DR. SANJAY VASHI, Sub-Continent Homeopath

[KRAMER]

from the JREF, to our investigator in India

Dear Sir,

We have some very serious concerns about the homeopathy test. Please read below and comment as per your thoughts on this matter. I do not think that the JREF can approve this proposed test, for several reasons, some of which I will detail for you now.

To quote a concerned friend...

"The proposed testing method actually seems to be testing NOT homeopathy NOR the homeopath but merely the patient. It is simply a test of how long the patient can go without meds until serious if not potentially fatal problems occur. In some patients this may be indefinitely, in others it may be but hours or days. Overall, it's neither a reliable test, nor is it properly directed."

We have also received some warnings about possible legal issues, and again I quote...

"The JREF is based in the USA under FDA jurisdiction, and this means that there are a number of regulations you will have to comply with, no matter where in the world the actual experiment takes place. That is just the legal side; add to this the considerable uncertainty inherent in such experiments, ESPECIALLY on small groups.

To endorse an unorthodox test protocol on a single subject...is total folly. In my honest opinion, you are out in the deep end with this one.

If homeopaths want to try for the challenge, let them make a proving test. Simple, safe, and no ethical problems."

I must say, Doctor, that we are coming to the conclusion that this test is not adequate in proving the claim made by Sanjay Vashi, and the JREF is much more concerned with the patient's safety and the eficacy of the test, than we are with the potential embarrassment brought to us by having not withdrawn our support for this protocol sooner.

 

[KRAMER]

A Statement from RANDI:

The JREF will not become involved in any tests that call for legitimate medical care or maintenance to be withheld from a patient in favor of astrology, tarot readings, magnets, vibrations, homeopathy, or any other sort of quackery, simply because that puts lives in danger. Such a protocol will not be entertained.

-JAMES RANDI

 

[KRAMER]

From B.D. DESAI

Dear Randi & Kramer,

I am indeed thankful to you for the timely clarification regarding open medical tests and their results. There are many theoretical problems regarding the challange accepted by the Homeopath Doctor Sanjay Vashi of Navsari, India, We had two meetings with him. I now realize, if what he says is true, that there are some serious flaws in the challenge accepted by JREF and manner of practical testing.
He says , he will bring one patient of Diabetes, before he begins to administer drugs, we have to confirm that the patient is positively having the disease.we are also free to test the drug he is supposed to administer. Then the patient is free to go and the drug will given everyday by the Doctor, after a couple of weeks he would be coming with the same patient and keep him under our observation for three to five days to confirm that he does not need insulin or any other drug.

I feel that no such single case can effectively prove in favour or against any proposition. The method of science requires that out a large sample we can test, it should be replicable, universally applicable and could be tested anywhere and anytime. One isolated patient getting cured is not the proof, We have to apply DOUBLE BLIND CONTROL method, also we have to take care of the statistical errors,

Even Allopathy does not make such wild claims, There are, as I am sure you know , several several factors that influence, which particular factor has influenced in a particular case can not be determined, and we can not jump to the conclusion.

If it is a challenge based on Homeopathy, then no allopath approach or instrument should be allowed to be used, In India lot of allopath testing and medicine being used to gain accepatance. The original theory of Honeyman, the Founder,did not have the BP instrument, blood testing, chemical analyses that is available today, If Homeopath is academically and theoretically sound it should act outside the realm of Allopath. Homeopath is supposed to be an Independent system of medicine.

I must inform you that Homeopath and Ayurved doctors have NO TRUST in their Pathy, They want to be in this money making profession so this is used as a backdoor entry, May be, Dr Sanjay Vashi could be an exception,but in India almost 95%of doctors practice allopath in the name of Homeopath or Ayurved, Through money and political pressure they got many of the things included in the medical curriculam and thus gain legitimacy

WE WANT TO DEAL WITH Dr SANJAY VASHIS CHALLAGE BUT LET ME KNOW IN VERY CLEAR TERMS WHAT IS THE MINIMUM TESTING AND HOW IT HAS TO BE CARRIED OUT. I WOULD VERY CLEARLY SAY THAT I CAN NOT BE A PARTY TO A TESTING THAT IS NOT SCIENTIFIC , FOOLPROOF AND FREE OF FLAWS, PLESE SPECIFY WHAT AND HOW WE HAVE TO GO ABOUT NOW.

THANKS,

B D DESAI

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[KRAMER]

TO Mr. Desai

Dear Mr. Desai,

We agree completely with your assessment of the test protocol proposal by Sanjay Vashi, and we apologize sincerely both to you and to Mr. Vashi for not having realized the problems sooner.

The only test that we can envision that would conclusively verify Mr. Vashi's claim would most surely be with DOUBLE BLIND techniques, involving having Mr. Vashi identify which medicines (or which treatment) were homeopathic, and which were not.

The JREF would accept a protocol that simply demonstrated that Mr. Vashi can tell the difference between a homeopathic solution and a non-Homeopathic solution. If he can do this, he would be the first person EVER to pass the JREF Paranormal Challenge preliminary test.

 

[KRAMER]

my dear mr.kramer,

hope you are fine, since my last e mail, i have been waiting eagarly for your relpy, as i dint get any till now,iam getting confused, kindly let me know if i have to agree to any other condition. please be kind to guide me so as to carry out the protocol.hope you will support the truth.awaiting your early reply.

regards,

dr.sanjay b. vashi.

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Dear Mr. Vashi,

If you will agree to a Double-Blind test in which you can tell us the difference between a homeopathic "remedy" and a non-Homeopathic solution, your claim can be tested. You must tell us how you can do this, and suggest a test protocol.

We cannot accept any test that withholds medication from a patient or causes any possibility of danger for someone suffering from a disease. We trust that you yourself, as a medical practitioner, will understand our concerns in this regard.

 

[KRAMER]

Dear Dr. Vashi,

We have not heard from you since September 23. Does this mean that you wish to withdraw your Challenge application? Please advise at your earliest convenience.

 

[KRAMER]

Dear Dr. Vashi,

It has been nearly 4 months since we last heard from you. In my penultimate email to you, I advised you that the JREF was unable to accept any test protocol that involved the withholding of medication to any test subject whose health depends upon that medication. We cannot approve any test that puts the subject's life in danger.

Since that email, I have not received any correspondence from you. Is this intentional? Shall we assume that you are no longer interested in our Challenge?

Please advise at the earliest convenience. If we do not hear back from you, we will assume that you have indeed lost interest in making an greater effort to provide proof that your claim is a vaild one, and your file will be closed accordingly.

KRAMER, JREF Paranormal Claims Dept.