News and Media Archive - 2019
Recent Posts
NBC News: Celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow made the 2010s the decade of health and wellness misinformation
Celebrity wellness hype contributes to our "culture of untruth" by both inviting an erosion of critical thinking and promoting what is popular rather than what is true. Timothy Caulfield
folio: COMMENTARY || The problem with personalized health information
The Human Genome Project sparked an obsession with personalized info-and potentially shifted the responsibility for health away from broader society, argues health policy expert Timothy Caulfield.
The Globe and Mail: Body governing Ontario doctors takes no action against physician offering unproven treatment for autistic children
Timothy Caulfield, "That is their mandate. Not protecting their members, but protecting the public," Mr. Caulfield said. "If they can't act in this kind of situation, what is their role?"
Policy Options: The problem with personalized health information
The Human Genome Project sparked an obsession with personalized info, and potentially shifted the responsibility for health away from broader society.
Policy Options: The Human Genome Project sparked an obsession with personalized info, and potentially shifted the responsibility for health away from broader society.
Timothy Caulfield holds a Canada Research Chair in Health Law and Policy at the University of Alberta and is the host of 'A User's Guide to Cheating Death' on Netflix.
The Globe and Mail: Alternative facts: Choosing homeopathic treatments isn't really a free choice
Paul Benedetti, Wayne MacPhail and Timothy Caulfield
The Minnesota Post: Why you shouldn't believe the hype behind 'enhanced' waters
Timothy Caulfield notes that we can't change our pH level through the food that we eat. Our bodies have evolved to handle this. There is no evidence the alkaline food have any health benefits. It is all just wellness woo noise.
The National Post: Ontario chiropractors governing body in feud with college for allowing chiropractors to make false medical claims
"This situation highlights the degree to which many chiropractors remain rooted in supernatural beliefs. It also highlights how self-regulation is failing," says Timothy Caulfield, Canada Research Chair in Health Law and Policy at the University of Alberta. "Increasingly, I think that governments across Canada need to rethink how alternative medicine is regulated. The system seems to be broken."
Medium: The Plain Truth About Fancy Water
Timothy Caulfield explains the wellness woo noise for these water trends as there is no evidence to any health benefit.
Refinery 29: A Medical Intuitive Told Me My Spiritual Guides Want Me To Go To The Spa
Timothy Caulfield is asked for a professional view, which is backed by science.
L'actualité: Thomas Mulcair défend l'homéopathie malgré son statut de pseudoscience
"It's incredibly frustrating to see any kind of action to legitimize homeopathy and it's a real problem to have someone with their status associate with that," says the University of Alberta's Professor and Canada Research Chair in Law and Health Policy, Timothy Caulfield.
CTV News: Ex-NDP leader Tom Mulcair featured at pro-homeopathy conference in Montreal
Caulfield and Jarry both took aim at the claim that homeopathic remedies do no harm just because they're safe to consume. They say people might be convinced to try homeopathy instead of a proven treatment, wasting their money on what is essentially a sugar pill. Caulfield also believes the homeopathy lobby contributes to an erosion of critical thought that can encourage people to disbelieve scientific research.
BNN Bloomberg: Chinese Parents Test DNA to Check If Kids Will Become Prodigies
"There's just no way a DNA test will tell you anything that's meaningful about complex traits," said Timothy Caulfield, a bioethicist and health policy expert at the University of Alberta who specializes in genetics. "And these parents are changing their kids' lives."
Wired: How Earnest Research Into Gay Genetics Went Wrong
Timothy Caulfield, a bioethicist and health law scholar at the University of Alberta, cautions that it's too soon to start celebrating. "Research is very hard to control once it's left your laboratory," he says. He gives Neale and his collaborators credit for trying to be careful. the trouble is, it's no longer their story to tell. "Pop culture owns this science now and it is going to keep getting spun to sell products or an ideology."
CNN: She was called the n-word and given instructions to slit her wrists. What did Facebook do?
(CNN) - You can call someone the n-word and give her graphic instructions on how to kill herself, and you won't get kicked off Facebook. Or you can tell a mother you hope her son gets raped, and you won't get kicked off the world's most popular social media platform. Or you can tell a mother whose 5-year-old daughter has died that "if your kids keep dying it's god trying to tell u u don't deserve them." You can write to that mother: "F**k you c**t. Are you dead yet c**t? Fingers crossed. Spit on c**ts like you. You c**t dog. Die c**t. You piece of sh*t c**t dog. You are ignorant dumb dog. Die c**t." Still, you can stay on Facebook. These are the findings of a six-month CNN investigation into bullying and harassment faced by parents, doctors and others who advocate for vaccination on Facebook. A Facebook spokesperson said the platform is conducting its own investigation as a result of CNN's findings.
Gizmodo: The Latest Iffy Wellness Trend Is CBD-Infused Workout Gear
Timothy Caulfield provides comment.
The National Post: 'So much is at stake': Academics call for release of data behind controversial Canadian fluoride study
Timothy Caulfield among an international group of academics taking the rare step of urging the study's funder to release the data for independent review. "What are you hiding? Whoever owns the data should be willing to release it." "Doesn't seem like an unreasonable request" notes another professional.
The Globe and Mail: OPINION: Microbiome research needs a gut check
Timothy Caulfield is a Canada Research Chair in Health Law and Policy at the University of Alberta and host of A User's Guide to Cheating Death Special to the Globe and Mail
CBC: No 'significant risk' to children from chiropractic therapy, B.C. college says
Regulator not taking any action on use of spinal manipulative therapy in kids under 10. "You could see why an organization that is trying to support the practice of its members would come to this result, but it's disappointing because I don't think the body of evidence supports that conclusion," Caulfield told CBC.
CBC News: Health Canada investigating ads for natural health product targeting anxious teens
Timothy Caulfield, a health law and policy expert at the University of Alberta, says the bigger issue is how Health Canada regulates natural health products.
NBC News: Fancy bottled drinking water is nonsense. Ignore the wellness industry and just drink tap.
By Timothy Caulfield, Canada Research Chair in Health Law and Policy at the University of Alberta.
The Independent: Kill or Cure How useful is Dr. Google
With half the population seeking health information online, can the internet really replace a GP visit?
The National Post: Naturopathy is poised to 'disrupt' health-care status quo, proponents of controversial practice say
For Caulfield and others, the idea of turning primary care over to naturopathic medicine is unnerving. Last year, a New Brunswick judge issued an injunction prohibiting naturopaths from advertising themselves as a "doctor" or "family physician." Training programs require an undergraduate degree, plus prerequisite sciences, followed by a four-year program that includes basic and clinical sciences. Still, "Naturopaths are not medical practitioners and naturopaths are not allowed to use words to suggest they are," Court of Queen's Bench Justice Hugh McLellan said in a ruling covered by CBC.
NewsWire: B.C. Pharmacare Non-Medical Switch Policy: The Wrong Decision
Crohn's and Colitis Canada released their position on biosimilar drugs and in particular on non-medical switch policy together with a cross-Canada survey of healthcare providers, patients and caregivers on September 5, 2019. Released today is a legal/ethics review that assesses challenges in a Canadian legal, bioethical and policy context to further support the Crohn's and Colitis Canada position. World renowned leader in health law, ethics and science policy Professor Timothy Caulfield, an author of the paper says "The move from biologics to biosimilars can create real ethical and legal challenges for healthcare providers. Physicians have a legal and ethical obligation to put the interests of the patient first."
CANVAX: ET1: Building Vaccine Confidence in the Era of Fake News
Timothy Caulfield discusses the challenges and opportunities for strengthening immunization promotion and building vaccine confidence in an era of fake news.
Global News Radio Toronto: Poll suggests Canadians are turning their backs on science
Timothy Caulfield is interviewed.
Ryan Jespersen Show: Stephan trial: A win for pseudoscience?
Ryan Jespersen and Timothy Caulfield discuss the outcome of the trial.
The National Post: Expert says acquittal of Alberta parents in boy's death unlikely to set precedent
"Irrational and irresponsible behaviour put a child at risk. But this court decision is not an endorsement for pseudo-scientific beliefs or conspiracy theories. (David Stephan) is still wrong - horribly wrong - about all of that," said Timothy Caulfield. "It was a criminal trial, so the standard is high. I don't think this case lowers the bar. Parents can still be found criminally responsible for failing to provide the necessaries of life."
The Nutrition Action: How celebrities shape our views about health
Celebrities endorse a slew of diets, supplements, exercise routines, and other health fads. Here's how to dodge their influence. Timothy Caulfield spoke to Nutrition Action's Caitlin Dow in June.
The Edmonton Journal: Alberta couples' acquittal in death of son raises questions over parental duties and responsibilities
"We really should stop tolerating the spread of pseudoscience," said Timothy Caulfield, the Canada research chair in health law and policy at the University of Alberta.
folio: Regulatory heft needed to curb false promises on stem cells, says health law expert
Government, physicians and advertising regulators need to team up to protect the public from marketing of unproven treatments, argues U of A health-trend skeptic Timothy Caulfield.
CNBC: Biohackers fell hard for a company selling hydrogen water, but many now say the whole thing was a scam
"These companies use science-y language to give their product legitimacy and intuitive appeal," said Timothy Caulfield, a professor of law at the University of Alberta in Canada, and research director of its Health Law Institute. "But the evidence is far from convincing. As far as I can tell there isn't any robust data to support the claims made by these companies."
The Sault Star: Social Summit to reduce loneliness, promote inclusion
The first-time event slotted for Dec. 9-10 at the Community Centre is looking to attract community leaders, innovators and change agents from across the entire province to attend the summit, which has a theme of From Isolation to Connection. The event will feature a number of speakers, including Dr. Timothy Caulfield, known for his Netflix series "A User's Guide to Cheating Death." Caulfield is also the Canada Research Chair in Health Law and Policy, he's a professor at the University of Alberta Faculty of Law and School of Public Health and holds the position of Research Director of the Health Law Institute.
Chemistry World: Stem Cell Hype
'It's an incredibly promising field and we are going to see clinical benefits,' says public health expert Timothy Caulfield at the University of Alberta in Canada. 'But there aren't really many therapies that are ready for the clinic.' Caulfield has a long-time interest in stem cell clinics and says the situation is not getting any better. Their proliferation is happening in well-regulated, wealthy countries. Sometimes, these treatments endanger patients.
The Globe and Mail: Should vaccines be mandatory for school-aged children?
Timothy Caulfield, Canada Research Chair in health law and policy at the University of Alberta, said despite some inroads, there is much more social-media companies can do to stamp out false information about vaccines.
City TV: Calls for mandatory vaccinations
Timothy Caulfield is featured.
The Hill Times: Our celebrity prime minister
Author Timothy Caulfield suggests in his book, Is Gwyneth Paltrow Wrong About Everything?, that the cult of celebrity is strongest in those countries with the lowest social mobility. His theory holds true in the U.S. and U.K., both of which have rigid class structures and pervasive celebrity cultures. However, Canada enjoys comparatively high social mobility.
CBC Radio: People skipping doctors and using CBD oil for bipolar disorder 'not treated at all,' warns expert
More clinical trials needed into cannabidiol's alleged health benefits: researcher (Timothy Caulfield)
CBC The Current: People skipping doctors and using CBD oil for bipolar disorder 'not treated at all,' warns expert
Timothy Caulfield is featured and speaks on the oil and research.
Mother Jones: Dr. Jen Gunter Wants to Protect Your Vagina From Gwyneth Paltrow
The Canadian health law and policy professor Timothy Caulfield, author of the book Is Gwyneth Paltrow Wrong About Everything?, said the settlement sent "a powerful message" about the type of information found on sites like Goop, calling it "a little victory for science."
Medium: Why Professional Athletes Fall for Health Scams
Athletes want to believe in a Holy Grail, but the truth is that sports medicine is a very narrow field. Timothy Caulfield, author of the book Is Gwyneth Paltrow Wrong About Everything?, says that the basics of recovery science are fairly straightforward - any new discoveries that increase performance, recovery, or longevity are minor advancements, within the few stray percentage points that scientists haven't already figured out.
Medium: Teaching Critical Thinking as a Public Health Initiative
Timothy Caulfield's discussions drive up relevant critical thinking skills people need to make about their health.
High River Online: Hit TV Show Host Wows Canadian Beef Industry Conference
The audience at the Canadian Beef Industry Conference this past week, was challenged to help the public cut through the noise of misinformation when it comes to making decisions about food and health. Keynote speaker and University of Alberta Professor of Health Law and Science Policy, Timothy Caulfield, spoke at the Conference, Wednesday, August 14.
The Calgary Herald: Call it 'a vegan sandwich': Beyond Meat a hot topic as beef producers converge on Cowtown
University of Alberta health law and policy professor Timothy Caulfield delivered a keynote presentation on Wednesday morning, highlighting how pop culture and media contribute to how "fear and the misrepresentation (and perception) of risk are having a huge impact on our decisions, particularly in the context of food."
Globe and Mail: Under the microscope: The research lab, the promising cancer breakthrough and the whistleblower who discovered fake data
Timothy Caulfield provides comment.
BBC News: I gave my DNA away. Can I get it back?
Timothy Caulfield, research director at the health law institute at the University of Alberta, is not sure that people realize what they are signing up for when they answer the lengthy questionnaires about their health and heritage. "People need to look carefully at privacy statements because often these firms are partnering with the pharmaceutical industry and people should be aware that is happening," he told the BBC.
MSN Chatelaine: Katy Perry And Gwyneth Paltrow Are Bananas For Enemas. Here's Why They're Full Of Crap
Caulfield believes the celebrity preoccupation with enemas may lie in a certain intuitive appeal ("who likes to think about gunk residing in their intestines?"), and also because you are certain to "feel something" after irrigating your bowel. "You may even have a significant bowel movement," he says. But that doesn't mean it's "working" (whatever that means). The idea that enemas could be responsible for glowing skin is 100 percent bunk according to Caulfield and any qualified medical professional you talk to. As for Perry's claims that they eliminate toxins-toxins are not a thing. And the body already has an all-natural, reliable and free way of clearing out the colon. It's called doing a number two.
The National Post: Beyoncé's 22-day, 100 per cent plant-based diet 'embraces food myths' and promotes crash dieting, experts say
"This kind of celebrity noise can distract people from the science-informed, and more sustainable basics: lots of fruits and veggies, whole grains and healthy proteins." notes Timothy Caulfield.
CBC News: Platelet-rich plasma treatment classified as drug, Health Canada says
Timothy Caulfield, Canada Research Chair in health law and policy at the University of Alberta, acknowledged there had been questions after the initial notice about whether PRP should be grouped with stem cell therapies.
Prevention: 15 Netflix Health Documentaries You Need to Watch in 2019
#3! in 15 Netflix Health Documentaries, A User's Guide to Cheating Death, Timothy Caulfield.
Android Authority: The best health and food documentaries on Netflix
#2! for Best Netflix health documentaries, A User's Guide to Cheating Death, Timothy Caulfield.
NBC News Think: Wellness culture's obsession with Fitbits, 23andMe and data isn't necessarily making us healthier
The idea that metricizing our life is the responsible thing to do is increasingly framed as a wellness truism. But don't let the flashy marketing fool you. By Timothy Caulfield.
Chatelaine: Meet Goop's Number-One Enemy
Timothy Caulfield provides comment.
folio: COMMENTARY || Unproven stem-cell treatments can be dangerous. The hype needs to stop
Stronger regulations, enforcement needed to counter rapid growth of clinics offering experimental treatments, argues U of A health trend skeptic Timothy Caulfield.
Seattle Times: It's easy to be duped by celebrities peddling false health claims. Here's how to get the facts.
A recent article in the Canadian Journal of Bioethics, lead authored by Timothy Caulfield, a Canadian law professor and bioethicist who has taken particular aim at the rise of pseudoscience in health and wellness, discussed concerns about the spread of bad nutrition and health information in both traditional and social media. Unsurprisingly, people are increasingly seeking scientific information - including health and nutrition information - on social media, and increasingly willing to share personal health information online.
The Niche: Regulators in Canada order dozens of stem cell clinics to stop
"We know that there are an increasing number of clinics across North America that are selling these unproven therapies," said Timothy Caulfield, Canada Research Chair in health law and policy at the University of Alberta. "I think it's really important to emphasize this stuff is unproven."
CTV News: Debate over Health Canada crackdown on stem cell therapies
"The marketing of unproven stem cell therapies has been a problem for a very long time and it's becoming a bigger problem here in Canada," Professor Timothy Caulfield, research director at the University of Alberta's Health Law Institute, told CTV News.
CMAJ News: Recruiting clinicians to combat pseudoscience on social media
Social media-savvy health professionals may never outnumber vocal disseminators of misinformation online but could amplify important health messages to wider audiences.
The Globe and Mail: Unproven stem-cell treatments can be dangerous. The hype needs to stop
Timothy Caulfield Special to the Globe and Mail
The Globe and Mail: Health Canada orders halt to unproven stem cell-based injection treatments
A growing number of experts have called for regulatory action against clinics offering cell-based therapies in recent years. Timothy Caulfield provides expert comment.
CBC News: Mice are not people: Fighting spin in medical science
In one paper, University of Alberta professor Timothy Caulfield described a "hype pipeline" created by "a complex array of social forces" that include "the pressure to publish, the increasingly intense commercialization agenda, the messaging emanating from research institutions, the news media and, even, the public itself."
The Body of Evidence: Talking Science in the Age of Fake News
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the McGill Office for Science and Society, a university-backed office dedicated to separating sense from nonsense, Jonathan moderated a panel discussion entitled "Talking Science in the Age of Fake News". The panelists were Prof. Joe Schwarcz, the director of the Office; Timothy Caulfield, host of a User's Guide to Cheating Death on Netflix; Carly Weeks, health reporter for The Globe & Mail newspaper; and Ryan Armstrong, director of Bad Science Watch.
Focus on Reproduction: VIENNA ANNUAL MEETING Science hyped by the claims of journalism and marketing
Timothy Caulfield speaks at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology annual meeting in Vienna.
The New York Post: How to spot wellness knockoffs, from sham CBD to mock matcha
"People need to be skeptical of these products," says Timothy Caulfield, a professor at the University of Alberta and research director of its Health Law Institute. "You just don't know what you could be getting."
Edmonton Journal: YouTube spreads 'misleading information' about experimental stem cell treatments
Video testimonials and infomercials can be particularly persuasive. They tell a story. The problem is that the power of the personal narrative "often overwhelms the data," said Timothy Caulfield, professor of health law and policy at the University of Alberta and a co-author of the new study.
The National Post: YouTube spreads 'misleading information' about experimental stem cell treatments
Video testimonials and infomercials can be particularly persuasive. They tell a story. The problem is that the power of the personal narrative "often overwhelms the data," said Timothy Caulfield, professor of health law and policy at the University of Alberta and a co-author of the new study.
Sputniknews: Author of Controversial Smartphone 'Skull Horns' Study Sells Special Posture Pillows - Report
Are we surprised? No we are not. #Sigh. - Timothy Caulfield (@CaulfieldTim)
The National: Constant phone use won't make you grow horns
Timothy Caulfield debunks a recent study that suggests youth are developing "horns" in their skulls as a result of cellphone use.
Standard UK: The dirty truth behind clean living
'Because the trillion-dollar wellness industry profits off virtue-signalling, we assume that wellness companies must align with these values,' explains Timothy Caulfield, author of Is Gwyneth Paltrow Wrong About Everything? 'We tend to think if it's healthy and kind and good for us, it must also be healthy and kind and good for the world, too. Wellness is often sold as communing with nature, whether it's barefoot walks on the beach or forest bathing, and yet a lot of the food, products and services that are marketed to us with the words "natural", "clean" and "wholesome" are often pretty devastating to the environment and for the people involved in making them.'
OneZero Medium: Doctors Are Braving Social Media to Battle Medical Misinformation
Timothy Caulfield, a professor of health law and science policy at the University of Alberta and host of the Netflix show A User's Guide to Cheating Death, thinks that Chiang's initiative could prove helpful. "It's true that 'more science' on its own rarely changes minds," Caulfield says. But "there has been too much tolerance of pseudoscience from many in the health care community. An initiative like this can help to build momentum that may nudge more in the direction of a science-informed approach."
BBC: The Why Factor: Why do we care where we come from?
We all want a good story to tell about where we come from. Why do we seek the answers in the lives of our ancestors - even in the DNA they passed on to us? Timothy Caulfield provides expert comment around 13:08.
The Globe and Mail: Aromatherapy company Saje Natural Wellness enjoys the sweet smell of success
Timothy Caulfield, who examines health, wellness and beauty trends in the Netflix show A User's Guide to Cheating Death, says essential oils smell pleasant, there's an intuitive appeal to their "concentrated flower power," and personal anecdotes about their supposed effectiveness abound. But when it comes to the science backing their purported health benefits, "the available evidence that does exist is either tremendously thin, shows no effect, has methodological flaws," says Caulfield.
Kamloops Matters: B.C. Students call for opt-out organ-donation system in the province
Timothy Caulfield, a professor of law and public health at the University of Alberta, said while an opt-out system removes what appears to be the biggest barrier - getting people to consent - it's just one piece of a "long chain that needs to work well for rates to improve." Caulfield has argued that presumed consent does not necessarily mean higher donation rates, pointing to Luxembourg, Sweden and Bulgaria, which have donation rates lower than Canada's, though they have opt-out systems.
The National Post: Aging Capt. Kirk - William Shatner - undergoes 'restorative' stem cell therapy
Skeptics such as the University of Alberta's Timothy Caulfield say there is no good evidence from human trials to support the idea that injecting stem cells has a global, anti-aging effect.
Beta Canada: Aging Capt. Kirk - William Shatner - undergoes 'restorative' stem cell therapy
"To be honest, it isn't even a scientifically plausible idea," Caulfield, Canada Research Chair in health law and policy, said in an email from Lisbon, where, coincidentally, he was speaking on the power of celebrity narratives.
Newswire: Ethical Debate Must Catch up With New Stem Cell Discoveries
And then there's the rising tide of victims, unsuspecting subjects of risky experimentation and customers paying for unproven or outright quack treatments. Professor Timothy Caulfield, research director at the Health Law Institute, University of Alberta, calls this "scienceploitation": "Now you see stem cell, genetic, and increasingly, microbiome research being exploited to sell a host of ridiculous products."
Spectrum News: Straightening out chiropractic's claim as a treatment for autism
"The law - and clinical ethics -demands that [chiropractors] be honest with their patients." Timothy Caulfield.
Halifax Today: Expert issues warning about 'unapproved' stem cell therapy for joint pain
"I call it science-ploitation, what they're doing is using this exciting area of science, stem cell research, regenerative medicine research in order to sell an idea that doesn't really have good evidence behind it," explains Caulfield.
Global News: Stem cell therapy advertisements in Nova Scotia 'unproven,' experts say
"They are using this exciting area of science, stem cell research, regenerative medicine research, in order to sell an idea that doesn't really have good evidence behind it," says Timothy Caulfied.
Gastropod: Eat This, Not That: The Surprising Science of Personalized Nutrition
Timothy Caulfield among others are interviewed.
The New York Times: Diet for One? Scientists Stalk the Dream of Personalized Nutrition
"This research is fascinating and it's important," said Timothy Caulfield. Nonetheless, "if history tells us anything, it tells us that it's unlikely that this is going to revolutionize nutrition."
Digital Journal: Paltrow's first Canadian Goop store sees two products pulled
According to Timothy Caulfield, an Edmonton-based health science expert, some of the products marketed by Goop have no scientific basis, they lack any data to show efficacy, and have been criticized by some in the medical establishment as misleading.
Breakfast Television Toronto: 'Goop' brand opens pop-up shop in Yorkville
Timothy Caulfield talks with Mel about the pop-up shop opening of her brand, Goop, in Toronto.
The Star: Does pseudoscience backlash have any effect on Goop?
"There is growing recognition and more evidence that the spreading of health misinformation can do real harm." notes Timothy Caulfield.
ABC Triple J Hack: The rise of anti-vaxxers, pseudoscience
Anti-vaxx movement comes on @ 9:48. Timothy Caulfield comes on @ 21:49
The Guardian: DNA-based holidays encourage a dangerous flirtation with race
"Whenever biology is attached to a rough human classification system (ancestry, ethnicity, etc), the public, researchers and the media almost always gravitate back to the concept of race." Caulfield further notes: "The more we suggest that biological differences between groups matter - and that is exactly what these companies are suggesting - the more the archaic concept of race is perceived, at least by some, as being legitimate." So if you are tempted by the thought of a DNA-based holiday, you might want to start by unpacking the assumptions your itinerary is built on.
CanVax Emerging Topics: ET1: Building Vaccine Confidence in the Era of Fake News
Timothy Caulfield discusses the challenges and opportunities for strengthening immunization promotion and building vaccine confidence in an era of fake news.
Omny: With Rob Breakenridge
Interviews Timothy Caulfield on the Stephan retrial.
630 CHED: Ryan Jespersen Show: Retrial begins for David and Collet Stephan
Timothy Caulfield comments.
The Star: Second trial to start for Alberta couple in son's meningitis death
"I think it's become even more important since 2016, because the problem of misinformation has intensified," said Timothy Caulfield, Research Director of the University of Alberta'a Health Law Institute.
Global News: COMMENTARY: Calling the shots - how Canadian teens can defy their anti-vaxxer parents
By Timothy Caulfield, University of Alberta Special to Global News
The Body of Evidence: Interview - Timothy Caulfield Returns
Chris and Jonathan interview Timothy Caulfield, former guest of the show, health policy expert, and one of the major pro-science voices quoted in the Canadian media. They discuss solutions to vaccine hesitancy; "dancing" on Twitter; the rise of "bro science"; what recently made Tim very happy (hint: it involves the government); and Tim's new TV show.
Huffington Post: Goop Is Getting Into Men's Wellness Now
Male wellness is often preoccupied with "this idea of overcoming obstacles," Timothy Caulfield said. "There's this masculine language about extreme approaches to living, extreme approaches to maximizing your potential."
folio: COMMENTARY || Vaccination: In Canada, many teenagers don't need parental consent
Educating teens about immunity and the value of vaccines should be a public health priority, argues health law expert Timothy Caulfield.
Global News: The sly ways anti-vaxxers are spreading misinformation online
"Just being exposed to a conspiracy theory, even if you're not a conspiracy theorist yourself, can have an influence on vaccination hesitancy," Timothy Caulfield, Canada Research Chair in health law and policy and author of The Vaccination Picture, previously told Global News.
National Post: Vaccination: In Canada, many teenagers don't need parental consent
Author: Timothy Caulfield, Canada Research Chair in Health Law and Policy; Professor, Faculty of Law and School of Public Health; and Research Director, Health Law Institute, University of Alberta
Health News Review: Viewers get scenery, not science, as CNN explores global 'secrets' to living longer
Timothy Caulfield wonders why CNN doesn't apply the same ethos to health care as it does to political news.
The Conversation: Vaccination: In Canada, many teenagers don't need parental consent
By Timothy Caulfield, Canada Research Chair in Health Law and Policy; Professor, Faculty of Law and School of Public Health; and Research Director, Health Law Institute, University of Alberta
University of Alberta New Trail: Are you a sucker for pseudoscience?
When it comes to health claims, the line between fact and fiction can appear blurry. We're here to help. A lot of the information in the media or on the Internet isn't "out-there alternative stuff," says Timothy Caulfield, '87 BSc(Spec), '90 LLB. "A lot of it appears to be rooted in science. It's challenging because it seems so legitimate." Caulfield is a champion of science. He holds a Canada Research Chair in Health Law and Policy and is a popular author and speaker on pseudoscience and health fads. He hosts the Netflix documentary series A User's Guide to Cheating Death. We created a quiz based on his tips to avoid being duped by pseudoscience.
Ottawa Citizen: Gagné and Ravalia: We need to make it easier for parents to vaccinate their children
Then there's rampant online misinformation. Timothy Caulfield, professor in the Faculty of Law and the School of Public Health at the University of Alberta, refers to the "mere exposure effect" of social media: "Just being exposed to nonsense … creates a perception of credibility."
National Post: Tech CEOs call it 'biohacking,' but some highly restrictive diets resemble disordered eating
These diets, many of which have been around for decades, are being promoted with the newfangled Silicon Valley lexicon of "enhancing," "disrupting," "optimizing," and "upgrading." They sound "sciencey," but they aren't really science, says Timothy Caulfield, a Canada Research Chair in health law and author of several books on pseudoscience. Biohackers are, for the most part, not actual nutrition experts, are not subjecting their data to peer review, and are working with a sample size of one and a highly biased experimenter.
Breakfast Television Montreal: Fighting fake news with real facts
Why are we so attracted to fake news and false studies? Why do we listen to health advice from celebrities? Timothy Caulfield uses science-informed analysis to debunk myths about vaccination, celebrity culture, trendy diets and more in his best-selling books.
Le Droit: Nous devons faciliter la vaccination des enfants pour les parents
Puis il y a le fléau de la désinformation en ligne. Timothy Caulfield, titulaire professeur à la Faculté de droit et à l'École de la santé publique de l'Université de l'Alberta, parle de l'effet de la simple exposition aux réseaux sociaux : « Le simple fait d'être exposé à des absurdités… finit par les rendre crédibles. »
CJAD 800AM: Why are celebrities so easy to trick with pseudoscience?
Timothy Caulfield, host of "A User's Guide To Cheating Death" on Netflix and author of "Is Gwyneth Paltrow Wrong About Everything?"
Medium: Don't Believe the Hype About Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing
As a consequence of this cycle of hype "our perception of genetics is light-years ahead of what is currently achievable," Caulfield tells viewers in a recent episode of his Netflix series A Users Guide to Cheating Death.
AJMC: Panelists Discuss the Potential and Pitfalls of Disruption in Healthcare
At the first full day of sessions at ISPOR 2019, held May 18-22 in New Orleans, Louisiana, Daniel Kraft, MD, implored his audience of healthcare stakeholders to consider the different ways that technology disruption can improve care away from what he called "sick care." Amoung the many talented specialists speaking was Timothy Caulfield.
Newswise: The Dawn of Disruption in Healthcare
Newswise - New Orleans, LA, USA-May 20, 2019-ISPOR, the professional society for health economics and outcomes research (HEOR), opened its ISPOR 2019 annual conference this morning with a keynote and first plenary, "The Dawn of Disruption in the Health Sector: Will Innovative Technologies Require Innovative Thinking?" Timothy Caulfield was amoung the many talented speakers.
iHeartRadio: Exponential: Timothy Caulfield, Canada Research Chair in Health Law
Measles was all but eradicated in Canada in 1998, thanks to a successful vaccination program that created what doctors call 'herd immunity'. Ironically, 1998 was also the year that a doctor in England published an article linking vaccines to autism. The article was a fraud, but the damage, it turned out, was done. Timothy Caulfield, is Canada Research Chair in Health Law and Policy and a Professor of Law and Public Health at the University of Alberta
Montreal Gazette: Brownstein: McGill conference tackles anti-vaxxers and fake science
'Celebrities just give oxygen to these ideas and allow these ideas to spread further and faster,' says Timothy Caulfield.
Today's Dietitian: Is it ready for prime time to inform personalized nutrition advice?
Timothy Caulfield finds the research surrounding nutrition-related genetic testing underwhelming. "For me, the data isn't definitive enough to justify the kind of marketing and pop culture noise we are seeing. Not even close," he says.
CTV News Montreal: Fighting for science in the age of fake news
Featured Interview Timothy Caulfield on fighting for science in the age of fake news.
Breakfast Television Toronto: Sounding the alarm on anti-vaccination messages
As we begin to see an increase in measles cases, prevention against the virus is key. Canada Research chair Timothy Caulfield talks about the measles vaccination.
Canadian Blood Services: University of Alberta's Timothy Caulfield receives James Kreppner Award
This annual award named in James Kreppner's honour supports one high-quality research project that explores legal and policy questions relevant to the products and services provided by Canadian Blood Services. The award's research priorities include the legal and regulatory aspects of (a) donation, collection, storage, and use of blood, blood products, and hematopoietic stem cells; and (b) organ and tissue donation and transplantation.
The Suburban: Dr. Joe and company mark two decades of excellence in science at McGill
Following this retrospective, Timothy Caulfield, Dr. Schwarcz, Globe and Mail national health reporter Carly Weeks, and Ryan Armstrong, Executive Director of the non-profit organization Bad Science Watch, will present 10-minute "flash talks" on the challenges of science communication today, and participate in a panel discussion - "Talking Science in the Age of Fake News" - moderated by McGill OSS science communicator, Jonathan Jarry.
Reuters Health: Alternative medicine practitioners may market bogus celiac tests, treatments
The study "Promotion of Testing for Celiac Disease and the Gluten-Free Diet Among Complementary and Alternative Medicine Practitioners" published in the AJG with Timothy Caulfield is the source for this article. SOURCE: bit.ly/2UV2YpY American Journal of Gastroenterology, online April 24, 2019.
The Globe and Mail: Mother whose son died of the flu says she's become a target of anti-vaccine groups on Facebook
Timothy Caulfield says the recent experience highlights the uphill battle public health officials face in trying to stop vaccine misinformation. "It demonstrates how mobilized this community is and the degree to which this community will go to get their misinformation across," he said.
The Guardian: Gwyneth Paltrow and Pete Buttigieg: a match made in intellectual hell
She's the postergirl for pseudoscience, he's the presidential candidate who's big of brain but short on policy. Timothy Caulfield; it may seem petty to complain about a fundraiser, he tells me, but "we are at a point in history when advocating for truth and rationality is a central issue".
The Daily Beast: Pete Buttigieg Blasted for Cozying Up to Pseudoscience Goop Queen Gwyneth Paltrow
"Gwyneth Paltrow has built a successful brand by spreading health misinformation and embracing pseudoscience," Timothy Caulfield, chair of health law and policy at the University of Alberta and author of Is Gwyneth Paltrow Wrong About Everything?, told The Daily Beast. "Facts obviously don't mean much to her. The last thing we need is another politician who tolerates this kind of approach. We need leaders who will champion science, evidence, and critical thinking!"
Minn Post: Media often ignore ethical concerns about medical crowdfunding, study finds
Story on the "UofA's Health Law Institute's PLOS One" study on crowdfunding. Go Team!
Dame: Why Are So Many Women Rejecting Medical Science?
Timothy Caulfield notes the public knowledge around the dangers of spreading misinformation is growing. "Sometimes it does feel hopeless. But I do think there are some glimmers of hope," he says, noting that this year the World Health Organization declared misinformation about vaccines to be one of the top threats to global health. "The social networks at least recognize their role. Their steps are just baby steps, but the fact they're recognizing it is good. People know the spread of misinformation is a huge social problem."
Vancouver Sun: Timothy Caulfield: Are we enabling harmful wellness woo?
Timothy Caulfield on popculture, wellness, and misinformation.
Genetics in Medicine: CRISPR in the North American popular press
Alessandro Marcon, Zubin Master, Vardit Ravitsky, and Timothy Caulfield.
The Edmonton Sun: Chinese scientists give monkeys human brain genes in 'morally risky' experiment
The University of Alberta's Timothy Caulfield has warned that the more we humanize animals, the more it raises profoundly sticky moral questions, including the remote but not impossible risk animals could somehow develop human consciousness.
The Globe and Mail: We need more organ donors, but presumed consent is not a magical fix
Timothy Caulfield on the opt-out system and the evidence regarding the potential impact of this new law is far from clear.
Elemental Medium: The Self-Care Paradox
Timothy Caulfield talks about wellness activities and their scientific credibility.
Men's Health: Why Everyone's Buying CBD Even if Nobody Knows if it Works
Timothy Caulfield on CBD science and evidence.
Psychology Today: The New Pseudoscience Police: Coming to a Screen Near You
Timothy Caulfield and a User's Guide to Cheating Death are referenced.
Videnskab: Stjerneforsker: Derfor hopper vi på Gwyneth Paltrows sundhedsshow
Uvidenskabelige helseråd fra kendisser er populære som aldrig før, fordi vi stoler mindre på videnskaben, fortæller canadisk stjerneforsker og tv-vært, Timothy Caulfield.
Global News: Can you still get sick if you're vaccinated?
Heard immunity protection is explained. Timothy Caulfield notes the small group of anti-vaxxers.
Men's Health: What to Know About the CBD at Your CVS
Timothy Caulfield notes the unclear evidence on CBD.
630 CHED: Poll: Most Canadians believe vaccines should be mandatory
13 minute interview; The Ryan Jespersen show featuring Timothy Caulfield on vaccines.
The Globe and Mail: Toronto Public Health cracking down vaccine misinformation
Public-health organizations have long promoted the safety and efficacy of vaccines. But the spread of false information online is making many officials realize that they need to counter anti-vaccine messages with focused, science-based campaigns that can reach people who may be vaccine hesitant, said Timothy Caulfield, Canada research chair in health law and policy at the University of Alberta.
Global News: Unvaccinated: How 'vaccine hesitancy' became a threat to public health
Anti-vaxxers are affecting the vaccination hesitants, notes Timothy Caulfield.
The Ottawa Citizen: Should doctors help teens get vaccinated behind their anti-vaxx parents' backs?
Under the 'mature minor' doctrine, a minor is deemed capable of giving consent if he or she has the maturity and intelligence to decide about their own health care . As Timothy Caulfield recently told the Canadian Medical Association Journal, "As a thought experiment, you could imagine a teen saying, 'You knew I wasn't vaccinated. You knew I was competent to make that decision. How come you didn't tell me about it?"
Healthy Debate Opinions: Medical colleges: Tell your members to stop providing unproven stem cell therapies
Blake Murdoch, Michael Rudnicki, and Timothy Caulfield.
The National Post: Who are the anti-vaxxers? Here's what we know - and how they got there in the first place
Those who are already faintly skeptical are more susceptible to the fear-mongering and rhetoric of hard-line anti-vaxxers, Caulfield said. The influence of like-minded community members can also sculpt views. But, there could also be a precipitating incident, such as a child getting sick shortly after being vaccinated. Parents "draw a connection between the vaccine and the incident, even though there's no actual scientific connection," Caulfield said. Fear also plays a role. A young parent today hasn't experienced polio or perhaps even seen its effects, so there is less motivation to protect oneself and one's children.
Dal Magazine: Fact Checker
Timothy Caulfield is the feature profile.
CBC: Stronger action urged against homeopathic products touted as alternatives to vaccines
Timothy Caulfield, Canada research chair in health law and policy at the University of Alberta, says Health Canada needs to stop licensing unproven homeopathic remedies and that naturopaths should take homeopathy off their roster of therapies.
Think: CBD oil products promise miracle cures. But does science support the hype?
By Timothy Caulfield, Canada Research Chair in Health Law and Policy at the University of Alberta, author of "Is Gwyneth Paltrow Wrong About Everything?: How the Famous Sell Us Elixirs of Health, Beauty & Happiness" (Beacon, 2015) and host of "A User's Guide to Cheating Death" on Netflix.
CBC News: Calgary infectious disease doctor says referrals to specialty clinic increasing
Timothy Caulfield joined Constantinescu on Alberta at Noon on Friday. He says social media can make anti-vaxxers seem like a bigger group than they really are. "You know the ones that embrace the conspiracy theories about Big Pharma and government cover ups. In reality, that cohort is relatively small," Caulfield said.
L'actualité: Un blogue de Mme Prince démontre les méfaits de la désinformation sur les vaccins
Timothy Caulfield souligne que des messages comme celui de Mme Price peuvent poser problème, car ils peuvent convaincre certains parents à demeurer hésitants avant de faire vacciner leurs enfants.
The National Post: Three senior members of the council that regulates Ontario chiropractors have made anti-vaccination statements
Timothy Caulfield said these kinds of postings and comments don't help the public. "This is tremendously frustrating - but, unfortunately, not terribly surprising. There is a history of anti-vaxx rhetoric among the chiropractic community. Despite recent efforts to push the profession toward a more science-based approach, this harmful noise persists."
The National Post: Hockey wife's blog post highlights concerns over vaccine misinformation: experts
Timothy Caulfield, a Canada research chair in health law and policy at the University of Alberta, said posts like Price's are problematic because they can increase hesitancy about vaccines.
La Presse: Vaccins: des experts déplorent la désinformation sur les réseaux sociaux
Timothy Caulfield souligne que des messages comme celui de Mme Price peuvent poser problème, car ils peuvent convaincre certains parents à demeurer hésitants avant de faire vacciner leurs enfants.
Simon Fraser University: SFU announces 2019 Honorary Degree recipients
Timothy Caulfield, professor, holds the Canada Research Chair in Health Law and Policy at the University of Alberta. He is one of Canada's best-known public intellectuals and a passionate advocate for evidence-based health policy.
CBC News: Misinformation on social media can spread hesitancy about vaccines, expert warns
University of Alberta professor Timothy Caulfield says medical professionals should take time to listen to people's individual concerns about vaccinating, because not everyone is worried about the same thing.
CBC Listen: Misinformation on social media can create hesitancy about vaccinating, expert warns
Last week, Facebook announced it would lower its search rankings of groups and pages that promote anti-vaccination content, in an effort to slow the spread of misinformation. We explore how social media is being leveraged to sow doubt about the safety of vaccinations, and hear how it's creating a hesitancy to vaccinate that threatens us all. Timothy Caulfield is interviewed.
Canadian Lawyer: Debunking pseudo-science
Law professor Timothy Caulfield's Netflix show and best-selling books target health fads and those who promote them
Forbes: What Anne Hathaway's Prank On 'Ellen' Said About Pseudoscience
What do celebrities have to do with pseudoscience? Ask Timothy Caulfield. He explained how celebrities have fueled the amazing rise in pseudoscience in an article by Wendy Glauser entitled "How celebrities have fueled the amazing rise in pseudoscience," and appearing in the New Scientist. Just because someone is a terrific actor, singer, or whatever reality stars do, doesn't mean that he or she knows anything about science and health. Good job Anne.
CMAJ News: Teens, vaccines and the age of consent
In the case of vaccines, teenagers can consent at an earlier age, arguably, than for complex medical interventions such as a surgery, says Timothy Caulfield, a Canada Research Chair in Health Law and Policy at the University of Alberta. "The risks are relatively low, and the benefits are easy to understand, so I think a teenager can be quite young and still completely competent to consent on their own to vaccines."
The Globe and Mail: Facebook to control anti-vaccine messaging, but not remove anti-vaccine groups
"Social media, including Facebook, also helps to polarize the discourse. In many ways, social-media platforms are polarization machines. The loud voices win," writes Timothy Caulfield.
Global News: A 'good hook': Why some people listen to anti-vaccination messages
"They use fear and misinformation to push a science-free agenda. A critical assessment will lead people toward, not away, from vaccination," said Timothy Caulfield, Canada research chair in health law and policy, and author of The Vaccination Picture.
The National Post: Anti-vaccine campaign 'very concerning,' says Ontario's health minister
"The profile of the 'antivax' movement, I think, is connected to this rise in populism and this growing distrust of experts … and our institutions," Caulfield said. "That gives space to these kinds of views and allows them to flourish."
The Vancouver Sun: A third of Canadians say science on vaccines isn't 'quite clear': poll
Still, the data overall reflects some of the tension between those who believe vaccines are valuable "and those who have some degree of uncertainty," said Timothy Caulfield, a professor of health law and policy at the University of Alberta.
CBC News: You and your poo: Why fecal medicine could be the next big buzz
"You're seeing this stuff being marketed almost ahead of the science," said Timothy Caulfield, a University of Alberta professor who is studying the marketing of unproven microbiome treatments. He said the gut-health hype has already started.
Boston University: When Did Tom Brady, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Kylie Jenner Become Our Doctors?
Caulfield, a University of Alberta law and public health professor, discusses "beauty bias," a proven phenomenon that attractive people experience greater success in most areas of life, and something celebrities are increasingly cashing in on. He talks about how his personal sports hero, Tom Brady, is now selling bogus sports recovery pajamas and muscle pliability lotion, said to improve muscle power. It's vaguely scientific-sounding, Caulfield says-and it's entirely unproven. "I call it science-sploitation," Caulfield says. "He's a great example of a celebrity who's pushing nonsense."
folio: Why static stretching may not be as effective as you think
"The research shows these million-dollar football players might be increasing their chances of injury and probably decreasing their performance capabilities, and yet there they are doing static stretches," said Caulfield, a University of Alberta health law professor and the host of A User's Guide to Cheating Death.
Self: The FDA Will Finally Crack Down on Dietary Supplements-Here's What Experts Have to Say
"This is a terrific development," Timothy Caulfield, research director at the Health Law Institute at the University of Alberta, tells SELF. "Supplements are a multibillion-dollar industry that is not well regulated. Studies have shown that quality control is lacking and that some supplements can be harmful, including causing adverse reactions."
Forbes: Goop Enters Netflix Deal: Has Pseudoscience Found A New Platform?
Timothy Caulfield, "Goop has a Netflix deal - this is a dangerous win for pseudoscience"..."unlikely that the series will depart from the scientific illiteracy embedded in the Goop brand. And that is deeply worrying."
Medium: The Merger of Goop and Netflix Reveals What We Get Wrong About Pseudoscience
Some [evidence-based health experts including dietitians and doctors] promoted Timothy Caulfield's Netflix series, 'A User's Guide to Cheating Death', which takes a more evidence based look at health and wellness. Others raised the age-old question, "How do we battle this bad science?"
STAT News: Precision medicine's rosy predictions haven't come true. We need fewer promises and more debate
Timothy Caulfield is referenced.
Vox: Netflix gives Gwyneth Paltrow's health hogwash a bigger platform with new series
"In this era of misinformation, it is tremendously frustrating to see an entity like Goop get yet another platform to spread science-free nonsense," Timothy Caulfield, a health researcher and author of Is Gwyneth Paltrow Wrong About Everything?, told Vox.
The Globe and Mail: Toronto conference to feature prominent anti-vaccine activist Del Bigtree
Timothy Caulfield, Canada Research Chair in health law and policy at the University of Alberta and critic of pseudo-science, said these types of conferences are problematic because they give legitimacy to people who are promoting views that can endanger public health.
The Daily Beast: Scientists Are Pissed That Netflix Is Legitimizing Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop
"It is very frustrating whenever these pseudoscientific voices get a bigger platform," said Timothy Caulfield, a professor of health law and science policy at the University of Alberta, author of Is Gwyneth Paltrow Wrong About Everything? and the host of a Netflix show, A User's Guide to Cheating Death.
Real Screen: "Born This Way", "RuPaul's Drag Race" take 2019 Realscreen Awards
"A User's Guide to Cheating Death" wins 'Non-Fiction: Science & Technology' award.
Policy Options: When crowdfunding pays for bunk medical treatments
Crowdfunding platforms have a role to play in countering the misinformation spread by campaigns that raise money for unproven homeopathic treatments. Timothy Caulfield, Jeremy Snyder.
CBC: Crowdfunding for a cure, spreading false hopes: U of A health professor raises alarm
Health law and policy expert Timothy Caulfield, an outspoken critic of pseudoscience, studied the phenomenon along with Jeremy Snyder, a bioethicist at Simon Fraser University. They concluded that the practice is harmful both for the individuals who are seeking the treatment as well as for those who are donating.
folio: COMMENTARY || In an era of misinformation, alternative medicine needs to be regulated
As misleading medical claims spread faster than truth, governments need to step up to protect the public, argues health-trend skeptic Timothy Caulfield.
The Star Vancouver: Crowdfunding for homeopathic cancer treatment does more harm than good, study says
Professor Caulfield's studies are noted.
Forbes: 19% Of Adults Think They Have Food Allergies, How Many Really Do?
A research letter published in BMC Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology by Timothy Caulfield, LLM, LLB, and Christen Rachul, PhD, from the University of Alberta found that 42-45% of the websites for naturopathic clinics in Alberta and British Columbia, Canada, offered "allergy testing" and 47%-60% offered "allergy treatments." The question is how many of these claims and treatments are actually based on scientific evidence.
Business Insider: At least 13,000 people have donated money on GoFundMe for unproven cancer treatments, and it could be dangerous
Snyder and co-author Timothy Caulfield found that cancer patients launched GoFundMe campaigns for one of three reasons: 38% used unproven treatments in addition to legitimate ones, 29% were either afraid of hospital treatments or did not trust them, and 31% weren't able to undergo a traditional treatment.