I'm looking forward to giving a presentation to the Central London Humanists (affiliated to the British Humanist Association)on the 21st of March at Univeristy College London, Canterbury Hall, 12-18 Cartwright Gardens, WC1H 9EE

My talk is titled "Bring Back Bed 13" and it looks at how superstition and science compete within the NHS.  Many hospitals miss out bed number 13.  Why do they do this?  Is this a good thing?  Would you mind if your surgeon was superstitious?

Although missing out Bed 13 seems harmless I will discuss how the implications of this pandering to superstition can have damaging consequences.  I will reveal how religion and irrational thinking can have serious consequences for your health.

Drinks will be served and it will be a great chance to meet other humanists, skeptics and freethinkers.  I look forward to seeing you there. 

Event listing: http://www.meetup.com/Central-London-Humanists/events/47518072/

On 28th October I spoke about the importance of evidence in healthcare and how irrational beliefs distort medicine.  Here is an extract of my talk... in Italian:

I spoke at Skeptics in the Pub  10/10/11
Thank you to the wonderful SITP crowd and thank you to Tessa and Carmen for inviting me and organising everything.  It was great fun to talk about The Missing Bed 13 again and to have time for questions and discussion.

As expected the SITP audience came up with some tough questions.  I think the toughest questions concerned Halal meat.  I spoke very briefly about Halal meat during my presentation with the hope that it would spark some debate.  I wasn't disappointed.

Thank you for all the great questions.  Thank you for great discussions.  And remember to toast James Lind whenever you next have a cider.

The Monarch Bar, 40-42 Chalk Farm Road, Camden, London NW1 8BG.  7.30pm.

Throughout my medical practice I have been alarmed by the persistent intrusion of superstition and religion into the National Health Service. Increasingly aware of the harm caused by irrational beliefs, I'm calling for a rational NHS and a society that appreciates science.

The irrational practices in the NHS are well-intentioned but I want to suggest that they undermine the foundations upon which medicine stands.  What superstitions does the NHS pander to?  Should the NHS respect all of your beliefs?  Should the hospital do everything it can to make you feel better? Should your taxes continue to fund irrational beliefs?  Would you rather an expensive medication, or would having the cash actually make you feel better?