Christian Doctor Has Doubts About Study Indicating Ritalin-CancerLink

http://headlines.agapepress.org/printver.asp

"(AgapePress) - A pediatrician in Illinois says he's a bit skeptical of
a small Texas study reporting a higher risk of cancer from Ritalin. Dr.
Nick Yates, a spokesman for the Christian Medical & Dental Associations
(CMDA), says there are a number of problems with the researchers'
methods and further investigation is warranted."

....

"Yates says among the problems with the Texas study is the fact that it
was conducted in a "retrospective" manner. "What that means," he
explains, is that the researchers "went back and looked at the records
of children of those who were taking medications -- Ritalin or something
else -- and then they would ask a question, as 'Did that child have an
increased incidence of something else?'"

Furthermore, the pediatrician points out, it is problematic that "the
study is very small, and there is no control group." Still, he
acknowledges that the Texas investigators' findings are worthy of
concern, and he feels it is a good thing that federal health officials
are looking into the study."

"Personally, Yates considers Ritalin to be generally safe and effective,
despite the risk of possible side effects. All drugs people take involve
some danger, he says, "but the risks are not undue risks. And when used
properly, medications -- with the correct diagnosis and the correct
medical problem -- really are useful.""

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