Any interest in a Medical Forum?

[edthedoc]

There are quite a few threads of a medical/drug nature particularly in the Science forum.

Would a separate forum be worthwhile or are there enough forums already?

[scotth]

Seems like a decent idea to me.

I am presuming it would also be the place to discuss stuff like magnet therapy, ion bracelets, and other crank claims of a medical nature.

[Dymanic]

I absolutely think it's a good idea.

Medical issues might be the weak spot in many a skeptic's armor. I sometimes think things like: "maybe echinacea really does work, but only if you believe".

[arcticpenguin]

I like the idea of letting people know that all those medical advances come from the application of scientific thinking.

[Phaycops]

I like it, too! Seems like the Science forum has two types of posts: Medical and Other. I like the idea of having a forum completely devoted to claims of quack medicine, new drugs, and issues like in the thread I started on people's conception of "pharmaceutical conspiracies." Then, the Science forum could be used for questions about physics, geology, chemistry, etc.

[arcticpenguin]

Originally posted by Phaycops
Then, the Science forum could be used for questions about physics, geology, chemistry, etc.
Boy that "etc." covers a lot doesn't it? I think it says more about your personal viewpoint than any real division between "science" and "medicine".

I am more likely than you to post on fields that straddle the fence beween laboratory science and clinical medicine. Biochemistry, molecular biology, immunology, physiology, microbiology, experiments done on animals but possibly relevant to human medicine...

Which of these would go in science and which in medicine?

[Phaycops]

Originally posted by arcticpenguin
[B]
Boy that "etc." covers a lot doesn't it? I think it says more about your personal viewpoint than any real division between "science" and "medicine".

Erm, yeah, that's what "etc." actually is supposed to mean. But I think that having a forum titled "Medicine" is still a good idea. Like porn, I think people know it when they see it.

I am more likely than you to post on fields that straddle the fence beween laboratory science and clinical medicine. Biochemistry, molecular biology, immunology, physiology, microbiology, experiments done on animals but possibly relevant to human medicine...

Which of these would go in science and which in medicine?

IMHO? Biochem: Science, molecular biology: Science, immunology: Medicine, physiology: Depends on the topic, microbiology: science, experiments on animals: Depends (are they developing drugs or studying animal behaviour that may be relevant to humans later?). Having said that, I think first of all that obviously the topics you cite could be one or the other. I also think that most of us are smart enough to know when one is one and not the other. Let's say you have a question about biochemistry. If it's a question about, oh maybe the pH of blood (I really don't know, it's just a thought), then I think we could agree it would go in with science. If it's a question about how drugs work on the body, it would go in Medicine. I don't think it would be that difficult to tell, do you?

[edthedoc]

There can be some basic rules about what topic goes in which forum but there will always be a degree of overlap. It probably doesn't matter all that much anyway and I agree most people will know the difference, and most people will view both forums.

I think the medical forum should include issues directly related to patients i.e. medicines, treatments, therapies but not lab research, theoretic science.

Hal, what do you think?

[kittynh]

let's face it, people not interested in the big bang or capable of understanding the joy in argueing about quantum physics are going to be interested in medicine. There is so much crap out there, and yet I'm the first to listen to the "health cast" part of the news where the newest health info is given. And I always think, "can this possibly be correct???" For instance, last night it was reported that overweight people who tried to lost weight, but actually didn't lose any weight, were healthier than people who didn't try (19%). I'm going, "huh?" and "19%?".

I'm saying that having a "clearing ground" would be great.

[zakur]

I'm all for a 'Health & Medicine' forum. I think it's a great idea.

[Phaycops]

Sorry I was so crabby in my last post. I was very tired, hungry, and I've just been a bit emotional lately, what with the SADD and PMS and everything. :(

[a_unique_person]

Only if i can get free consultations.

[Skeptoid]

I don't know. Medicine/health topics already get covered in Banter, P&CE, Paranormal, and Science the way things are. If admin were more conducive to moving threads to more relevant forums I could support a new forum. But I don't see that happening, given the touchiness about censorship around here.

[edthedoc]

Originally posted by a_unique_person
Only if i can get free consultations.

OK, get it out and let me take a look ;)

Seriously though, you raise a good point. The forum should definately not be for personal questions (IMHO): it would clog it up, and there are many other places on the net for such things.

Unless you have a particularly nasty rash in which case you should be allowed to post a big piccy of it for us all to laugh at.

Is it worth setting up a thread for voting on the creation of a medical forum or will this thread give the mods enough feedback?

[susheel]

...also one should be careful that people don't use the forum instead of going to a real doctor.

[Skeptoid]

edthedoc: Is it worth setting up a thread for voting on the creation of a medical forum or will this thread give the mods enough feedback?

PM Hal with your request and provide a link to this thread.

[Psi Baba]

I'm in favor of a Health and Medicine Forum. However, should it go in General Academics or JREF Topics? I'd vote for the latter, as it would make a good place to discuss more JREF-related issued like quack medicine, dietary supplements (but I repeat myself), health mysticism, etc. This might also solve arcticpenguin's dilemma of 'science or medicine?' by keeping medical discussions of a more serious and scientific nature in the Science Forum and putting discussions of woo woo medicine in the JREF Topic area. Just my zwei pfennig.

[Soapy Sam]

There have been some very interesting ones already. Especially when Third Twin gets involved. I don't really see the need for a specific medical forum. What's wrong with Science?
Mind you, I may be missing lots of good stuff in R&P.

But I doubt it.

[BME]

In favour!

[spoonhandler]

I like the idea, but I'd find myself wanting to discuss the science of medicine and not knowing which forum is the more appropriate. Not that I've ever started a thread...

In answer to arcticpenguin's question, Phaycops wrote: IMHO? Biochem: Science, molecular biology: Science, immunology: Medicine, physiology: Depends on the topic, microbiology: science, experiments on animals: Depends (are they developing drugs or studying animal behaviour that may be relevant to humans later?).

I find it hard to see why molecular biology is science and immunology is medicine. I agree the first field is not always related to medicine whereas the latter almost always is, but for me, the mol-biol I'm interested in is related to medicine.

I guess if the new forum appeared I'd certainly browse there as well as here. :)

[BillyJoe]

Yeah, let's get all that medical crap out of our science forum.
Get a hold of Bidlack - he'll find a good garbage can to throw it into.

:cool: