News

Sceptics anger at homeopath GP's lecture

By Victoria Smith
March 08, 2012

Sceptics are planning to protest outside a homeopathy lecture in Wokingham next week.

Members of the Reading Skeptics group criticised homeopathic remedies ahead of the planned talk from Dr Jayne Donegan, a GP and homeopath, on ‘Nursing Your Child Supportively Through Acute Illness’ at Wokingham Town Hall in Market Place.

However talk organisers from Thames Valley Homeopaths have defended the event, saying it aims to empower parents with more information about treatment methods.

Group chairman Margaret Kincade said it was a shame the Reading Skeptics had felt it necessary to plan a protest for the event.

Protest leader Michael Agg, of Brookside in Wokingham, said: “Dr Donegan advocates the use of homeopathy, a pre-scientific belief that has been proven to have no benefit beyond that of sugar pills.”

The Reading Skeptics promote science and evidence-based policy in the county and are warning Wokingham people to be wary of the advice expected to be given at the talk.

Mr Agg said: “As patients we need our GPs to understand the risks and benefits of the treatments they prescribe.

“That a GP should recommend homeopathy, especially for sick children, calls into question the doctor’s ability to weigh the evidence.”

Karen Hall said: “Nursing a child through illness is a harrowing experience; offering a placebo in these circumstances is at best insulting, if not exploitative and dangerous.

“Most parents would be uncomfortable with advice to allow their sick child to recover without offering any effective treatment.

“The complete absence of any scientific evidence for the efficacy of homeopathy is by now well-documented; it is therefore potentially harmful to suggest parents should rely on treatment that is known to be ineffective.

“Homeopathic medicine aims to treat like with like. For example, caffeine is used to treat sleeplessness.

“If this doesn’t sound sufficiently nonsensical already, the caffeine is diluted and diluted to such an extent that no molecules of caffeine actually remain in the water.

“After dilution, the water is vigorously shaken by 10 hard strikes against an elastic body, and this supposedly ensures that the water contains a ‘memory’ of the caffeine.”

Mrs Kincade defended the talk, saying the event would not advocate cutting out medical treatment from doctors and that it would focus on acute, not serious, illness, such as fevers, cuts and bruises.

She said: “We are talking about informing and empowering parents to understand what a fever is doing and what they can do to help.

“You should use medication when relevant and the talk is about knowing when medication is relevant.”

In 2010 the House of Commons science and technology committee called for the NHS to stop funding homeopathy, labelling the treatment as having just a placebo effect.

Mrs Kincade said: “Placebos are very powerful.

“It is not something you should dismiss. Everybody who goes to the GP can get a placebo effect because you trust you are going to get help and talking about it.

“For some people the placebo effect is getting that piece of paper and walking out of the surgery.

“You can’t rule out the placebo effect. There is lots of evidence that homeopathy works but some people don’t want to see it.”

Mrs Kincade pointed out that of 140 randomised controlled trials, which are a type of clinical trial, that took place for homeopathic remedies by the end of 2009, there were 74 with firm conclusions and of those 60 were positively in favour of homeopathy.

The talk at Wokingham Town Hall will take place on Wednesday, March 14, from 7.30pm.

The talk has been organised by Thames Valley Homeopaths and tickets cost £10 per person.

To book a place visit www.tvhoms.org.uk

| View Comments (49)

« Previous Story | Next Story »

We are no longer accepting comments on this article.

Most recent user comments 15 of 49

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Next Page Show 15 | 25 | 50 per page

Regarding the Swiss report on homeopathy, there's a very good review of it here - http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/1628-the-swiss-endorse-homeopathy.html

Unsurprisingly, the report doesn't actually contain any evidence that homeopathy works.

Andrew Merritt, Wokingham
07/04/2012 at 19:48

ChristyRedd said:

"How sad that any group of people would attempt to influence the public away from this wonderful system of medicine."

To be a 'system of medicine', first it has to be shown that it is effective for a range of medical conditions.

"I've used it for many, many years with complete success and satisfaction in the treatment of chronic and acute illnesses and injuries."

Anecdote. Do you think we should approve a new Big Pharma drug on the basis of an anecdote?

"It's done wonders for my animals too."

For example?

"There are literally hundreds of high quality studies published in 86 respected, national and international peer-reviewed journals showing that homeopathy works to produce significant and sometimes substantial health benefits."

Can you say what you mean by 'high quality' studies?

"The Swiss HTA report has already been mentioned here so I will simply note that its findings on homeopathy were very positive. It showed homeopathy to be as effective as conventional medicine but free of toxic effects."

Can you say what conditions this report looked at and how they decided homeopathy was effective for these conditions?

"Although statistics on cost-effectiveness were not available in 2006, they are available now and show that homeopathy is 15.4% less expensive than conventional medicine."

Sugar from a supermarket would be hugely less expensive, but that says noting about its efficacy.

Alan Henness
17/03/2012 at 20:33

Accurate information about homeopathy, what it is, how it's practiced and its success in treating chronic and acute illnesses can be seen at:

www.hpathy.com www.nationalcenterforhomeopathy.org

ChristyRedd, New York, USA
17/03/2012 at 19:08

Some information on the planning of this event:

http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?p=8085499

ChristyRedd, New York, USA
17/03/2012 at 00:18

How sad that any group of people would attempt to influence the public away from this wonderful system of medicine. I've used it for many, many years with complete success and satisfaction in the treatment of chronic and acute illnesses and injuries. It's done wonders for my animals too.

There are literally hundreds of high quality studies published in 86 respected, national and international peer-reviewed journals showing that homeopathy works to produce significant and sometimes substantial health benefits. Some of them can be seen at:

http://avilian.co.uk/

www.extraordinarymedicine.org/2011/01/14/extraordinary-evidence-homeopathys-best-research/

The Swiss HTA report has already been mentioned here so I will simply note that its findings on homeopathy were very positive. It showed homeopathy to be as effective as conventional medicine but free of toxic effects.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16883077

Although statistics on cost-effectiveness were not available in 2006, they are available now and show that homeopathy is 15.4% less expensive than conventional medicine.

ChristyRedd, New York, USA
17/03/2012 at 00:00

As a counterblast to Jayne Donegan by an expert in homeopathy, I recommend 'Homeopathy in Perspective' by Dr Anthony Campbell, who was a consultant physician at the Royal London Homeopathy Hospital. Also, google 'Escaping the Cult of Homeopathy' for an illuminating article by the Canard Noir that quotes extensively from a former homeopath.

Skepticat UK
15/03/2012 at 22:42

Looks like some homeopathists have got a bit upset about all this and are urging supporters to write to their MP and the News Editor of the Wokingham Times (Vicky Smith) as they themselves have done. Read all about it here: http://www.hmc21.org/#/wokingham/4561841106

They apparently think that a poor report written by homeopaths trumps good science and evidence.

Alan Henness
15/03/2012 at 14:25

GEM1511 said:

"There may be more worthy projects in the Wokingham area that the 'sceptics' can focus their attention and efforts on!!! (see links below)..."

I'm sorry, I don't quite see the relevance of those links. Are you saying we should be applying our skepticism to those issues? Ok then.

Our mission within the skeptical movement is to encourage people to be skeptical of all claims, including on issues of public policy. How do we know that certain policing actions are actually effective? Is anyone scientifically studying police methods? In some areas, on some issues, yes. But I suspect that in policing, as in other things, evidence-based policy is all too rare.

For example, some people claim that more and better street lighting deters criminal and anti-social behaviour. Others claim that "security lights just help burglars find their way about". This should be a matter for scientific enquiry, not personal opinion. It should not be beyond the ability of local authorities to collaborate on a comprehensive study into this matter.

Oh, and as for sniffer dogs: http://skepticflyer.blogspot.com/2011/02/sniffer-dogs-led-astray-by-their.html

Mike Agg
14/03/2012 at 13:11

GEM1511 said:

"There may be more worthy projects in the Wokingham area that the 'sceptics' can focus their attention and efforts on!!! (see links below)..."

You missed finding the cure for cancer, feeding the world's starving and world peace.

Alan Henness
13/03/2012 at 14:20

There may be more worthy projects in the Wokingham area that the 'sceptics' can focus their attention and efforts on!!! (see links below) http://www.getwokingham.co.uk/news/s/2096084_police_crack_down_on_unruly_wokingham_teenagers http://www.getwokingham.co.uk/news/s/2056255_sniffer_dog_targets_drugs_in_wokinghams_pubs http://www.getwokingham.co.uk/news/s/2098945_five_years_supporting_families_of_drug_addicts

GEM1511
13/03/2012 at 10:37

Gemma Hawkins said:

"It is about being able to support our bodies immune systems, whether we choose the natural route or decide to take conventional medicine."

Can you explain a bit about the 'natural route' to supporting our body's immune system - what is the natural route; what can it achieve and what are its limitations?

Alan Henness
12/03/2012 at 20:49

"She has also raised children of her own using both conventional and alternative medicines. I recently went to see Jayne talk and at no point did she recommend never using conventional medicine."

Maybe I missed it, but has any commenter claimed that the contrary?

"Her lecture primarily focuses on the importance of fresh air, rest and good nutrition"

Sounds very sensible...but what has that got to do with homeopathy?

Alan, thank you for taking the time to read what I had to say. You obviously feel very strongly, as I do, about the best way to tak care of our kids.

Just to take you up on the two points above. The protest is about Jayne giving a lecture on how to treat your children by using homeopathy (so yes, people are of the belief that she does not advocate conventional medicine), but in fact that is not what her lecture is about and this is what the protesters and yourself need to understand. It is about being able to support our bodies immune systems, whether we choose the natural route or decide to take conventional medicine. Your second point about the nutrition and fresh air..what has that got to do with homeopathy? Well..exactly..now you are starting to understand.

Gemma Hawkins
12/03/2012 at 19:56

@sequana

As it happens, I do speak German, having lived and worked there many years ago. But as Alan Henness says, that is neither here nor there as an English translation is available.

As for your "Swiss Report endorses homeopathy", it gets a pretty robust rebuttal here:-

http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/1628-the-swiss-endorse-homeopathy.html

Hmm-report written by people sympathetic to homeopathy endorses homeopathy...who would have thought it?

HatsOfDoom
12/03/2012 at 14:16

Gemma Hawkins said:

"I think most people are forgetting that Jayne is also a GP which, in todays modern society makes her more than qualified to lecture on this subject (unlike most people here who have chosen to make comments regarding health care)"

Can you explain why you are making assumptions about the knowledge and qualifications of the commenters here - presumably just the ones who disagree with you?

"She has also raised children of her own using both conventional and alternative medicines. I recently went to see Jayne talk and at no point did she recommend never using conventional medicine."

Maybe I missed it, but has any commenter claimed that the contrary?

"Her lecture primarily focuses on the importance of fresh air, rest and good nutrition"

Sounds very sensible...but what has that got to do with homeopathy?

"(as did Florence Nightingale, who alot of people hold in very high esteem)"

A fallacious appeal to authority. It matters not what Florence Nightingale thought of fresh air, rest and good nutrition, because it does not affect the paucity of good evidence for homeopathy, but I wonder what you think of her description of a homeopathic "globule" as "one grain of folly"?

"..common sense for most, but also empowering for parents to know that they dont need to panic at the first sign of a cold or fever and rush their child to sit for hours in an emergency waiting room (only to be sent home with a bottle of calpol)."

Parents do need to be aware of the dangers of fever in children (taking Calpol isn't always necessary) and I'm not sure many rush their child to the nearest hospital - perhaps there does need to be better education of parents? However, I'd be wary of appealing to 'common sense' because it can very easily mislead us.

"The only in depth mention of homeopathy was a handout given towards the end with suggested ideas to help if your child has a fever. I think if people feel strongly enough to comment on this, perhaps they should attend the lecture to know exactly what it is they are protesting about."

Suggesting homeopathy for a child with a fever is disgusting and reprehensible as there is not one jot of good evidence that it will help and it could delay parents seeking proper and possibly urgently needed medical advice for what could - in some cases - be a serious medical condition.

Alan Henness
12/03/2012 at 12:03

Sequana said:

"In late 2011, the Swiss government's report on homeopathic medicine represents the most comprehensive evaluation of homeopathic medicine ever written by a government and was just published in book form in English (Bornhoft and Matthiessen, 2011). This breakthrough report affirmed that homeopathic treatment is both effective and cost-effective and that homeopathic treatment should be reimbursed by Switzerland's national health insurance program."

Perhaps you'd like to say what conditions this report looked at in terms of the evidence for homeopathy and summarise the evidence?

And it wasn't written by the Swiss Government, of course, but by homeopaths. But if you're looking for a report that is less biased towards pseudo science and fallacious argumentation and more biased towards independent evidence and science (as decisions about our health should be), you might like to read the House of Commons Science and Technology Sub Committee's <a href="http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-archive/science-technology/s-t-homeopathy-inquiry/">Evidence Check</a> report.