Dear Health Freedom Fighters . . .

I got the following forwarded email:

Dear Health Freedom Fighters:

There is a developing story from California that involves a mother with a 17 year old child who HAD melanoma. The mother, chose to go against her allopathic (conventional) doctor’s orders (to have surgery and chemotherapy) – and instead try advanced natural medicine first – since she understood that supporting the body’s ability to heal is more effective than destroying it as chemotherapy does.

Not surprisingly this approach worked! This young man is now CANCER FREE!! However, the allopathic doctor is insisting that the child must have chemotheray as well as surgery, which the mother refuses to have her child undergo. Interestingly, doctor, the allopathic doctor’s unnecessary treatments will be compensated by the insurer or state, while the holistic strategies that actually worked are not eligible for coverage.

The Department of Child Services was called and her son was taken away from her and put in foster care. The DCS claimed she failed to properly care for her child. Note here: the advanced methods which worked are being defined as “child abuse” while the doctor’s assault (which is what we call touching someone against their will) is supported by the power of the state. Is this Health Freedom?

Next, the mother was put in jail for 5 days in maximum security and suffered injuries in the neck and arm from jailers. Her child is still in foster care, where he was forcibly vaccinated. Disgusted yet? It gets worse…

The case is pending in Dependency Court in Orange County where the Judge is soon to rule whether her son will be ordered to have surgery and chemotherapy.

This 17 year old near-adult does NOT want to undergo chemotherapy or surgery and was forcefully vaccinated while in state custody. We support this brave young man and his clear thinking mother in their struggle to preserve his freedom. In doing so, they are struggling to preserve ours.

We will be reporting on the result of a court decision as it unfolds, perhaps as early as later today. The mother will also be sharing her story in a follow-up email shortly. At this moment, she has been barred by the court from discussing her case publicly. Not only is her son’s Health Freedom under assault in this case, so is her Freedom of Speech. . . .

I find it striking that letter writer finds it “not surprising” that “this approach worked” to cure the cancer, and then that doctors want to apply chemotherapy. I’d think the letter writer doesn’t really believe it but rather is just trying to get people agitated so they’ll send money (for which there is a request at the bottom of the email). But then, again, presumably some of the people who read and forward the message actually believe it. It’s instructive to see a worldview which is so completely different from mine. I mean, this isn’t just a matter of different views about economic policy or whatever, we’re talking about a belief that these doctors are not merely useless but actively evil. I don’t usually think much about this, when studying public opinion: ideas that are basically incompatible with others.

7 thoughts on “Dear Health Freedom Fighters . . .

  1. You should look at Orac's blog some time (particularly the Cancer, Alternative Medicine, and Quackery categories of posts). The "Western medicine is evil" idea is, I think, far more prevalent than you may realize.

  2. No names, and, typically of spam, no dates ("later today" instead of "Fri 14 Sep 2007"). This story could go round and round forever, convincing many recipients the story is real and current.

  3. As a resident of Orange county, I can tell you that this story is in fact false. There have been no headlines in the papers, news channels or other outlets. In fact, I have seen this message with the same date (sept 12) pop up in message boards all over the internet.

  4. I really hope that's just spam and not someone's real belief system.

    I think the reason for a lot of forwards is that since it gets into the inbox i.e. avoids the spam folder, people will believe it. I don't know what it is about email that makes people believe things are true. Like my dad, who has all the reasoning in the world, will forward stuff like a fiend. No dad, Paypal isn't really confirming your info nor does the prince of Nigeria need to use your bank account as a proxy as he makes his move to the United States.

  5. Nathan,

    Yes, in fact the person who passed the email on to me introduced it with "I'm familiar with these people, and Dr. Laibow. They're legit. (And there's nothing on Snopes about them.) Pass the word around."

    There's gotta be some sort of Venn diagram that could be made, showing "false stories" and "items on Snopes," to clarify this issue.

  6. Andrew,

    When you study rumors you find that one of the reason false rumors spread is linked to how the sender want to impress you. I have seen Doctors sending e-mail to their patients warning them about evil wifi systems.

    Igor.

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