.Letter: ‘I am not a scientist, nor am I qualified to discuss …’

He’s not a doctor, and neither am I—but hear me out …

Thank you for bringing coherence and sanity to the vaccination debate, “Please Vaccinate—A professional and personal plea.” Dr. Sandja Greenwood and Steve Heilig performed a tremendous community service in this regard. We should all be eternally grateful for their efforts.

Quoting from the above-mentioned article, when I responded on Feb. 20 to Don Harte’s disjointed letter, it was because I felt he is one of the “self-appointed advocates with little or no scientific background.” This is exactly what I hoped the Sun would do—counter those quoting “The University of Google.”

I am not a scientist, nor am I qualified to discuss the scientific merits of the vaccination debate. But purely from a common sense layperson’s perspective, I do recognize gross medical misinformation when I see it.

While he vainly attempts to respond to multiple critics, Harte’s response on March 5 is confusing and difficult to follow as it goes off in several directions. He complains, “In decent society, chiropractors are referred to as ‘Dr.’” What an odd statement considering he signed his two letters neither Dr. nor D.C.

As a so-called professional in the health and wellness field, making unqualified medical statements puts not only Harte’s credibility into question, it may potentially cross the line between personal opinion and dispensing medical advice that could endanger some of the most vulnerable. While complaining about us not addressing him as doctor, is this why he had not signed his letters with his title?

Larry Minikes, San Rafael

Pacific Sun
The Pacific Sun publishes every Wednesday, delivering 21,000 copies to 520 locations throughout Marin County.

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