Of quacks and snake oil pedlars

by Peter Tan. Posted on August 17, 2013, Saturday

WHAT is wrong with you? a stranger asked as I passed by him outside a shop. He had been observing me from a distance.

There is nothing wrong with me, I responded, feigning ignorance. I already knew where the question would lead to.

Unperturbed by my answer, he followed me from behind and fired a barrage of questions, Why are you using a wheelchair? You cannot walk? What happened?

Before I could answer, he continued, I know a sifu who can treat you. He has treated many people like you. They could walk again after six months of treatment.

Thank you. I am not interested, I declined politely and pushed my wheelchair a little faster to shake him off my back.

You do not want to walk again? he shouted after me.

It was not that I do not want to walk again. I was simply tired of the same rigmarole strangers, well-meaning relatives and friends put me through all the time. They all knew of someone who could make me walk again and insisted that I try the treatments whether I liked it or not.

Do not get me wrong. I am grateful for the people around me who care for my well-being. However, their persistence in recommending treatments can be off-putting. They saw my impairment as a condition that had to be corrected and took it upon themselves to dish out unsolicited advice.

There is also a reason why I am wary of these word of mouth recommendations. In the early years after my accident, my parents, in their haste to get me back on my feet, spent a small fortune on alternative treatments after I was discharged from the hospital.

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Of quacks and snake oil pedlars