Bill Morris

The risks of third-generation contraceptive pills have been much in the news. But assessing risk can be a tricky business. Twenty-nine years ago, I was about a week into my first job as a doctor, as ... (3073 words)

Many people will remember Dr Bill Morris's entertaining autobiographical talk at the last Skeptics' conference in Wellington. From his presentation, we extract this discussion of what is still the ... (1651 words)

A medical degree is not a shield against quackery, but better understanding of the scientific process may help doctors and their patients to better evaluate treatments. I once had an old uncle who ... (2077 words)

Nearly everyone knows that in Old Testament times Sodom and Gomorrah were pretty naughty places to be and that the Lord, after negotiations with Abraham, was moved to spare any good people that could ... (614 words)

I was first conscious that I had met Procrustes about 20 years ago, though I did not at that time know his name. At the beginning of a course of instruction on how to examine medical patients the ... (2452 words)

" ‘Alternative' medicine is usually defended by a 'skeptical' argument, that we should keep our minds open." Petr Skrabanek in his article "Demarcation of the absurd"1 looked for guidelines on quite ... (2921 words)

Dear Keith, In your November 1987 issue, Dennis Dutton (page 3) asks whether it matters that sick people, especially cancer sufferers, are not discouraged from using "alternative" or "complementary" ... (341 words)