AVMA considers resolution acknowledging homeopathy is ineffective

[Blue Wode]

Following a resolution proposed by the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA), the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) is due to make its position clear on homeopathy any day now. You can read the CVMA’s proposed resolution (3) via this link:
http://skeptvet.com/Blog/2012/12/avma-considers-resolution-acknowledging-homeopathy-is-ineffective

Not surprisingly, the Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy (AVH) and American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association (AHVMA) are strongly opposed to the resolution, with the AVH submitting the most comprehensive, though not at all compelling or convincing, defence. The SkeptVet has read through its defence, and all of the references cited, to evaluate the quality of the arguments and the evidence. His response, The Evidence for Homeopathy - A Close Look, illustrates “why this attempt to defend homeopathy, with the best evidence the AVH can muster, only confirms and illustrates the problems with homeopathy explicated in the CVMA white paper”. See here for a pdf of the SkeptVet’s full response:
http://skeptvet.com/Blog/2013/01/the-evidence-for-homeopathy-a-close-look/

Hopefully, this might herald the beginning of the end for veterinary homeopathy.

 

[Blue Wode]

Things are still up in the air, apparently:

At the Executive Board meeting on Friday, the Board voted to recommend against the resolution.

The Board’s input is considered by the HOD (House of Delgates), but the HOD vote determines the outcome. The House Advisory Committee recommended that the resolution be referred to the Executive Board, with a recommendation that the Board refer it to the Council on Veterinary Services…The HOD voted (majority vote) to refer the resolution to the Executive Board, with recommendation to refer it to the Council on Veterinary Services for consideration in the spring.

http://atwork.avma.org/2013/01/05/proposed-resolution-3-homeopathy-update/

 

[jdc324]

Thanks for posting the links Blue Wode. Will be passing them on to others who might be interested.

 

[RussDill]

Yes please!

 

[jdc324]

From 10th Jan: http://atwork.avma.org/2013/01/10/homeopathy-resolution-now-what-happens/

The resolution will be forwarded to the Executive Board for consideration. It is no longer considered a proposed policy, nor is it a resolution anymore. Simply put, it’s now an item for discussion and consideration. The House of Delegates’ recommendation that the item be referred to the Council on Veterinary Service will be taken into consideration by the Executive Board. The practice of homeopathy is currently addressed in the AVMA Guidelines for Complementary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine, and these Guidelines are up for review by the CoVS at their spring meeting.

 

[Blue Wode]

Comprehensive write up now at Science Based Medicine:
http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/age-of-endarkenment/

Snippet:

And the AHVMA, which represents CAVM in general, is much larger and more influential than the AVH. They have recently raised about $400,000 to promote “integrative medicine” at mainstream veterinary schools, with an ultimate goal of $20 million and multiple academic centers promoting alternative therapies, positioning themselves as the Bravewell Collaboration of veterinary medicine. And despite their claims to respect science and support rigorous research, they have thrown their lot in decisively with the magic water that is homeopathy. What can skeptics use to combat those resources, other than mere facts and evidence, which seem less persuasive to our otherwise mainstream colleagues than we might hope?

The passionate few who are believers cannot, of course, make homeopathy anything other than a marginal practice, in most cases just added on to real medicine in true “integrative” fashion. After all, it doesn’t actually work. But the hope that we might actually see the death of it alltogether seems distant indeed. Like the proponents of intelligent design, homeopaths seem to be having some success generating a maufacturoversy, suggesting there is some legitimate scientific dispute concerning the plausibility and efficacy of homeopathy. And few of my colleagues in veterinary medicine seem inclined to look at the evidence critically and in depth themselves to see that there is, in fact, no real doubt or legitimate dispute. Money, popularity, and the voice of the passionate minority of believers seem unlikely to yield to mere reason and evidence, especially when shielded by the apathy or post-modern neutrality of the majority. Perhaps “Age of Endarkenment” is going a bit far, but some days the victories of the Age of Enlightenment seem evanescent, and it is clear we shall have to keep rolling the same old boulders up that hill for the forseeable future.