Homeopathy: A Question of Ethics

[Yiab]

Since I was young my parents have been slightly hypochondriacal. Additionally, for as long as I can remember, they have been using homeopathic preparations and seeing a naturopath amongst other things.

In the last few years I have come to understand just how ridiculous homeopathy is (with the help of people like Mr. Randi) and I've tried to pass this along to my family, but they basically just reject it - not necessarily reject it as false, just as unwelcome. One conversation with my mother ended with her saying "Just let me have my sugar pills."

My family is well-off enough that the expenses incurred by these "alternative medicines" are not going to deprive us of any necessities (or even of some comforts) and, being Canadian, we do not have to worry about basic health care. Additionally, my parents are not the sort of people who will take an alternative treatment instead of a traditional one, rather they will favour taking them together (and will inform their doctor as such). Basically, I cannot use financial difficulty or health dangers as reasons to dissuade them from continuing to purchase expensive sugar pills.

So what can I ethically do here? Do I have an obligation to cease attempting to inject reason into their purchasing choices? After all, they do have a few chronic conditions ideal for placebo treatment (most exacerbated by the aforementioned mild hypochondriasis), so wouldn't it be unethical to successfully reveal the treatment as a placebo, thereby removing much of its benefit? Or is it ethically more valid to continue trying to convince them of the ineffectiveness of these substances and suggest they spend the money elsewhere (clearly there are more charitable uses, but that can be said for so many things)?

 

[Loss Leader]

So what can I ethically do here?

Your problem isn't one of ethics, it's one of manners. You can say or do anything you want with regard to your parents, but saying certain things will make them angry, defensive, resentful or something similar. So you can choose to say nothing and have a peaceful and pleasant relationship with your parents or you can choose to be right and have a strained relationship. What you cannot choose is to have different parents.

 

[Yiab]

Your problem isn't one of ethics, it's one of manners. You can say or do anything you want with regard to your parents, but saying certain things will make them angry, defensive, resentful or something similar. So you can choose to say nothing and have a peaceful and pleasant relationship with your parents or you can choose to be right and have a strained relationship. What you cannot choose is to have different parents.

Actually, my relationship with my parents is pretty good and will stay that way with almost any choice I make on this issue. Even if I do continue trying to convince them of the facts, I do not plan on doing so in an obtrusive or annoying fashion and I know when to stop for a while, so I doubt that it will put any strain on my relationship with them.
The ethical question is largely whether or not I have the right to attempt to deprive them of a functioning placebo effect.

 

[jimtron]

I agree with Loss Leader. Yiab, I can relate; I have friends and family members into homeopathy and similar stuff. It's tricky, and I think it's not good to come on too strong. In my view it's good to express your opinion without being overbearing.

The ethical question is largely whether or not I have the right to attempt to deprive them of a functioning placebo effect.

In my opinion it's not unethical to tell them you believe homeopathy is nothing more than placebo. That won't necessarily deprive them of that effect from the homeopathic remedies (after all, afaik most believers don't think it's merely a placebo, they think it's like cures like, etc.), and if it does, so be it--it's what you believe to be the truth. If the homeopathic stuff did stop working, you proved your point. I don't think that's a legit defense of homeopathy, that it doesn't work beyond the placebo effect but we shouldn't tell people or it will stop working for them.

Unless you're dealing with small children, I don't think people are ever well served by being lied to.

 

[Elaedith]

It sounds like they don't really care if its a placebo or not. An analogy might be somebody having a lucky charm that somebody has to have with them in anxiety-provoking situations, although they don't really believe that the charm has magical properties. Just having it wards off anxiety and not having it increases anxiety, a simple conditioning effect.
There are likely cheaper placebos available, but its their money and their decision. I would only object if false claims are made about the remedies.

 

[Big Les]

I would suggest that the majority of people in any kind of discomfort or pain don't really care whether a given treatment has actual effects, just that taking it makes them feel better. Most don't understand the concept of placebo and for them feeling better = it works. If it continues to "work" even though they're aware of and understand placebo, then you can't really blame them for continuing to use it. I'm talking strictly minor/self-limiting/psychosomatic ailments here, and neither am I condoning the homoeopaths for continuing to offer the "treatments", and certainly not taxpayer's money being blown on sugar pills and water.

If you've educated to the best of your ability, and they've listened, that's all you can do. Think of it like shopping - a big waste of money for minimal and/or short term pleasure or "feeling better". But for many, it gets them through the week. Or low odds gambling (UK Lotto - 16 million-to-1 odds) might be a better analogy.

 

[Zep]

I do like the "lucky charm" analogy in this situation! Yes, I might just use that...

"But homeopathy WORKS!"
"Yes, in exactly the same way and with the same effect as a charm bracelet."

 

[JoeTheJuggler]

Two points:

First, the argument that homeopathic remedies are always harmless isn't so hot. I think that anyone with poor enough critical thinking skills to buy into it, will probably not distinguish among homeopathic dilutions and herbals and some stuff out there that blurs the distinction. (Remember 1X of something is a 10% solution--plenty of things can be dangerous at that level.)

Second, there's also the matter that the truth is the truth. Even IF it were harmless (including the costs) as far as we could see, con men are still making their living off this nonsense, and it's wrong. In many cases, these things are being packaged to look like real OTC drugs and sold right alongside them. It would be like arguing that it's OK to steal relatively small amounts of money from a wealthy senior citizen, because they can afford it.

 

[Yiab]

I would suggest that the majority of people in any kind of discomfort or pain don't really care whether a given treatment has actual effects, just that taking it makes them feel better. Most don't understand the concept of placebo and for them feeling better = it works. If it continues to "work" even though they're aware of and understand placebo, then you can't really blame them for continuing to use it. I'm talking strictly minor/self-limiting/psychosomatic ailments here, and neither am I condoning the homoeopaths for continuing to offer the "treatments", and certainly not taxpayer's money being blown on sugar pills and water.

That's exactly what I'm talking about, yes. I'm not sure that they do believe it's really medicine, they may simply be taking it as a placebo and expecting it to work as such.

If you've educated to the best of your ability, and they've listened, that's all you can do. Think of it like shopping - a big waste of money for minimal and/or short term pleasure or "feeling better". But for many, it gets them through the week. Or low odds gambling (UK Lotto - 16 million-to-1 odds) might be a better analogy.

I like that analogy, it makes a lot of sense (from the point of view of the consumer, of course, the homeopaths claiming these products work obviously don't quite work in the position of running a lottery). That said, they have listened to some of what I've said but not to other parts of it. I've tried to show them the video on YouTube of Randi explaining homeopathy and they've politely refused to watch it, for example.

Anyway, thank you. And thanks to everyone who's taken the time to answer, you've given me more to consider.

 

[Madalch]

Pick out one of their remedies which is definitely a sugar pill.

Put two in your coffee every time you visit (assuming you take sugar in your drinks).

 

[homerboo]

It is not unethical in the least to 'allow' another individual capable of thought to continue along a course that does not hurt others. It's about as unethical as allowing them to believe that a Yugo is superior to a BMW.

Should they ask your opinion, and you side with them while not believing your communicated standpoint, I would consider this unethical. Should they demand administration of said placebo to yourself, this would be unethical.

I believe arguing against them for purpose of point concession has a tendency toward non-ethics.

I understand that you care about your parents and you may prefer them to take ibuprofen for a headache instead of rubbing dried goat liver against their temples, but if that gets their endorphines raised and lessens their pain, why stop them?