Does Acupuncture Work?

• “Yes”

  

  “Should We Trust the #1 Ranked Medical School in This Country?”

• “Objection”

  

  “Argument from Authority”
  

Argument from Authority

Steven Novella, MD

New England Skeptical Society

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This is an obvious logical fallacy - the argument from authority.

I work at Yale and I have seen exactly how politics and misguided political correctness has allowed a minority of proponents to insert their preferred modalities into academic medical centers. The majority of faculty are simply not aware of what is happening. A few are outraged by the assault of good science standards. But the CAM proponents are allowed to have their way - against the consensus and despite a lack of good science.

This is a poor argument.

Next Argument

"Yes" Bill Reddy

• The WHO Supports the Use of Acupuncture in Treating Many Conditions
  4
• Those Who Question Scientific Basis Have Not Done Their Homework
  1
• A Proven System That is Less Dangerous Than Western Medicine
  2
• What About Common Sense Reasoning?
  0
• There ARE Limitations to Acupuncture
  0
• Should We Trust the #1 Ranked Medical School in This Country?
  0
• Insurance Coverage for Acupuncture is on the Rise
  0
• MRI's Don't Lie
  0
• You WANT Meta-Analyses? I GIVE You Meta-Analyses
  1
• Why Would Your Colleagues Be Drawn to Practicing QUACKERY?
  0

"No" Steven Novella MD

• Acupuncture is a Pre-Scientific Superstition
  1
• Acupuncture Lacks a Plausible Mechanism
  1
• Claims for Efficacy are Often Based Upon a Bait-and-Switch Deception
  3
• Clinical Trials Show That Acupuncture Does Not Work
  2

"No" Edzard Ernst

• The Ancient Chinese Theories are Not Correct
  1
• The Best Clinical Trials Fail to Demonstrate Effectiveness
  1
• Patients Experience Benefit Because of Placebo Effects
  1

Most Objections

• The WHO Supports the Use of Acupuncture in Treating Many Conditions
  4
• Those Who Question Scientific Basis Have Not Done Their Homework
  1
• A Proven System That is Less Dangerous Than Western Medicine
  2
• What About Common Sense Reasoning?
  0
• Acupuncture Lacks a Plausible Mechanism
  1
• The Ancient Chinese Theories are Not Correct
  1
• Patients Experience Benefit Because of Placebo Effects
  1
• Acupuncture is a Pre-Scientific Superstition
  1
• Clinical Trials Show That Acupuncture Does Not Work
  2
• Should We Trust the #1 Ranked Medical School in This Country?
  0
• Insurance Coverage for Acupuncture is on the Rise
  0
• MRI's Don't Lie
  0
• You WANT Meta-Analyses? I GIVE You Meta-Analyses
  1
• Why Would Your Colleagues Be Drawn to Practicing QUACKERY?
  0

Does Acupuncture Really Work?

• Yes
• No

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