Medicinal mavericks

Consensus is a dirty word when it comes to climate change experts, but put in just about any other context, expert consensus is what we all would want. This Marc Roberts cartoon casts that issue in the best light:

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Just imagine getting medical assistance from Lord Cristopher Monckton... Oh look! We don't have to imagine.

I began to think that Viscount Monckton might be a formidable opponent during the debate. Then he told me that he has discovered a new drug that is a complete cure for two-thirds of known diseases - and that he expects it to go into clinical trials soon. I asked him whether his miracle cure was chiefly effective against viruses or bacterial diseases? "Both", he said, "and prions". At this point I felt a little more relaxed about the forthcoming debate.

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John P Abraham has taken the time to go through one of Christopher Monckton's talks and check whether the references that Monckton cites say what Monckton claims th
Mike Steketee bucks the groupthink at The Australian with an article on why it is necessary to adapt to the coming global warming.
Christopher Monckton was so annoying when interviewed by Adam Spencer that Spencer hung up on him before finishing the interview later on.
It would be preferable to simply ignore Christopher Monckton's seemingly laughable attempts to undermine climatology, but given the power of the Internet to turn long-discredited arguments into serious threats to academic freedom, such a strategy would not be wise.

I'm no fan of Monckton, but fairness requires me to add what is given at the close of the Financial Times blog report you linked to Coby ("A night at the Oxford Union"):

"Late update - Added on November 9th. Viscount Monckton felt that I had unfairly misrepresented our conversation. I am happy to print a response and clarification from him, which appears below:
Lord Monckton has pointed out an inadvertent inaccuracy and unfairness in my account of the medical invention on which he is working. Though there is a substantial body of theoretical and empirical evidence that his invention may prove efficacious against multiple infectious and auto-immune diseases, he did not and does not make any claim that the invention will prove efficacious. That is precisely why, as he told me when we met at Oxford, a series of appropriately sceptical clinical trials will commence shortly in the United States."

Of course, many of Monckton's other pronouncements stated in theage.com article Coby linked to do show him to be somewhat flaky!

By GGMcGready (not verified) on 29 Nov 2010 #permalink

Quoted from Moncton's response:

Lord Monckton has pointed out an inadvertent inaccuracy and unfairness in my account of the medical invention on which he is working. Though there is a substantial body of theoretical and empirical evidence that his invention may prove efficacious against multiple infectious and auto-immune diseases, he did not and does not make any claim that the invention will prove efficacious.

Quoted from Monckton's CV from UK Independence Party:

2008-present: RESURREXI Pharmaceutical: Director responsible for invention and development of a broad-spectrum cure for infectious diseases. Patents have now been filed. Patients have been cured of various infectious diseases, including Gravesâ Disease, multiple sclerosis, influenza, and herpes simplex VI. Our first HIV patient had his viral titre reduced by 38% in five days, with no side-effects. Tests continue.

Why are AGW deniers also pathological liars (see also the lies told by an AGW denier in the thread with over 400 posts).?

By Ian Forrester (not verified) on 29 Nov 2010 #permalink

Uranus is not part of the human body. It's a planet in our solar system.Or is astrology park of the humor? Hospitals don't permit visitors to perform procedures.
Jokes that mimmick reality are funny. Made up non-sense, especially on a so-called scienceblog, usually goes over like a lead balloon.

By laursaurus (not verified) on 06 Dec 2010 #permalink

Uranus is not part of the human body.

Ha ha ha! Coby, laursaurus has unintentionally raised an excellent point, which is that unintentional comedy is also very funny.

More funny, laursaurus! More!

Uranus is not part of the human body. It's a planet in our solar system.Or is astrology park of the humor? Hospitals don't permit visitors to perform procedures.
Jokes that mimick reality are funny. Made up non-sense, especially on a so-called scienceblog, is not.

By laursaurus (not verified) on 07 Dec 2010 #permalink