Response to Negative Online Attacks

I am an active advocate for alternative medicine.  In recent years, that has resulted in widespread attacks on me.  None of the attackers know me personally.

The attacks are generated by a loose knit group of skeptics who also, for the most part, are atheists. [i]  They chose me as a target based on an editorial I wrote in my local paper and their mistaken belief that I was capable of censoring one of their members. 

Despite their complete lack of knowledge of me and my practice, the group has chosen to personally attack me in an effort to make me either silent or to force me to retire.  If any of the individuals involved had ever been, or even spoken to, any of my patients the attacks might have been successful.   

As any good medical practitioner would do, I have engaged in introspection of my practice and my methods.  I failed to find sufficient justification for the virulence directed against me, so I reached out to the community that attacked me.  I spent several months discussing, often with heated tones, my practice and methods.  I took all comers, answered all questions, and failed to find even one of my accusers capable of sustained debate. 

All of my accusers claimed science as a foundation point, but none engaged in a scientific method.  They began with an assumption that everything I did was useless medically.[ii]  As I explained that much of what I do involves nutrition and lifestyle, they backpedaled to a stance that nothing I did offered a unique approach to medicine.  My field had nothing to offer.  When I explained the process of putting together pieces from various medical specialties and helping patients see the whole picture, I was told to give examples.  I gave several examples, and was told they were invalid in some way, the studies were poor, etc.  I then did an exhaustive study for one skeptic within his own specialty.  I provided him with several possible treatments he was not currently using.  His response was to stop any and all conversation.

At that point I began producing my own blog posts, twittering, etc.  The skeptics had so filled the search engines with their attacks that it was no longer possible for patients to even find my website.  I have been somewhat effective, and continue to explore other options.

I regret much of the anger evident in my earlier responses to the attacks.  At the time I mistakenly thought I was dealing with individuals who had selected me personally for insult.  Instead, I am merely a tiny piece in a large social drama playing out within medicine. 

If you have any questions or concerns about the attacks, please feel free to email me personally.  Do not be afraid to hurt my feelings, as I have developed a fairly thick skin.  I would have questions myself, which I have attempted to answer here.