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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.

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Antivaccine nonsense Politics Pseudoscience Quackery

Senators: Please grill RFK Jr.’s health nominees with these suggested questions

It won’t be long before we’re treated to the spectacle of Senators grilling antivax nominees like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (HHS) and Dr. Dave Weldon (CDC). I exist to serve, which is why I’m suggesting some questions for Senators to ask all of Trump’s health picks.

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Antivaccine nonsense Medicine Politics

“Poor, poor pitiful me”: Was Martin Kulldorff fired by Harvard?

Martin Kulldorff, co-author of the eugenicist Great Barrington Declaration that advocated a “let ‘er rip” strategy to address the pandemic to achieve “natural herd immunity,” laments being “fired” from Harvard. Is it possible to know what really happened? Orac provides educated speculation. (NOTE ADDENDUM.)

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Antivaccine nonsense Medicine Politics Popular culture

Come on, Jeffrey Tucker and Great Barrington Declaration, just admit you were wrong

In response to an article praising Taylor Swift, Jeffrey Tucker demands that Peggy Noonan “admit she was wrong” about COVID-19. Hilarity ensues.

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Antivaccine nonsense Medicine Politics Quackery

What is “medical freedom”? Not what “health freedom” advocates claim

Dr. Clayton Baker at the Brownstone Institute attempts to define “medical freedom” by deceptively wrapping it in what on first glance would seem to be unobjectionable principles.