Hello Again,
MEDIC will once again be meeting on Tuesday, October 9th in Health Sciences T wing room 359 from 5 to 6:30. Ceri will be leading this week’s discussion, focusing on non-FDA approved treatments. Whether they base their claims on anecdotes or randomized, controlled double blind studies, many people swear by treatments that are not approved by the FDA. Are doctors obligated to offer these treatments, or discuss them as an alternative to “modern” medicine? From fecal transplants to using Botox to reduce sweating, there are many examples of non-approved techniques that are prevalent today.
If you want to learn more about one such treatment, this Scientific American article sheds some light on the motivation behind the use of fecal transplants to treat specific types of chronic diarrhea (we recommend you finish your dinner before reading):
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=swapping-germs
Navigating the Health Sciences building can be tricky. Enter through the main T wing entrance and signs will direct you to the exact room. Bring your friends! Snacks will be provided.
If you have any questions, feel free to email us at medicuw@uw.edu and be sure to like us on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/medicuw for updates about MEDIC and bioethics in the media.
Hope to see you Tuesday,
Your PubMed-obsessed MEDIC officers
