. But I turned a few pages and, alas, find that they do, listed under its very own heading "Astrology & Tarot Cards": 

Tarot Card Reading: Learn to explain the magic of colors, numbers and symbols using the ancient method of divination to answer questions about relationships, love, health, career and finances.