The newspaper associated with the muesli-knitting sandle-eaters has SLAMMED homeopathy in a SENSATIONAL BLAST that will send SHOCKWAVES throughout the RPSGB.
NO-NONSENSE Professor Edzard Ernst, of CRACK OUTFIT Peninsula Medical School, FIRED A BROADSIDE stating"My plea is simply for honesty. Let people buy what they want, but tell them the truth about what they are buying. These treatments are biologically implausible and the clinical tests have shown they don't do anything at all in human beings. The argument that this information is not relevant or important for customers is quite simply ridiculous," he says. "If they are unable to stick to their ethical code, then they should change their code and be clear that it is alright to put profits before patients."
BIGWIGS at Boots HIT BACK, CLAIMING that "Homeopathy is recognised by the NHS and many health professionals and our customers choose to use homeopathy. Boots is committed to providing our customers with a wide range of healthcare products to suit their individual needs, we know that many people believe in the benefits of complementary medicines and we aim to offer the products we know our customers want. Our pharmacists are trained healthcare professionals who provide professional advice within guidance issued by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain regarding the supply of homeopathic products."
However, TheWelshPharmacist UNDERSTANDS that FORMER HOT-SHOT president of the RPSGB, Christine Glover is a practising homeopath. This DRAMATIC DEVELOPMENT has to call into question the COMMITMENT of the RPSGB to the practice and promotion of science. INTRIGUINGLY, and IRONICALLY, the current president of the BELEAGUERED RPSGB also PLYS HIS TRADE for Boots.
How will the RPSGB react to this BOMBSHELL?
(Anyone thoroughly confused by the above should go and read a week's worth of the Western Mail's rugby "coverage")
Grauniad:http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2008/jul/21/pharmacists.homeophathy
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7 comments:
"Homeopathy is recognised by the NHS.."
TRANSLATION: "The NHS is desperate to cut costs, by any means possible"
...and many health professionals"
TRANSLATION: "Yes, OUR health professionals"
"..we know that many people believe in the benefits of complementary medicines..."
TRANSLATION: "Oh come on, the suckers are probably loaded anyway."
"...within guidance issued by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain regarding the supply of homeopathic products."
TRANSLATION: "Nudge nudge, wink wink, say no more, say no more"
Statins? http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/53319/Danger-alert-on-drug-used-by-millions
If there are unknowns (almost a certainty), then to detect these will require as yet unknown detectors, methodology and probably different forms of ‘science.’ Examples of unexplained considerations are such as homeopathy, telepathy, UFO’s – indeed a whole fringe of events that perhaps only vaguely detected by some – often within doubtful circumstances. Nonetheless, there is a need to keep an open mind as surely the nature of the universe and human limitation is not fully understood. For example, homeopathy seems to work for some individuals, contrary to orthodox scientific understanding – but that just may be because of the limits of scientific knowledge and lack of detectors, methodology for unknown chemistry (and maybe a lot more than chemistry etc). Sure it can be argued it is psychological – but this too is not proved. Some individuals may have a ‘landscape’ beyond the biochemical understanding. Those that dismiss possibilities, perhaps should imagine talking to Ancient civilisations e.g. Greeks about television pictures, X-rays, and arrange of modern circumstances and most of those Ancients would think of you as mad and probably laugh – mind you some would have an open mind. Basically modern science is only as yet a stepping stone – to ponder, wonder, accept the reality is perhaps unreal and almost certainly far from fully understood.
Found a trial yet?
Also, I have a sneaking suspicion I may be related to you.
Anonymous 09:59
Well done for having an open mind. As a scientist, I come across things I don't understand every day, and therefore the need for an open mind is paramount. Yes, homeopathy does appear to work for some people. Others also believe the guff that it works on animals (and therefore cannot be a placebo effect). Guess my opinion. (note: my OPINION).
HOWEVER, there have been as yet no reliable double blind RCTs that are able to prove that homeopathic medicine is better than placebo.
Until there is, claiming (in a suitably woolly manner, admittedly) that homeopathy is a suitable way to treat, say, eczema is unethical to say the least. Unfortunately I am aware of at least one well meaning parent treating her little lad's severe eczema with homeopathy, because she 'didn't believe in conventional medicine.' Very good, but what does your son think, madam? Is that ethical? Not really her fault, since the advice given (if at all) about taking homeopathy is often misleading at best.
Thus it is with some cynicism that we observe a 'respected' professional body such as the RPSGB having such an 'open mind' regarding homepathy, considering the conflicting interests of some of it's staff.
You have made good point about applying such method to those that are not in a position to make judgement or unable to make considered opinion.
Nonetheless, the essential consideration of unknown 'science' has to be addressed, but indeed in a responsible, educated and ethical manner. Do note the word responsible.
There is an science behind x-rays and televsion pictures... im unaware of the science behind water treating opioid withdrawal.
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