News outlets recently reported that a wheelchair-bound California man, David Blancarte, regained the ability to walk after a spider bite. But the evidence of this "cure" is questionable at best -- and sadly, this story appeared on reputable networks including CNN, ABC, NBC, and CBS. Christopher Wanjek, the Bad Medicine Columnist for LiveScience.com, put together a nice analysis of the evidence gaps and journalistic gaffes: "None of the news reports, however, included a doctor or scientist commenting on the possibility of a spider curing paralysis, let alone confirming Blancarte's recollection of the medical facts."
How did I miss this? Wanjek included a wonderful Carl Sagan quote that I somehow overlooked all these years: "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." Amen to that. Alas, it seems that only the claims were extraordinary this time around. And Wanjek makes a good point about the kind of impact this can have: "Yet more than just another example of lousy broadcast journalism, such stories bring false hopes and even danger to those desperate enough to experiment with venom to cure their paralysis."
I'm as pleased as anybody to hear good news these days -- anything, for Pete's sake*, other than more details about our economic crisis. But it sounds like journalists were extraordinarily sloppy with the evidence this time.
*My dog's name is Pete. I love this phrase.
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