Yoga Expert Shouldn’t Give Medical Advice

Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa is an expert on yoga (“Earth Mother, Yoga Star,” Aug. 16). She obviously knows what she is doing to give mothers relaxation and serenity, and this doubtless has a positive effect on the unborn child. But she demonstrates the fatal flaw of many “gurus.” Charles Lindbergh was an expert on aeronautics, but he expounded on (and was listened to about) politics when he had no more expertise than the person in the street. Gurus have an obligation to be careful about the spillover halo effect.

Where does she get her expertise about childhood vaccinations? If she truly cares about the unborn child, she will refrain from discouraging mothers from protecting their children based on her “opinions.” Scientific, reliable, reproducible and accurate information abounds that supports the overwhelming benefits of immunization.

LORAINE STERN

Santa Monica

Loraine Stern is a clinical professor of pediatrics at UCLA.