She described Weil's and Chopra's language and writings as metaphysical. Disease represents spiritual weakness. People can choose to be well or sick. Just as the soul might triumph over the body in religion, the mind triumphs over the body in alternative medicine. She cited Chopra who claims to be able to extend life fifty years to the age of 120.
Most religions have an ethical system.
This one is blatantly narcissistic. Alternative medicine, said Angell, requires that adherents spend almost all their time and energy devoted to themselves. Following an editorial in the Wall Street Journal, Relman was asked by the magazine The New Republic to contribute a review of Weil's latest book Ask Dr. Weil. He spent the next year reviewing all eight of Weil's books. For Weil, truths are intuitively evident and do not need scientific support.