Are the rules for designing studies of alternative techniques different than studies involving conventional medicine?
Is there a double standard? Absolutely not. I don’t think there’s a double standard. You have to apply the same rules of evidence to any therapy regardless of its pedigree, whether it comes from another culture, involves herbs, acupuncture, massage, or is a new drug or device. I think the rules of evidence are the rules of evidence. …My approach to every project we do, whether it’s a large clinical trial or a policy statement or a fellows experiment, is I try to find the most sophisticated skeptic who is open-minded to guide us in the science, in the methodology, to set up an experiment where that skeptic could work as a co-investigator. I say to him or her, “If we do it this way and if it turns out positively, will you then be convinced or almost convinced?” If I can’t find that group of people to get it to that level of excellence, it’s not worth doing. It just won’t make an impact. Bad science doesn’t impress anyone. …Now it’s not enough to just say, it looks like this acupunctu
