The "Doctor" Will See You Now,...

"It's true that words matter, and that we who practice real medicine have often let cult medicine practitioners get the linguistic high ground. We've let them get away with calling non-science-based practices 'alternative' and 'complementary', without really asking, 'alternative to what?' or 'does it really "complement, or just distract?' We've often ignored language, and when we don't, we are accused of being pedantic, of focusing on 'rhetoric' rather than 'real' issues. Language is powerful. There is no such thing as 'it's just a word'.

Language is even more important in the fight against pseudo-science in medicine. Since evidence consistently fails to show benefit of practices such as homeopathy and acupuncture, language is all their adherents have left. What can you do when your favorite cult practice just isn't showing promise? Call your legislator! Maybe he or she will pass a law making your hobby sound better."

-- PalMD, throwing the big bad 'c' word out there where it belongs, as part of The White Coat Underground.