Do you suffer from chronic pain? Maybe acupuncture is just what the doctor ordered. Millions of people say that acupuncture has alleviated their suffering and boosted their bodies, but others insist that it's more rooted in belief than scientific fact. Is acupuncture really the cure for what ails you, or does it only turn you into a human pincushion?
This argument is yet another logical fallacy – a non sequitur. The state of modern science-based medicine says nothing about the purported mechanisms and effectiveness of acupuncture. You could use the same line of argument to falsely support any medical claim. The data cited, which is now a standard argument among proponents of dubious health claims, are also highly misleading. They only consider the risk of medical intervention, not the benefit. A proper assessment of any intervention should include risk vs benefit. This is the standard calculation of science-based medicine, and treatments are only considered justified if they can demonstrate benefit in excess of risk. Focusing only on risk is designed to create a misleading impression. Direct risk is generally a function of the invasiveness of any intervention. No one doubts the fact that less invasive interventions are less directly risky. But if only risk were considered then doing nothing would always be the best option – and it clearly isn’t. Acupuncture is certainly closer to doing nothing than many legitimate medical interventions, but even the small risk of acupuncture is not justified until there is compelling evidence of benefit – and there isn’t.
Further, indirect risk must also be considered. While direct harm from acupuncture is rare (but does occur) there is the potential for tremendous indirect harm, including the delay in proper medical assessment and treatment.
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