Abstract: . . .  medicine that has not, medicine that works and medicine that may or may not work. Once a treatment has been tested rigorously, it no longer matters whether it was considered alternative at the outset. If it is found to be reasonably safe and effective, it will be accepted. But assertions, speculation, and testimonials do not substitute for evidence. Alternative treatments should be subjected to scientific testing no less rigorous than that required for conventional treatments. Marcia Angell, M.D. Jerome P. Kassirer, M.D. Text References Table of Contents | Previous Article | Next Article Copyright © 1998 by the Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved. 4 of 4 23-Sep-98 9:52 PM Editorials . . .
. . .  intervene only after the fact, when it is shown that a product is harmful. ( 28 ) It is time for the scientific community to stop giving alternative medicine a free ride. There cannot be two kinds of medicine -- conventional and alternative . There is only medicine that has been adequately tested and medicine that has not, medicine that works and medicine that may or may not work. Once a treatment has been tested rigorously, it no longer matters whether it was considered alternative at the outset. If it is found to be reasonably safe and effective, it will be accepted. But assertions, speculation, and testimonials do not substitute for evidence. Alternative treatments should be subjected . . .
. . .  assertions, speculation, and testimonials do not substitute for evidence. Alternative treatments should be subjected to scientific testing no less rigorous than that required for conventional treatments. Marcia Angell, M.D. Jerome P. Kassirer, M.D. Text References Table of Contents | Previous Article | Next Article Copyright © 1998 by the Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved. 4 of 4 23-Sep-98 9:52 PM Editorials -- NEJM 1998; 339: 839-841 -- September 17, 1998 file:///C|/WWW/PAGE/0839.asp  . . .
. . .  accepted. But assertions, speculation, and testimonials do not substitute for evidence. Alternative treatments should be subjected to scientific testing no less rigorous than that required for conventional treatments. Marcia Angell, M.D. Jerome P. Kassirer, M.D. Text References Table of Contents | Previous Article | Next Article Copyright © 1998 by the Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved. 4 of 4 23-Sep-98 9:52 PM Editorials -- NEJM 1998; 339: 839-841 -- September 17, 1998 file:///C|/WWW/PAGE/0839.asp  . . .
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