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Antivaccine nonsense Medicine Politics Science

RFK Jr.’s MAHA Commission: A battle plan to dismantle federal science and health

Longtime antivax activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was confirmed as HHS Secretary and promptly formed a “MAHA Commission” to draw up a battle plan to dismantle federal science and public health.

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Quackery Skepticism/critical thinking

Hyperbaric oxygen treatment can kill

On Friday, a hyperbaric oxygen chamber exploded, killing a five-year-old child being treated at an “integrative” clinic. Quackery kills.

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Cancer Clinical trials Medicine

Is it safe to watch DCIS rather than remove it?

Ductal carcinoma in situ is a precursor of breast cancer that is usually treated with surgery, radiation therapy, and estrogen blockade. A new study (COMET) suggests that watchful waiting might be safe for low risk DCIS.

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Antivaccine nonsense Politics Pseudoscience

Amusing factionalism in the MAHA universe

Even as Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. prepares to face confirmation hearings today, there has been amusing trouble in “make America healthy” paradise. Will it derail RFK Jr.’s bid to become HHS Secretary?

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History Medicine Science

The frequent crank fallacy of the appeal to Semmelweis

A proponent of the Great Barrington Declaration is comparing rejection of its “natural herd immunity” approach to the pandemic to the rejection of Ignaz Semmelweis and his findings (and Galileo, too). It’s a deceptive comparison beloved of all manner of scientific cranks.