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Tony Robertson

Quackery, the 20 million dollar duck Mass Market Paperback – January 31, 2016

by Tony Robertson (Author)

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In this book Tony Robertson exposes the myth that is the efficacy of alternative medicine. Why does the NHS include homeopathy in its prescribable drugs? Why are people allowed to go to malarial countries with the only protection advised by homeopaths being salt tablets? People die, people are not cured, no verifiable efficacy of alternative medicine is produced, and yet homeopathic ‘cures' across the range of ailments and promoted by notable figures such as Prince Charles, continue to be sold.
In Quackery, The Twenty Million Dollar Duck, Tony Robertson examines the claims of alternative therapies such as acupuncture: can it really stop smoking addiction, enable surgery to be carried out without anaesthetic, cure hearing loss ...? Unsurprisingly data for ‘miracle' cures and therapies is thin on the ground. For a full exposé of the dangers of ‘quackery' this book is a must.

Reading age

6 - 10 years
Print length

357 pages
Language

English
Dimensions

6.19 x 1.02 x 9.21 inches
Publisher

Austin Macauley Publishing
Publication date

January 31, 2016
ISBN-10

1784554545
ISBN-13

978-1784554545
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Tony Robertson is a retired gynaecologist. He was born in England but has lived in Africa from the age of six. He obtained his medical degree from the University of Cape Town and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in England. Married to Fiona they live in Zimbabwe. Tony has taught and lectured publicly for many years. He was a lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe before spending the last 40 years in private medical practice.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Austin Macauley Publishing; Reprint edition (January 31, 2016)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 357 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1784554545
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1784554545
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 6 - 10 years
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.36 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.19 x 1.02 x 9.21 inches

Customer Reviews:
9 ratings

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Tony Robertson

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Tony Robertson is a retired 'Gynae'. He was born in England but has lived in Africa from the age of six. He obtained his medical degree from the University of Cape Town where he was taught to always question in pursuit of the facts. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in England. Married to Fiona they live in Zimbabwe.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5

9 global ratings

5 star		44%
4 star		33%
3 star		23%
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Top reviews from the United States

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Dr. N8

What could have been...

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 11, 2017

Verified Purchase

This book is exhaustively researched with many scientific and medical sources covering all aspects of quackery and was at very least, an interesting read for those concerned with "alternative medicine". Both government-supported and individual aspects of homeopathy and "alternative medicine" are thoroughly debunked, with the lack of proof for efficacy and safety of many of these practices explored in detail.

However, this book cries out for a re-editing (or first editing?). Poor grammar, sentence fragments, unusual sentence structure and wording, and strange citation formatting and placement all combine to make this interesting topic a real slog to get through. 5 stars for the information and research, but a disappointing total package.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 27, 2015

Verified Purchase

A thorough and exhaustively researched exposition of Quackery and I concur with all sentiments expressed.All references best at end of book .

Helpful

Jane Taylor

Illuminating, comprehensive and well researched

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 28, 2015

As the author points out “Quackery” is not a new phenomenon. Sadly however, it is an increasingly sophisticated one unfairly matched against the public’s continuing gullibility.

In this book a wide range of “scams”, “frauds” and “misconceptions” are exposed based on extensive, well researched, actual evidence, and it is this belief in the bedrock of “scientific evidence” that underpins the book’s entire premise. Common subjects such as “complementary medicine” and the vitamin and health supplement industry are clinically dissected, but equally the normally hallowed halls of medical and pharmaceutical institutions are put under the microscope.

This is not necessarily an easy book to read as the author has been careful to follow his own edict in basing his work on actual scientific evidence (and there is a wealth of it), but the points are very well made and there is considerable food for thought, along with some fascinating medical history, touching anecdotes and wonderful quotes. For example:

One comment, from The Guardian’s “Comment is Free” asked “So why not homeopathy alongside medicine?” Colquhoun answered: “Right. Why not Levitation alongside Aeronautical Engineering?”

It is clear that the author feels passionately about the need for transparency and for change in the behaviour of many of the major players in the healthcare industry. I sincerely hope they read this book. Together with anyone who is too lazy or too ignorant to exercise professional scepticism and responsible judgement in the reporting of health issues. And any charlatan making money from the hopes and wishes of the naive and sometimes desperate.

(In the interests of full disclosure (as advocated in this book), I need to point out that I am the author’s daughter but I have tried to write this review as objectively as possible. Well done Dad!)

One person found this helpful

Helpful

tinovimba mhlanga

Review of quackery

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 19, 2015

This book is unique in that it exposes unethical practices and treatment that do not benefit patients and helps doctors to practice evidence based medicine

One person found this helpful

Helpful

R E Bate

Golden Duck!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 31, 2015

Well worth a read, especially if you are teetering on using pseudo-medical methods rather than cold hard science practiced by a professional with proven qualifications.

As a self confessed layman in this arena I found the book insightful, educational and a real ‘eye-opener’ into the often unscrupulous and underhand tactics employed by self-appointed ‘experts’.

The author clearly has a passion for the subject and as a health care professional has encountered the results of crystal swinging quackery and no doubt had to pick up the pieces with proven scientific methodology after the ducks have fled the nest!

Highlighting the schemes, scams and tactics of the quacks brings to light the lengths that these shady characters will stretch to in order to line their own pockets – the golden thread running through this book.

Backed by hard evidence, scientific fact and a wealth of anecdotes the conclusions drawn are indisputable. Ineffective and ethically dubious, the remainder of the scientific community must sit up and ostracize this particularly odious duck (dressed as an elephant) from the room.

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

nicky milligan

Food for thought...Nicky Milligan

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on October 14, 2015

Verified Purchase

I have had the pleasure of meeting Tony Robertson several times and admire his dedication to his medical work.As a complementary therapist ( NOT alternative please note ) I have enjoyed some vigorous debate with him ! I am also a registered and experienced Nurse,Midwife,Health Visitor,and therefore regard myself as having a foot in both camps.
Quackery is packed with facts and figures about Therapies,Medicine,the world of Pharmacy and so on.The scholarship is very impressive,and in an ideal world all procedures would be researched,quantified,and fully accountable....but it is not ideal at the present time.I looked at the Surgeons toolkit on the Mary Rose ( Henry VIII,s warship ) and Surgeons today would recognise and be able to work with most of them,but I am sure the Surgeon of the period had no time to prove anything,or research anything.... he had to get on with the job in hand.Captain Cook in his log wrote about ordering the lash for sailors who refused to eat fresh food,or clean the ship to his exacting standards,but the health of his crew was vastly better than in the other ships....all done without research or double blind trials.Reflexology is pictured in ancient Egyptian tomb paintings,worked as it is today ( but hopefully without the patient saying " oh don't hurt me "quote from tomb)!
Every patient / client today has some choice and I hope that he / she would research whatever route they intend to follow,checking qualifications,training details,insurance etc remembering that there is a huge amount of good practice out there in all fields...that 20 million dollar duck is there but can usually be identified in the end by Joe Public who is not ...on the whole....stupid.

pikestaff.

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on August 22, 2015

Verified Purchase

Essential reading. Shines a bright light on the scams andd half=truths which mislead us all.

Amazon Customer

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on October 24, 2015

Verified Purchase

Fantastic! Really good insight into the issue- very informative read