Sunday 6 July 2008

Assess Evidence? Come To a Definite Conclusion? Sod That!

Thank you again for your further email on this topic.

You have asked whether the “RPSGB think[s] that homeopathy is an effective treatment?”. As you will be aware from our previous correspondence the Society has set out clear professional standards for the sale/supply of complementary therapies. My colleagues and I have advised you of these requirements.

In terms of whether any product is an “effective treatment” I will not be able to assist. As you are likely to be aware the Legal and Ethical Advisory Service provides assistance on matters relating to pharmacy legislation and the Code of Ethics. As I have outlined above you have been referred to the relevant sections of the Code of Ethics and its supporting documents. The Advisory Service does not comment on the effectiveness of medicines.

I do not propose to comment further on this specific matter.


Perhaps I should give it a break, but, fuck it, I'm paying 400 quid* a year for this, so I may as well keep banging away.

My reply.

I appreciate your reply.

Could you please tell me if there is a department, or even an individual, within the RPSGB that would be able to provide a definite answer on whether or not homeopathy is an effective treatment? If I was to make a complaint against a pharmacist because he or she was selling homeopathy, would it be further investigated by yourself, or not?

In the meantime, the Code of Ethics has once again baffled me!

Section 2.4 states that when supplying an OTC medicine I must supply
"sufficient advice to ensure the
safe and effective use of the medicine is provided." Note the use of the word effective.

Yet, with regards to homeopathy, section 8.3 states that I should
"recommend a remedy only where you can be satisfied of its
safety and quality," Note the complete absence of the word "effective".

Good thing homeopathy is not yet an OTC medicine!

Why the double standards?

I'd appreciate it if you could direct me to someone within the RPSGB who could give a definite answer on whether homeopathy is an effective treatment.


Being on call sucks, I end up getting angry about stuff like this instead of doing something interesting.

*I don't know where the pound sign is on a Colonial keyboard.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

The problem you have is there are a number of trials out there (abet not double blind RCT) that say homeopathy works because of the placebo effect. As your well aware, if the person thinks its gonna make them better, they sit and talk with someone for half an hour who listens to their problem (forget the fact that they are charging the hourly rate of a solicitor)they do get better. Personally i dont see anything wrong with rich fools paying for the privilege of a chat with someone about their problems and then being given some fancy water, how they spend their money is there business. The only problems i can see is when the crazy's who genuinely believe that this magic water works peddle it to vulnerable people with real medical problems, promoting it over proven medical treatments. These are the fuckers we should lock up. Gone off on one a bit... as for the society, fuck em, its gonna split in the next few year, dont think i've spoken to one person yet whose gonna pay for the 'privilege 'of being a member. Going off on a tangent, but what the fuck are those silly old cunts on about when they talk about protecting our honorable profession and society in the letter section in the PJ??? (yes occasionally I dont chuck it straight in the bin) is that what a lifetime of handling chemicals did to your mind before the advent of COSH regulations?

Anonymous said...

Going off on a tangent, but what the fuck are those silly old cunts on about when they talk about protecting our honorable profession and society in the letter section in the PJ???


Buggered if I know. I suppose I should warn you that your choice of noun to describe the elders is of course unacceptable, blah blah blah etc.

Do I know you?

Anonymous said...

'The elders'- Made me done a LOL

Eventually (with persistance) the RPSGB automated reply robot which is writing you back letters will completely flip out, and you'll be sent some nonsense 'error error #!!?>?@@@ cannot compute' letter.

Back to the topic, yes, unfortunately there are plenty of crazies selling homeopathic remedies for diabetes, arthritis, asthma and assorted chronic diseases. Proof? I just need to walk down my highstreet.
Also we all know what a toothless old dog the RPSGB is.
Result: Crazies will still keep selling expensive water to vulnerable patients with debilitating chronic diseases. And that is sad.

Anonymous said...

tis me, started off as a wind up, then sort of lost my way quite a bit.....best one i've done so far was the the old 'so what do pharmacists really do line a few months back' had every one foaming at the mouth at one point, 15 odd replies, made me chuckle for a bit on a sun afternoon

PB

Nostrumdammit said...

Well well!
I have been absent from the debating arena for a little while and am delighted to see you are still crusading WP!
I do admire your persistence in attempting to flog the proverbial dead horse. It is obvious to all sensible cynics by now that homoeopathy is protected in the Ivory Tower by corrupt cronyism. The Society have no intention on making any definitive decisions about anything other than the recent plunge into the chartered suicide of a new professional body.
Personally I am delighted. I have no intention of paying that organisation one penny of my money.
I will continue to swell the ranks of obdurate old codgers and homoeophobes [ as in 'opathy ! ]and holding up my best reversed boy scout salute tell all and sundry to read between the lines.
In order for an organisation to give anyone a definitive answer. they must be led by a courageous and knowledgeable person with integrity.
The Society misses on all three counts.
I note with sadness that you still plumb the depths of available epithets in your offerings. However I do respect your forthright delivery.

Anonymous said...

Ok, how about starting a new thread….. the success of the all blacks in recent times has been based on the shameless exploitation of the south sea islands poverty…. discuss


http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/2/story.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=3582760

New Zealand have never played a Test match in the islands - a sporting scandal of significant proportions - and yet by holding dozens of Samoan-qualified players to strict provincial contracts, they have effectively drained the pool of available talent. "It is quite clear that the NZRFU wants Samoa as a feeder union (samoan coach),"

The Welsh Pharmacist said...

"tis me, started off as a wind up, then sort of lost my way quite a bit.....best one i've done so far was the the old 'so what do pharmacists really do line a few months back' had every one foaming at the mouth at one point, 15 odd replies, made me chuckle for a bit on a sun afternoon"

Heh heh heh. Went down well, that did. Exams go OK? Is this your last summer you spend flogging yourself to death counting tablets and staring at invisible skin conditions?

I'm still a bit wary of mentioning the World Cup here. Though to be honest I'd probably settle for not winning a World Cup if it meant Wales batter the crap out of everyone else the rest of the time...

"The Society have no intention on making any definitive decisions about anything other than the recent plunge into the chartered suicide of a new professional body.
Personally I am delighted. I have no intention of paying that organisation one penny of my money.
I will continue to swell the ranks of obdurate old codgers and homoeophobes [ as in 'opathy ! ]and holding up my best reversed boy scout salute tell all and sundry to read between the lines.
In order for an organisation to give anyone a definitive answer. they must be led by a courageous and knowledgeable person with integrity."

Quite. The President works for Boots, he's married to someone who works for Boots. I don't know if this is corruption or not, but it is certainly not right.

Get back blogging mun, you're missed.

Nostrumdammit said...

I rather think I might have to take up the pistols and fight again. I am currently considering whether or not I have the energy and the cojones for refreshing "A Bitter Pill"

I was absently scanning the prose of the Pharmacy God and there and then decided that perhaps I might offer some small motettes of words to the throbbing debate we know as the unlanced boil of the future of the pharmacy profession. The sooner we have removed the professional pustules which have infected 'The Towers' the better, and then I can remain in galoshes all day drinking some fine tawny that the fruit of my loins has brought me back from Sudetenland.

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