Nexus - 1706 - New Times Magazine-pages

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(At the UK general election in May, Harris lost his seat subject, one survey discovered that 20% of Irish milk to a 20-something-year-old challenger who had no _ producers have tried homeopathic medicines to treat previous elected position.) He is involved with Sense mastitis or cows with high white-cell counts, and 43% About Science, and he was also one of the sceptic believe that they work. In the herds surveyed, 50% of demonstrators against the national pharmacy chain producers added homeopathic medicines to the cows’ Boots, which sells homeopathic medicines. This drinking water, 27% administered medicines via advocacy role does not make him an unprejudiced injection, 6% gave oral doses, and 6% placed the observer, as is required for this type of investigation. medicines in the cows’ vagina.” On 22 February, this kangaroo court issued a report A survey in Ireland was conducted at 13 paediatric recommending that the National Health Service stop settings over a four-month period.” The researchers funding for homeopathy and homeopathic doctors, found that 57% of parents reported using CAM for their despite the support for homeopathy and for consumer child. Use was significantly higher in the 2-4 years age choice from Mike O'Brien, the then Minister of State for group (34/105, 32%, p=0.005). The most common Health Services. This report is only o medicinal CAMs used were vitamins an advisory nature, and because the Q (88%), fish oils (27%) and echinacea Minister had already expressed his ...Anne Milton, (26%). The most common non- support for the consumers’ right to the new health medicinal CAMs used were choose their own health care, i we homeopathy (16%) and craniosacral seemed unlikely that the British minister, therapy (14%). Only 13% of parents government would change its had informed their paediatrician of policies...and that is precisely wha welcomed the their child's CAM use. appened. n July, Anne Milton, the MPs' report G oe tert bot aeserted that but asserted that The. German people are so omeopathy has a long and homeopathy supportive of natural medicine that the established tradition in their country German government has mandated and should remain a choice for has a long and hat all medical school curricula British doctors and patients. (To established include information about natural see the report, go to oye medicines. Approximately 10% of inyurl.com/yg6097m.) tradition...and German doctors specialise in What is most surprising about should remain a omeopathy, with approximately 10% more prescribing omeopathic remedies on occasion. In 1993, there were 1,993 medical doctors who had ormally qualified in homeopathy; by 2006, this number had jumped Any rational person should and over 100% to 6,073. In 1993, there must be very suspicious of this were 9,000 natural health "report". The MPs who were part of the Science and __ practitioners (called heilpraktikers); by 2007 this had his initial report is that it verified hat when people repeat a lie requently enough, such as “there is no research on homeopathy", many people actually believe it despite its transparent falsity. choice for British doctors and patients. Technology Committee which voted for this anti- increased to over 20,000. Approximately 20-30% o homeopathy report comprised 14 members and, believe i heilpraktikers specialise in homeopathy.” or not, only four members voted, with a majority of three In November and December 2005, as part of a nationa voting for the report. Of the three votes, two members did healthcare survey, a cross-sectional survey was not attend any of the investigational meetings and one o conducted of a large random sample of 516 German them was such a new member of the committee that he outpatient care physicians with qualifications in 13 hadn't even been a member during the hearings; the — medical fields, representative of a basic population o remaining "yes" vote was from Evan Harris, a medica 118,085 statutory health insurance physicians. doctor and devout antagonist of homeopathy. This report According to this survey, 51% were in favour of CAM use was not exactly a vote of and for the people. (26% were very much in favour, 25% were in favour). In Scotland, 12% of general practitioners use This survey found that 38% of the medical doctors homeopathic medicines and 49% of all genera prescribed homeopathic medicines.” practitioner practices (at least one medical doctor in a A survey of obstetrics departments at hospitals in the group practice) prescribe them."* state of North Rhine-Westphalia found that acupuncture The use of homeopathic medicines is not simply and homeopathic medicine were the two most popular in the treatment of humans but also animals. | commonly used CAM practices. A total of 187 obstetrics Although there is little data presently available on this | departments were identified, and 138 (73.4%) responded ...Anne Milton, the new health minister, welcomed the MPs' report but asserted that homeopathy has a long and established go doctors and patients. NEXUS ¢ 25 tradition...and should remain a choice for British OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2010 www.nexusmagazine.com