SCAM

From SkepticWiki

1 Definition
2 Discussion
3 Related links
4 Related Topics
5 References
6 Comments

[edit] Definition

so-Called "Alternative" Medicine (sCAM) (always spelled with a small "s" and capitalized "CAM".)

An acronym deliberately designed by skeptics to expose the deceptiveness and inaccuracy inherent in the popular jargon that is being used to describe and market unproven and disproven healing methods.

"Evidence-Based CAM" is an oxymoron. If a method has become evidence-based, then it should no longer be considered or classified as CAM. Period. Use of the term sCAM is an attempt to combat this misuse.

[edit] Origins, History, and Personages

It's all here: The sCAM Commitment -- from Oct. 2002

From these humble origins, the acronym has spread far and wide. Every time it is used, skeptics are making a statement.

[edit] Quotations

This first quote explains the problem:

"Complementary and alternative medicine" ("CAM") is an imprecise marketing term that is inherently misleading. "Alternative" methods are loosely described as practices outside of mainstream health care. They lack evidence of safety and effectiveness and are generally not covered by insurance plans. "Complementary medicine" is loosely described as a synthesis of standard and alternative methods that uses the best of both. In truth, there are no "alternatives" to objective evidence of effectiveness and safety." -- NCAHF

These quotes are related to the basic issues:

"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." -- Angell M, Kassirer JP, "Alternative medicine--the risks of untested and unregulated remedies." N Engl J Med 1998;339:839.

"There is no alternative medicine. There is only scientifically proven, evidence-based medicine supported by solid data or unproven medicine, for which scientific evidence is lacking. Whether a therapeutic practice is 'Eastern' or 'Western,' is unconventional or mainstream, or involves mind-body techniques or molecular genetics is largely irrelevant except for historical purposes and cultural interest. As believers in science and evidence, we must focus on fundamental issues-namely, the patient, the target disease or condition, the proposed or practiced treatment, and the need for convincing data on safety and therapeutic efficacy." -- Fontanarosa P.B., and Lundberg G.D. "Alternative medicine meets science" JAMA. 1998; 280: 1618-1619.

"In medicine, most "alternative medicine" is not mainstream for good reason. If it's truly effective it will become mainstream and no longer "alternative." If it remains alternative, it belongs there." -- Scott L. Replogle, M.D.

"Alternative medicine is defined as that set of practices that cannot be tested, refuse to be tested or consistently fail tests." -- Richard Dawkins, professor of the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford, Denver Business Journal, Week of January 13, 2003

"Pseudoscience is defined here as "claims presented so that they appear [to be] scientific even though they lack supporting evidence and plausibility" (Shermer 1997, p. 33). In contrast, science is "a set of methods designed to describe and interpret observed and inferred phenomena, past or present, and aimed at building a testable body of knowledge open to rejection or confirmation" (Shermer 1997, p. 17). According to one group studying such phenomena, pseudoscience topics include yogi flying, therapeutic touch, astrology, fire walking, voodoo magical thinking, Uri Gellar, alternative medicine, channeling, Carlos hoax, psychic hotlines and detectives, near-death experiences, Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs), the Bermuda Triangle, homeopathy, faith healing, and reincarnation." -- Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal CSICOP

"As used here, alternative medicine refers to all treatments that have not been proven effective using scientific methods." -- NSF

"Between homeopathy and herbal therapy lies a bewildering array of untested and unregulated treatments, all labeled alternative by their proponents. Alternative seems to define a culture rather than a field of medicine-a culture that is not scientifically demanding. It is a culture in which ancient traditions are given more weight than biological science, and anecdotes are preferred over clinical trials. Alternative therapies steadfastly resist change, often for centuries or even millennia, unaffected by scientific advances in the understanding of physiology or disease. Incredible explanations invoking modern physics are sometimes offered for how alternative therapies might work, but there seems to be little interest in testing these speculations scientifically." -- Robert L. Park, Voodoo Science: The Road from Foolishness to Fraud. New York: Oxford University Press.

[edit] What it isn't

So-called "alternative" medicine methods should not be confused with the allied health care professions and methods, such as diet, exercise, massage, physical therapy, etc..

This blending of terms is a common tactic used by sCAM advocates, resulting in a confusion of the issues. This confusion is to the detriment of legitimate methods, and to the advantage of those seeking to advance dubious methods. They thus seek to borrow legitimacy for their nonsense by "dumbing down" medicine and lowering the bar for acceptable evidence of efficacy and safety.

[edit] Discussion

This acronym is a uniquely skeptical "statement", and as such is commonly used in skeptical circles, articles, websites, blogs, and discussion groups.

It is the result of long discussions and deliberations among skeptics, and was carefully formulated to avoid falsely accusing people involved in unscientific practices, since they may not be deliberately involved in real, illegal scams.

It is therefore not synonymous with the usual meaning of the word "scam", yet it is slightly related to the concept, since sCAM sometimes involves real, illegal scams (but far from always). Spelling it incorrectly could get one in deep legal trouble, hence it is always spelled with a small "s" and capitalized "CAM", often accompanied with what it stands for: so-Called "Alternative" Medicine. Adding the explanation is what really makes the statement effective.

Careful scrutiny of the basic words and quotation marks is important. The acronym does not stand for "so-called Complementary & Alternative Medicine", nor does it stand for "supplementary Complementary & Alternative Medicine". It is the word alternative that is so-called, since alt med is not a true "alternative" to real medicine.

For "alternative medicine" to be a true alternative, it would have to be effective, in which case it would no longer be considered "alternative", but would be accepted as real medicine, as illustrated in the old joke:

"What do you call alternative medicine that works? - Medicine!" -- Skeptico