Evidence-free politics was recently on display when the UK’s Department of Health rejected a call by the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee to stop funding the use of homoeopathy in the National Health Service (NHS).1 [1]
The claim is that it respects the patient’s right to make choices, but it requires everyone else to pay for it.
Using this kind of logic, why not offer astrology on the NHS to help women decide when to induce labour?[1]
The business model for alternative medicine has always been –
For those who have more money than sense.
However, this is requiring everyone else to play along with their gullibility.
Here is the conclusion of the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee about homeopathy as patient choice. A conclusion that is being ignored, because politicians know better. Because politicians pander.
For patient choice to be real choice, patients must be adequately informed to understand the implications of treatments. For homeopathy this would certainly require an explanation that homeopathy is a placebo. When this is not done, patient choice is meaningless. When it is done, the effectiveness of the placebo—that is, homeopathy—may be diminished. We argue that the provision of homeopathy on the NHS, in effect, diminishes, not increases, informed patient choice.[2]
So much for informed consent.
So much for treating patients with respect.
Maybe NHS doctors should be required to use baby talk when talking with these patients.
So there you have it: the UK Government supports alternative medicine that by its very nature is nearly all an evidence-free zone. So at a time of financial crisis, Health Minister Andrew Lansley has pledged to continue spending more than £4 million a year to capture the support of a vocal minority. My group has just described a new technique for delivering intraoperative radiotherapy for breast cancer that will save women the 6 weeks of traipsing back and forward to the radiotherapy centre.3 The sum of money to be spent on homoeopathy over a couple of years could open up this service to all the women in England and Wales who need it, while eventually saving the exchequer about £15 million a year. What’s the betting that the introduction of this service will have to wait the approval of the UK’s National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) while homoeopathy continues to be allowed to creep under that hurdle? As it transpires the Department of Health refuses to ask NICE to investigate homoeopathy.4 Shame on you, Health Minister.[1]
Will women die because of a diversion of funds to pay for magic water for gullible politically connected people?
Maybe.
I am not suggesting that the treatments proposed by Michael Baum should not have to demonstrate safety and efficacy.
Why do we allow this unicorn medicine to be given an exemption from having to demonstrate that it is safe and efficacious?
Homeopathy – more dangerous than most people realize.
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Footnotes:
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[1] Homoeopathy waives the rules.
Baum M.
Lancet. 2010 Aug 21;376(9741):577. No abstract available.
PMID: 20728742 [PubMed – in process]
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[2] House of Commons – Science and Technology Committee – Fourth Report – Evidence Check 2: Homeopathy
2 NHS funding and provision
The evidence check
Homeopathy on the NHS
Patient Choice
.
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