Dr Keith from The Sun on OSA

[James @ Intus]

The Sun has a resident doctor which helps The Sun's readers with an attempt at helpful advice. You can read his instalment on how to sleep better here.

Note how he reckons sleep apnoea is not enough cause for concern so no need to go to the doc but if you pee a lot then do book an appointment.

Sleep apnoea: This means you snore for England and your breathing sometimes packs up for a moment during the night. This wakes you with coughing and spluttering. Treat by losing weight and ditching alcoholic nightcaps.

Peeing at night: Try cutting back on drinks in the evening – especially booze. If that doesn’t work, see the doc.

Sounds like very thorough advice doesn't it? Just loose weight and stop drinking! Easy does it!

[ChrisP]

Had second thoughts about what I said.

[James @ Intus]

Three years on, and this "Doc" is at it again with helpful advice.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/woman/health/health/drkeithhopcroft/3758974/Tired-of-feeling-dozy-Heres-my-pillow-talk.html

Simple solution: Loose some weight! Or surgery!

Sun readers relating to the symptoms will now try and solve their sleeping-while-driving by drinking less alcohol and losing weight. Yeah, that gets quick results. Oh wait, they can do surgery to the mouth and palate. Eureka! Has this guy ever read medical literature about sleep apnoea surgery? Did he ever stop and think about how difficult it is to loose weight when you are knackered from sleep deprivation?

Did I mention I like this guy?

[Berneta]

Dr Sun

This guy's an idiot. But good for a laugh. xx Berneta

[Sparticus]

I did go onto the page but was sidetracked by a rather good article on celulite

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/woman/fashion/beauty/3712666/Beat-cellulite-like-Mick-Jaggers-ex-Jerry-Hall.html

Jesus you could spend hours trolling threw all this muck, maybe I should become a columist

[andysnorer]

Sounds like very thorough advice doesn't it? Just loose weight and stop drinking! Easy does it!

I love this bit of advice:

Sleep apnoea: This means you snore for England and your breathing sometimes packs up for a moment during the night. This wakes you with coughing and spluttering. Treat by losing weight and ditching alcoholic nightcaps.

This guy is the master of the understatement. No wonder I get people giving me random bits of "advice", which they have read in a newspaper or seen on TV, whilst there are charlatans like this around.

[James @ Intus]

The Sun kind of admits it's rubbish advice, see attachment. If you need professional medical advice, you need to see your GP. For everything that's not professional, not medical, and not advice, read Dr Keith's outdated, non-clinical views on health.

[Berneta]

Not Me

I won't be reading his rubbish--don't need his thoughts rolling around in my head. Esp when there are so many intelligent authors out there that I can read. i consider his articles a waste of time. xx Berneta

[Isklaz]

Surely there has to be some sort of regulatory requirement that states that (mis)information like this should not be printed and when it is a full retraction and the proper information published? Surely you can't just get away with a bland all encompassing disclaimer to absolve you of all responsibility.

The consequences of someone following this advice and ignoring or not seeking proper medical support is not just dangerous to the person in question but, if the sufferer drives while untreated, potentially fatal to the sufferer and other road users.

[Tigers Fan]

The key word is "advice". As in, you take any advice at your own risk and on your own responsibility. Adult.

Apart from that, the papers do not print accurate information much or most of the time. Journalists just do not know enough about every topic they cover - how could they? - to even know for sure that they are writing the truth. Anyway, isn't the Sun a picture paper rather than a newspaper?

TF

[Richard]

Surely nobody buys the 'Sun' for the quality of its medical advice.

People buy the Sun to find out what's on telly tonight and to gorp at the crumpet on page 3.

The fact that it is the best-selling daily newspaper in the UK says a lot about the general standard of literacy at the present time.

Richard

[andysnorer]

Surely nobody buys the 'Sun' for the quality of its medical advice.

People buy the Sun to find out what's on telly tonight and to gorp at the crumpet on page 3.

The fact that it is the best-selling daily newspaper in the UK says a lot about the general standard of literacy at the present time.

Richard

Quite agree Richard, there is a phrase which is commonly used today - "Nothing to see here, move along".
For the Sun it should say - "Nothing to read here, move along".

[Isklaz]

Saying that the expected readership won't understand it is not only condecending in the extreme but also snobbish and insulting and effectively excuses the author for his ridiculous views.

Personally I would say that regardless of and, in fact especially because, the expected level of the audience may be lower than that expected of, say, an academic paper, the writer should be held personally responsible for any accidents or injury caused by anyone able to cite his advice as a reason they have not sought proper treatment from a specialist.

If he's going to talk such drivel then make him personally responsible for the consequences - I think the very fact that the advice has to be offered under the protective banner of a disclaimer speaks for itself.

[Tigers Fan]

Oh dear! oh lord! Gawd help us! Torrents of judgement and then he cites the blame culture. We are truly doomed!

[Fredxx]

I still find it incredible that they feel the need to print "contents may be hot" on the side of paper coffee cups