News and Media Archive - 2015
Recent Posts
The year in bad celebrity advice: "Gwyneth had a really big year in 2015. She really just kept up the bunk"
Professor Timothy Caulfield is interviewed.
How much do you know about the gut health craze?
Professor Timothy Caulfield provides expert comment.
National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia: How celebrities, personal stories and misplaced hope sell questionable treatments
Professor Timothy Caulfield on the power of media hype over science in influencing patients.
National Post: Trudeau's new science minister Kirsty Duncan was advocate of controversial and largely disproven MS treatment
Professor Timothy Caulfield is quoted regarding Canada's new science minister.
The Globe and Mail: Former NHLer Gene Carr and other ex-athletes offered a clean bill of hope
Professor Timothy Caulfield provides expert comment.
CBS News: Gwyneth Paltrow under fire for recirculating breast cancer bra myth
Professor Timothy Caulfield comments on breast cancer bra myth, pseudo-science, celebrity influence.
Toronto Star: If bacon doesn't kill you, it may just make you immortal
Professor Timothy Caulfield discusses public confusion over health news stories and how people understand risk.
The BMJ: Timothy Caulfield: The straw men of integrative health and alternative medicine
Professor Timothy Caulfield blogs on the four most annoying straw man arguments in favour of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).
Healthy Debate: Is wisdom teeth removal really warranted?
Professor Timothy Caulfield co-authors an article discussing the limited and over-generalized studies done on the efficacy of preventative removal of wisdom teeth.
Policy Options: THE CURE - Column
Professor Timothy Caulfield writes on celebrity influence, the divide between our perceptions and science, and on how our choices often relate more to tribal affiliation than reason.
The Globe and Mail: Can Oprah revive Weight Watchers?
Professor Timothy Caulfield provides expert comment on Opera Winfrey's acquisition of 10% of Weight Watchers' shares, the effect of celebrity endorsement, and the effectiveness of dieting.
Confused about the mixed messages on GMO foods? Here's what the evidence says
Professor Timothy Caulfield co-authors an article separating fact from fiction.
Canada.com: Brain Freeze: Can putting faith in cryonics deliver life after death?
Professor Timothy Caulfield provides expert comment on the legal and ethical issues around cryonics. Canadian Press story appears in newspapers across Canada, including the Vancouver Sun, Calgary Herald, Montreal Gazette, Ottawa Citizen, and Alaska Highway News.
Spin, Science and E-Cigarettes
Professor Timothy Caulfield comments on the unclear science of "vaping", its trends in popular culture, and on how our system should proceed in light of evidence that is less than definitive.
Fox News: Neurologists warn against potentially dangerous 'stem cell tourism'
Neurologists at Ohio State University are calling on doctors to educate their patients about scientifically unproven stem cell treatments that they say more Americans with incurable diseases are finding online and traveling overseas or across the country for. An opinion given by Professor Timothy A. Caulfield is referenced in the article.
Vancouver Sun: B.C. company to launch DNA testing service
Professor Timothy Caulfield says it might be fun and intriguing but the information is often less predictive of future health problems than risk factors such as smoking, obesity, inactivity, blood pressure or even postal code of residence.
Very Public Enemies: The Battle Between the FDA and Kim Kardashian
Professor Timothy Caulfield is quoted in an article on Kim Kardashian's paid social media endorsement of morning sickness medication.
CBC News: Kim Kardashian's social media posts for morning-sickness pill 'contravenes Canadian ban,' health lawyer says
Professor Timothy Caulfield comments in an article about Kim Kardashian's social media posts about a Canadian pharmaceutical company's morning sickness treatment that has raised questions about drug promotions online. Coverage also runs in Newsweek.
National Post: FDA lashes out at drug company for promoting Canadian morning-sickness pill on Kardashian Instagram feed
Professor Timothy Caulfield comments on the FDA's response to a Canadian drug company over its part in an unusual intersection of celebrity culture, social media and pharmaceutical marketing. An Instagram post by Kim Kardashian extolling the benefits of the firm's morning-sickness drug was false or misleading and "misbranded" the pills, said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in a warning letter disclosed Tuesday. Story also appears in Calgary Herald and Ottawa Citizen.
National Public Radio: NPR's On the Media with a skeptic's guide to health news/diet fads
Professor Timothy Caulfield is interviewed on NPR's On the Media this weekend.
Kim Kardashian endorses Canadian-made morning-sickness pills on Instagram
Professor Timothy Caulfield is quoted in a story on the power of celebrity endorsement of healthcare products.
Ottawa Citizen: Popular intravenous therapy raises eyebrows
Professor Timothy Caulfield says there is no evidence to support the practice of intravenous therapy, and that the trend likely reflects the fact that people want magical solutions. Saskatoon Star Phoenix similar story.
TVO The Agenda: Are Celebrities bad for your health?
Timothy Caulfield on why celebrities can be bad for your health.
BMJ Clinical Evidence Blog: Genetics and Personalized Medicine: Where's the Revolution?
Article by Professor Timothy Caulfield.
Editor's Choice: In Their Own Words (Aug.) Timothy Caulfield
Professor Timothy Caulfield discusses his article: The Fountain of Stem Cell-Based Youth? Online Portrayals of Anti-Aging Stem Cell Technologies.
Vancouver Sun: 'I know I saved someone's life': how living donors are changing organ transplants
Professor Timothy Caulfield comments in story on living organ donors. The story also runs in other Postmedia newspapers.
Slate: Why Humankind Needs Kardashians
Like it or not, the influence of celebrity culture on our lives is profound, and possibly hardwired. Professor Timothy Caulfield is interviewed.
Diet disquiet: Why Beyoncé's veganism angered her fans
This week, Kate Moss found herself improbably more popular than Beyoncé. And that says a lot about our secret hopes for celebrity diets. Professor Timothy Caulfield is quoted.
Los famosos perjudican seriamente su salud
Un libro denuncia cómo las celebridades están instalando mensajes contrarios a la medicina en la sociedad.
Flare Magazine: I Tried It: Eating for My DNA Type
For $449, a company will test your DNA and send you a diet and fitness plan tailored to your genetic makeup. Is it worth it? Professor Timothy Caulfield provides expert comment.
Money magazine (Time): 5 Celebrity-Endorsed Health Tips That Are Total Wastes of Money
Money magazine (Time) reviews Professor Timothy Caulfield's new book: Is Gwyneth Paltrow Wrong About Everything?
Marie Claire: Is Gwyneth Paltrow Wrong About Everything? This Scientist Thinks So...
Suzannah Ramsdale discusses Professor Timothy Caulfield's new book.
Ottawa Citizen: 'War on science' and 'quackademics' all part of lost trust in vaccines, prof says
Timothy Caulfield spoke at a Carleton University forum on vaccine hesitancy on Wednesday.
Why cleanses are so popular, even though they don't work
Professor Timothy Caulfield on clenses, detox diets, and celebrity influence over our health choices.
The Telegraph: Is Gwyneth Paltrow wrong about everything?
Professor Timothy Caulfield talks to Celia Walden about the controversial title of his latest book and questionable celebrity 'wisdom' on health.
Influencing Science Policy Makers - Interview with Prof. Timothy Caulfield
The research conducted by Professor Timothy Caulfield yields policy recommendations that influence Canadian science policy makers.
CBC's Marketplace: Truth Behind the Trend investigates the trends surrounding gluten-free products.
Professor Tim Caulfield is interviewed and comments on the latest diet craze.
Vox: The gluten-free craze is out of hand. Here are 8 facts to counter the madness.
Professor Timothy Caulfield's new book is referenced.
CBC: The Next Chapter
Antanas Seleika is interviewed about Professor Timothy Caulfield's new book: Is Gwyneth Paltrow Wrong About Everything?
Scientific community concern over genetic manipulation
Professor Timothy Caulfield is interviewed on the legal and ethical implications of embryonic gene manipulation.
South Asia Mail: The bitter truth about chocolate
Professor Timothy Caulfield says industry involvement in research around such things as the health benefits of chocolate can skew the results.
Vaccine Hesitancy
Timothy Caulfield Speaks on Pseudoscience: FPA Professional Institute
New study: Stem cell field is infected with hype
A new study by Professor Timothy Caulfield and Dr. Kalina Kamenova is covered in the LA Times.
Doctors fight for their right to refuse care over religious beliefs
Timothy Caulfield interviewed on physicians' freedom of conscience in treating their patients.
The Angelina Jolie effect is back. And that's a good thing
Timothy Caulfield's new book referenced.
Blowback to the 'Angelina effect' as experts warn Jolie's decision leads to greater anxiety and unnecessary tests
Timothy Caulfield responds to "Angelina Jolie Pitt: Diary of a Surgery" ~ was rarity of medical condition emphasized sufficiently?
Jolie can start a health conversation, but she mustn't be the last word
Timothy Caulfield responds to Jolie's announcement that she will undergo surgery to remove her ovaries and fallopian tubes in order to reduce cancer risk.
Stemming the media hype on stem cell therapies
News stories often portray unrealistic timelines while overlooking challenges and failures, new HLI study shows.
Chatelaine: Is Gwyneth Paltrow making you sick?
Professor Timothy Caulfield is interviewed about bad celebrity health advice.
The Globe and Mail: Why this Canadian author is going after Gwyneth Paltrow's health advice
Professor Timothy Caulfield is interviewed about his new book and how science is twisted by popular culture.
The Fifth Estate: The War on Wheat
Professor Timothy Caulfield is interviewed on the movement that is dramatically changing the way we eat.
Miracle cure?
Professor Timothy Caulfield provides expert comment on supposed stem cell miracle cure.
USA Today: Ancient practice of yoga now a growth industry
Professor Timothy Caulfield provides expert comment.
Homeopathy and the ethics of researching magic
Professor Timothy Caulfield authors blog post on the ethics of homeopathic research.
Canadian homeopathic college criticized for anti-vaccine stand
Professor Timothy Caulfield provides expert comment.
Medical tourism: Health saviour or a snake-oil solution?
Professor Timothy Caulfield provides expert comment.
Hollywood crock-buster: From detox programs to v-steams, celebs are steering us wrong
Professor Timothy Caulfield's new book is reviewed.
Globe and Mail: Health experts question lack of crackdown on 'homeopathic vaccines'
Timothy Caulfield provides expert comment on ineffective homeopathic "vaccines" and the governmental and regulatory response to their sale and promotion.
Calgary Herald: University of Alberta profs provocative look at science stardom and social media
Professor Tim Caulfield's book, Is Gwyneth Paltrow Wrong About Everything, is reviewed.
The Daily Beast: Don't Be Fooled By The Claims of 'Cleanse' Diets
Timothy Caulfield is quoted in this story on the validity of cleanses.
Montreal Gazette: Should medical tourism be used to supplement gaps in our health care system?
Timothy Caulfield provides expert comment.
Winnipeg firm Regenetek issues statement explaining role in MS study
Patients question credentials of Doug Broeska, who recruited patients for therapy in India