Re: Homeopathic overdose protest in Boots | Forum

Homeopathic overdose protest in Boots

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handofdave Jan 27, 2010 18:27:20

Replying to Merrick

Merrick wrote:

handofdave wrote:

so if people want to believe in it, I'm not going to tell them different.

People can believe whatever crap they like, but the country's leading pharmacist has a duty to act on what we know. When they've seen the evidence and concede that homeopathic pills are just nibs of sugar, they should stop selling them as medicine.

If your argument is that the insurance/public health system shouldn't be paying for it, I agree with you.

At the same time, I have to point out that big pharma, with its giant profits, has (in the USA anyhow) muscled their way into a position where they have enormous control over the healthcare system. Their leverage allows them to attack nontraditional medicine's legality and grant themselves power over what doctors prescribe. As a result, we've got people going broke paying for insanely expensive drugs that carry dangerous side effects... admittedly, some effective, but some not so much.

Am I against quackery? Yes. Am I also against corporate seizure of the doctor-patient relationship? Oh yes indeed.

nigelswift Jan 27, 2010 18:54:39

Replying to handofdave

The bottom line is this, is it not?

Boots is so well known it is seen as almost an extension of the NHS and as such is believed to be supplying "proper" medicine blessed by science and the medical establishment. But on the very next shelf it is selling loads of different bottles of pure water with crazy, unscientific, impossible claims attached. Seems wrong to me. Seems like money is talking. How about, as well as grumbling about Big Pharma you also rail about Big Phibber?

;)

Merrick Jan 27, 2010 19:05:35

Replying to handofdave

handofdave wrote:

If your argument is that the insurance/public health system shouldn't be paying for it, I agree with you.

That's not my argument, no. My argument is that the nation's most trusted pharmacy has a duty to act responsibly as medical professionals, and should not sell sugar in containers that claim is is medicine.

handofdave wrote:

At the same time, I have to point out that big pharma, with its giant profits, has (in the USA anyhow) muscled their way into a position where they have enormous control over the healthcare system.

I totally agree. We should to proper trials on all manner of medical approaches and discern what works and what doesn't. Big Pharma is certainly guilty of profiteering. Mind you, the profits margin on homeopathic sugar nibs is far greater.

Popel Vooje Jan 27, 2010 19:07:43

Replying to handofdave

handofdave wrote:

Merrick wrote:

handofdave wrote:

so if people want to believe in it, I'm not going to tell them different.

If your argument is that the insurance/public health system shouldn't be paying for it, I agree with you.

Am I against quackery? Yes. Am I also against corporate seizure of the doctor-patient relationship? Oh yes indeed.

Isn't this part of the reason why internet pharmacies with highly questionable legal status are making such a killing by making generics cheaply available over there (and over here, for that matter)? Successive US presidents have paid lip service to the importance of free enterprise - maybe this is an example of free market capitalism working against the agendas of companies and politicians who so vocally support it. Can't say I'll be losing any sleep over that, personally.