BioMed Publishing Group: I think calling it pain therapy is a massive understatement; medsonix likely does much more than that. A hypothesis: it breaks up biofilm communities and increases blood flow to areas that were previously Lyme occupied enemy territory. Lindsay Pera: Thanks for sharing! Barbara Torrey Centofante: Following! Angela Scragg: why dont you submit your hypothesis to the company who makes Medsonix and get them to test your hypothesis (and the machine) in a respectable way in a properly conducted scientific trial? Two pilot studies equals no evidence and if this is all that is presented as corroboration for its efficacy then odds are that its PSUEDO-SCIENCE. THIS means that this company is using SOME of the language of science (to bedazzle the layperson) while disprespecting sciences rigorous methodology. If this company only quotes pilot studies it would indicate that they have done no double blind trials and nor have they published anything in a respectable peer reviewed scientific journal. Where is the REAL evidence that this works? I am not talking about testimonials from people, I am talking about properly conducted scientific trials that provide evidence of this machines efficacy, that take into account the placebo effect and other variables. BioMed Publishing Group: great ideas. The challenge is always resources - money. But I agree with your sentiments. Angela Scragg: The challenge to a company that is making money out of selling an untested product (on their say-so it works) is money? BioMed Publishing Group: Im grateful these companies make their products available to us before they undergo clinical trials. Sometimes trials can take years - or decades. In the meantime, Id very much like to be able to try the services to see if they work for me. Personally, I want the power to try a treatment even if its unproven. To me, this is freedom. I dont believe in a top-down freedom structure. Just my opinion. Angela Scragg: OK. What about a standard of proof and responsibility to public safety? For example, I advise you that drinking three cups of cyanide will cure your lyme disease. My theory hasnt been tested (Ive got money problems until I start making money from my unproven, untested claim :-( ) but IT WORKS (I tell you)! Whats to stop people making whatever claim they like and ripping people off in the process with potentially DEADLY snake-oils? BioMed Publishing Group: Theres certainly a balance and a trade off. Personally, my recovery was benefited much more greatly from unproven treatments than proven treatments -- especially when chronic Lyme disease itself isnt even recognized as a real condition. But I hear you. Its a balance, I think. Angela Scragg: so the best way to treat a condition that may or may not be real is with unproven medicines that may or may not work? BioMed Publishing Group: I assume you dont have chronic Lyme disease. The debate rages on. We wont settle it here. People who have the disease, know they have it, and arent idiots. Thats the difference - I dont see people as sheep who need the authorities to hold their hand and help them decide whats real. I see people as smarter than government and capable in self-evaluation. Its an age-old difference in perspective and I dont think well solve it here. Angela Scragg: Really? why do you have this page up then? I thought that you were trying to solve it here? I dont have chronic lyme disease and neither does anyone else in Australia as far as the evidence goes, but Im keeping an open mind. It doesnt help when the Lyme Disease of Association doenst seem to require a reasonable standard of proof and seems riddled with quackery eg naturopathy and pseudoscience eg Medsonix machines. Im following this issue for a friend and keeping track of my interactions with the Lyme Disease Association and related parties (as Ive already been blocked from their FB page for asking questions) I will be contacting the Australian Government Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Baggoley, on this issue as I am SUPER concerned about the peddling and promotion of unproven remedies to vulnerable people who are desperate for a silver bullet. Im not saying people who are convinced they have some form of indigenous Lyme disease are idiots. Im saying that properly conducted scientific trials take into consideration that correlation doesnt equal cause. Are you familiar with this term? For example, I bet that a lot of people who developed lyme disease like symptoms were also bitten by mosquitos, they probably all eat bread, they probably got sunburned at some time in their life, they may all have eaten apples. Properly conducted scientific trials take into account and exclude all other variables. THAT is the logic and rationale for properly conducted scientific trials. The fine line between YOU being able to trial my miracle cure (cyanide) for your lyme disease if you want to is responsible legislation and properly conducted medical trials. BioMed Publishing Group: for the record, I dont make any money from Medsonix, so your argument isnt valid as applied to me. Secondly, I dont live in Australia, but there is a ton of evidence that Lyme is indigenous to Australia, so calling these people idiots shows that you may be the irrational one as much as you accuse us of being irrational. In any case, I wish you all the best! Angela Scragg: read the comment again, properly this time. I did NOT say that they are idiots. I asked you if you are familiar with the term correlation doesnt equal cause ? Angela Scragg: additionally, it doesnt matter if you are making money from the company or just silly enough to promote (for free) their (or any other) unproven pseudo-scientific quackery to people who are desperate for a silver bullet, you are STILL part of the problem
Posted on: Thu, 28 Nov 2013 02:10:33 +0000