Homeopathy is Witchcraft, Says Dolphin

[Mojo]

Another conference motion, this time from the Local Medical Committees conference:

Homeopathy 'should not be funded on the NHS'

Homeopathy is not supported by enough evidence to justify being funded on the NHS, according to the LMCs conference.

 

[Rolfe]

One small silver lining to the public sector cuts, I suppose.

Rolfe.

 

[Mojo]

Slightly odd caption on the photo there (added since I first saw the story, I think):

Conventional medicine does not support the claims of homeopathy

Reality does not support the claims of homoeopathy.

 

[23_Tauri]

Excellent work Rolfe. Thanks to you, Linda, Mojo and everyone else who helped with this. What a fine day's work!

 

[Mojo]

More coverage of the LMCs conference decision:

LMCs conference calls for savings axe to fall on homeopathy.

Homeopathic medicine has come under a barrage of criticism at the annual LMCs confernece, in a heated debate which even saw its most prominent supporter the Prince of Wales come under fire.

 

[Rolfe]

I love this bit!

But Dr Mehdi Dabestani, a GP and homeopath in Chatham, Kent, said many of his patients had benefited from homeopathy, and added: ‘Absence of evidence for homeopathy is not evidence of absence.’

Rolfe.

 

[Mojo]

By the way, did any homoeopaths respond to your letter? I forgot to check, and the newspaper's website search function doesn't seem to index the letters.

 

[Rolfe]

No, absolute silence.

Rolfe.

 

[Mojo]

Another suggestion that the NHS should stop funding homoeopathy, from a source that the government might find more persuasive than mere doctors: 'Scrap NHS Direct and homeopathy funding' says think-tank.

The proposals were drawn up by the centre-right 2020health known to have close links to Conservatives on the new coalition government´s health team.

By the way, the Quackometer reports that the Annual Representative Meeting at which the full BMA decision on this will be made comes up on June 28th. Includes link to agenda with various homoeopathy-related motions.

 

[Taffer]

Well done, the lot of you!

 

[Mojo]

The motion was supported by the BMA chairman, and will become BMA policy if agreed by their full conference next month.

The full conference has voted:

Doctors call for NHS to stop funding homeopathy

The NHS should stop funding homeopathy and it should no longer be marketed as a medicine in pharmacies, doctors say.

Medics voted on the issue at the British Medical Association's annual conference in Brighton.

They dismissed the highly-diluted remedies as "nonsense" and potentially harmful to patients as it can lead them to shunning conventional medicines.

 

[Mojo]

I see the BBC have fallen for the misinformation. Under "What is homeopathy":

Involves giving people very dilute amounts of a substance that in larger amounts might produce symptoms similar to the condition being treated
For example, one remedy which might be used in a person suffering from insomnia would be made from coffee

Nope - it is the remedy itself that is supposed to produce the symptoms, not "larger amounts" of the substance.

 

[Sledge]

Excellent news. ETA: The bit about the BMA, not the BBC being clueless.

Btw, if laughter is the best medicine, this thread's title must be doing some good.

 

[Mojo]

Excellent news.

Btw, if laughter is the best medicine, this thread's title must be doing some good.

I couldn't resist it.

Anyway, I thought that having a dolphin involved might get some of the woos to agree with it.

 

[Sledge]

It sounds to me like something Chris Morris might have read out at the beginning of The Day Today. "Teenage boy roasts himself in sacrifice to Chris Kelly. Homeopathy is "witchcraft" says dolphin. And headmaster suspended for using big-faced boy as satellite dish. This is the news."

 

[Ethan Thane Athen]

I love the idea that the views of the public have any relevance, as if we can just overturn physical laws if enough people don't like them.

Actually the public mainly think there's worth in Homeopathy because they misunderstand what it is - they tend to think it's a type of herbal medicine or natural remedy 'And many of those have been proven to work!'. I've had a few successes where I've explained to supporters what it actually is and, once I convince them I'm not making it up ('cos that's their first incredulous reaction), they stop believing immediately.

 

[Naddig74]

''clikclikclickclik-squeee-clikclik!''

''Whats that Flip? Homeopathy is a load of dingo droppings? Crikey!''

 

[Mojo]

...once I convince them I'm not making it up ('cos that's their first incredulous reaction),

Yes, almost invariably.

 

[Taffer]

''clikclikclickclik-squeee-clikclik!''

''Whats that Flip? Homeopathy is a load of dingo droppings? Crikey!''

Heh.

 

[Edx]

I see the BBC have fallen for the misinformation. Under "What is homeopathy":

Nope - it is the remedy itself that is supposed to produce the symptoms, not "larger amounts" of the substance.

Really?

I thought the remedy was meant to cure the symptoms based off the idea that the "active ingredient" caused the symptoms.