Homeoquack - Pharmacy and Homeopath

[Prester John]

I have been musing, and considering the totally unregulated nature of homeopathy (despite what Natural health claims), wondered how easy it would be to set up a small business, named as above.

I would sell high potentency homeopathic grade remedies (12C or over only) ie Tap Water. I could also offer homeopathic advise at extravagant rates. i'm thinking of some catch phrases

"I haven't got a clue, but i'll take your dosh anyway"
"Unregulated and Rolling in it"

My concerns are the naming of the tap water i will sell so that i am not claiming to actually have done the dilutions. I would like to advertise myself as a homeopath, but naturally make no claims to the efficacy of what i do. caveat empor?

If anyone has ideas, legal advise suggestions etc then please post. How do i set myself up ? Get in the yellow pages ? If its not too expensive i prob do it for real. Great way to make the point.

What d'ya think all?

 

[BPSCG]

My concerns are the naming of the tap water i will sell so that i am not claiming to actually have done the dilutions.

How about "Cobra Venom" (or whatever the impressive Latin name is) "in a 12C succusion of pharmaceutical-grade refined dihydrogen monoxide"?

 

[MRC_Hans]

Shame on you PJ! You cannot be that lazy. Have you no professional pride? The very least you can do is to put some substances in water, shake it, pour it out, refill, shake, etc. a dozen times. Even if it takes you all of five minutes, I think you can do that for your marks. Like my friend Trinity says, make the last two or three steps while the suc- ehrm, customer is watching. Makes for a very nice little ritual.

Hans

 

[geni]

Call all your remedies MMMMMMMM1 that way you ony have to shake them once.

 

[Paul C. Anagnostopoulos]

How about something like "We use science to help us make our remedies more efficiently, and passing the savings on to you." This is a code-phrase for "Avogadro says we don't have to sell you anything but water, so that's what we do."

Perhaps you could trademark the word "Homopathy" or "Homepathy."

~~ Paul

 

[Prester John]

Quote Code "JREF" for a 10% discount!

 

[Rolfe]

There have been several posters who have sugested a cut-price homoeopathy business just supplying bottles of lactose pills, and a selection of labels to be stuck on to fit the customer's order. As if that wasn't pretty much what's going on anyway.

Then there was the guy who proposed selling anti-seasickness bracelets at the Channel ports, to be told that that pitch had already been taken.

PJ, what you are proposing is so completely identical to what the homoeopaths do, you might as well just join them!

Rolfe.

 

[Soapy Sam]

This started me wondering- do homoeopaths ever get sued for malpractice? If so, why?

 

[Prester John]

This started me wondering- do homoeopaths ever get sued for malpractice? If so, why?

With no regulation, no way of proving there remedies are what they say, no proof of efficacy required, disclaimers just in case its hard to see how any but a very stupid homeopath could get sued.
Thats kinda the point i'm making.

 

[Rolfe]

I know about one who got prosecuted for cruelty to animals. An actual vet, no less.

Unfortunately, a) the RSPCA managed to frame the charge so that he was accused of committing the offence during a time period over which he hadn't actually seen the patient, b) the defendant did a very good smoke-screen job of presenting homoeopathy as a legitimate medical discipline, and himself as a recognised expert in it, and the RSPCA didn't have the backbone to demolish this.

The last I heard of it he was being investigated by the Preliminary Investigation Committee of the RCVS over the same case, but that was over a year ago and I think we'd have heard by now if their outrage at his mindbogglingly bizarre case notes had been sufficient for them to decide to take action.

Pity really. The dog was an incredible mess, skin missing over half its face, skeletally thin, crying in pain all night according to the notes - and what was he saying? "Hering?" What was he prescribing? "Ap. mellif." I'd have strung him up and thrown away the key.

Rolfe.

 

[geni]

This started me wondering- do homoeopaths ever get sued for malpractice? If so, why?

In a word no. They are very good at working out how to avoid the local regualtions

 

[Badly Shaved Monkey]

With no regulation, no way of proving there remedies are what they say, no proof of efficacy required, disclaimers just in case its hard to see how any but a very stupid homeopath could get sued.
Thats kinda the point i'm making.

Someone I deeply admire said the following;

"I think I know why cases are not heard of harm being caused by
homeopathic remedies and if any homeopath finds themself being
pursued through the courts I know of a rock-solid defence"

http://homeopathyforums.hpathy.com//forum_posts.asp?TID=1528&TPN=2


Since I have no takers yet for my services as an expert witness, here's the answer-

"It's just water, your honour. The prosecution can provide no evidence that will stand up in this court that I have prescribed anything other than water, so how can I have caused any harm? (Please don't tell my patients)"

 

[Rolfe]

If you'd seen the photographs of that poor bloody dog, you'd know how they can cause harm!

Oh, but you knew that, didn't you.

Rolfe.

 

[Badly Shaved Monkey]

If you'd seen the photographs of that poor bloody dog, you'd know how they can cause harm!

Oh, but you knew that, didn't you.

Rolfe.

I never got as far as explaining to them about the sins of omission, which they perform all the time, versus those of commission, which they'd love to think they could perform.

 

[Rolfe]

I'd still like to know what it is that is described as "a gentle method of homoeopathic euthanasia". It's in a book blurb though, and I have no intention of adding to the quack's coffers by buying a copy to find out.

Rolfe.

 

[Soapy Sam]

Boring to death?
Suffocation in bullsh*8?
Extremely slow arsenic poisoning? (an atom a day keeps the coroner away).

 

[jimlintott]

"a gentle method of homoeopathic euthanasia"

That would be drowning. Wouldn't it?

As my son pointed out to me, animals don't know about placebo effect so homeopathy cannot be effective on them.

How about this for your product name:

May Bee

 

[Rolfe]

As my son pointed out to me, animals don't know about placebo effect so homeopathy cannot be effective on them.

Sure as hell works on the owners though!

Works better than on people, because the owner isn't experiencing the illness directly, but interpreting the pet's behaviour. It's quite amazing how the homoeoquacks manage to persuade the pet owners that no change (or even continued deterioration, but not actual death) is a wonderful outcome.

Rolfe.

 

[Prester John]

I've decided, I am a Homeopath.

 

[Benguin]

This started me wondering- do homoeopaths ever get sued for malpractice? If so, why?

There was a doctor got into a lot of trouble for practicing homeo on a patient instead of giving them proper treatment

read about it here

As my son pointed out to me, animals don't know about placebo effect so homeopathy cannot be effective on them.

I'm not totally convinced animals are immune to placebo effects. Every animal I've ever had to take to a vet (or bring a vet to) has responded in a markedly different way. Most animals are not completely stupid, they know a lead/saddle/basket means they are going out, they recognise packing as a sign people are going away so they are getting a holiday or a visit to the kennels. They can beg, sulk, feign hunger and illness to get their own way. Animals I've looked after have certainly been able to make themselves ill with no better reason than emotional excitement or distress, it could be argued placebo is little more than the same thing in reverse.

They might not demonstrate a placebo effect, but then again they might. Do they do placebo trials for vetinary medicine? or as part of animal-based testing?

Many humans do not know about (or understand) the placebo effect but it still is effective on them (some might argue more so for their ignorance of the issue)