More promotion of pseudo-science/new age by organization that should know better

[Thinking in CT]

Yesterday, enclosed with my State of Connecticut employee paycheck, was a flier promoting a presentation by a Judith Orloff, M.D. sponsored by Western Connecticut State University and Waterbury (CT) Hospital. Dr. Orloff promotes her business at this web-site:www.drjudithorloff.com (http://www.drjudithorloff.com) . After stewing about this overnight I sent the following e-mail to Ms. Racula, current chair of the Western CT State U health education department: Dear Ms. Racula:

" Yesterday I received a flier (enclosed with my State Employee paycheck) regarding Dr. Orloff's upcoming presentation at Western sponsored by the University, Waterbury Hospital and other worthy organizations. The flier raised some questions in my mind that perhaps you, as current chair of the relevant department at WCSU, can answer.

In the flier it is written that: " She [Dr. Orloff] passionately believes that the future of Medicine lies in using intuition to access your bodies subtle energies for greater wellness." (emphasis added) Is it the position of WCSU that a person's "passionate beliefs" are of greater value in the study of nature than is the dispassionate and orderly observation of nature?

What is "innate intuitive intelligence"?

What are "your body's subtle energies"?

Is the word "energy" used here to mean something other that what a member of your Physics department means when he uses that term?

I am not being flippant in my inquiry, but am honestly concerned about the presentation of what seems to me to be pseudo-science by organizations (WCSU, Waterbury Hospital) that are ethically and legally required too adhere to their educational, scientific and charitable purposes. I couldn't care less how Topical Biomedics, Webster Bank, Take Time Relaxation Center, or the program's other for-profit sponsors choose to market their businesses; but a University and a Hospital must adhere to a higher standard.

Any comments that you may offer on this matter will be greatly appreciated. I must add, however, that I have sent inquiries of this nature to other scientific organizations regarding their involvement in such programs, and have always been met with silence. "

If I recieve a reply, I will share it, however, I think we all can assume that I will be ignored. It does make me feel better to at least make the effort.

[Ribbitalu]

Hello Thinking in CT,

This type of announcement and apparent endorsement of non-scientific therapies is becoming more prevalent in Universities, state schools as "wellness" programs are being touted as potential cost-saving practices. Don't know if there is evidence to support this, but I've heard this claimed for years.
But it's appaling from a scientific standpoint. I shudder to think that perhaps my alma mater (UConn) would do such a thing.

Putting it in your paycheck is pretty bold -- at least my school had enough sense to just list the programs in a website. What's happening up there?

[WhiteLion]

I work as a surface engineer and last month our company bought the "development of personel" guidance from the SpiritGroup.

The name is misleading, thankfully it was a pair of physiologists speaking about diet, health, how the body works in coherence to what we eat and followed by hours of explaining the dynamics, thus putting a lot of holes in die hard myths about food and health issues.
This is the same group that handles most of the swedish athletes such as the national hockey team.

Simply some curiosa.

[Thinking in CT]

Update: Of course, my inquiry to Western CT State U was not answered, so, I thought I would send the University a FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) inquiry, asking if any state funds were expended on Dr. Orloff's pixey dust symposium. For-profit and even most non-profit organizations can sponsor this kind of thing all they want, but when a state agency pays for this stuff, that's your tax dollars friends. These people should be aware that rational, evidence based, thinkers pay taxes and VOTE.

[Ashles]

Just a quick post to say good work Thinking.

Sometimes it is all too easy to let these things slide.

We have to write the letters and e-mails and let people know that science isn't quite dead and buried yet.

Some people in England are having difficulty in deciding who to vot for in our upcoming election. We feel we have been lied to by the currently ruling Labour. But the Tories have a long history of lying and their figures for their spending don't add up.

The Liberal Democrats are the third option and have been getting a certain amount of credibility over the last few years. But recently I have seen their councillors and representatives involved in some really ludicrous projects and stories, not least of which was the cursed stone of Carlisle (http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=53429).

I should have written to their party headquarters protesting how sad it was that this is the only type of story some of their representatives are interested in getting involved with.

Once again good job Thinking.

[Thinking in CT]

I just received a reply to my freedom of information request from Western CT State U. $5200.00 of state taxpayer money was spent on Dr. Orloff's "presentation". $5000 for speakers fee, $200 travel expense. That sum of money is about equivalent to one year's tuition for an in-state undergraduate student. The Connecticut State University system (as opposed to the more well known and prestigious University of Connecticut) is the higher education venue of choice for many working class families in Connecticut, many of whom are sending the first person ever in that family to college. Just think, some poor hard working kid is going to put himself in hock to the student loan system for five grand to pay this over compensated quack.

[T'ai Chi]

Less than both Randi and Shermer's speaking fees.

I guess it all comes down to what you like.

[Psiload]

Overall, her stuff seems pretty harmless. Nonsense to be sure, but she isn't a complete anti-conventional medicine nutbar...

http://www.drjudithorloff.com/askdrorloff.asp?action=question&idquestionQ=28

I believe it's important to use traditional medicine when it's appropriate and alternative medicine when it's appropriate.
'nuff said... When you need real medicine, get it!

At least she's not one of the, "Throw your insulin in the trash can!" kooks.

All the other crap about chakras, intuitive energy healing, yada, yada, yada... all boils down to the power of positive thinking.
She's an over-priced motivational speaker... nothing more, nothing less.

5 grand of taxpayer's money wasted on her feel good fairytales is unfortunate, but it's not a tragedy.

[Bronze Dog]

Originally posted by jzs
Less than both Randi and Shermer's speaking fees.

I guess it all comes down to what you like.
The problem I have isn't so much the speaking fees: It's the cost/benefit ratio. I have little reason to doubt that Randi has saved lives by convincing people to stick with evidence-based medicine, instead of switching to quackery. He also promotes proper scientific testing and shows what erroneous beliefs can result from bad test protocols, which is something of genuine interest to a university.

This "Doctor," however, looks just like every other unproven quack out there, and will probably cause more harm than good, or at best, do nothing significant at all, AND cost taxpayer money.