Re: Homeopathic overdose protest in Boots | Forum

Homeopathic overdose protest in Boots

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dave clarkson Jan 28, 2010 22:53:56

Replying to Merrick

"They're going for Boots as they're the biggest pharmacy in the country, they are trusted to be selling effective medicines"

They do. They also sell other products such as 'complementary medicines' - as well as perfumes, reading glasses, food, photographic materials and insect repellent.

"..none of us can have the time to check the data on the efficacy of everything our chemists give us"

Then find the time if buying such products and feel it's a serious issue... do a bit of personal research, ask a pharmacist and if still in doubt, you have the option not to purchase.

".. and yet they admit that homeopathic pills are useless."

Where have they said they are 'useless'?

"My guess - untested - is that having someone you trust take a bit of time to be nice to you and be soothing is immensely powerful, and the reason homoeopaths get good results is they sit down and be soothing with their patient for an hour or so instead of the 4 minutes you get at a GP's."

That's a very obvious point that anyone could be'nice' but still a generalisation.

"Some studies show homeopathy to work, others show it to be harmful, and the vast bulk show it to have no effect at all beyond placebo."

Which is why they are sold as complementary medicines.
People have choices. Some people believe they work.

Merrick Jan 29, 2010 12:36:14

Replying to dave clarkson

dave clarkson wrote:

They also sell other products such as 'complementary medicines' - as well as perfumes, reading glasses, food, photographic materials and insect repellent.

Not on the pharmacy bit erroneously labelled as being efficacious for medical conditions they don't. Sell them in shops - preferably the sweets counter given they're just sugar - but having them in the pharmacy making unfounded claims for their medical effectiveness is misleading and dangerous.

dave clarkson wrote:

Where have they said they are 'useless'?

Paul Bennett, Boots' Professional Standards Director and Superintendent Pharmacist, gave evidence to the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee on 25 November.

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmselect/cmsctech/uc45-i/uc4502.htm

He conceded there was no evidence to say homeopathy was effective beyond placebo but it 'was about consumer choice'

dave clarkson wrote:

People have choices. Some people believe they work.

Yes. Would that make it OK for a pharmacy to sell cola for post-sex vaginal douching as a contraceptive? After all, some people think it works. Would Boots sell paper condoms?

As Evan Harris said to the Boots guy at the Commons:

"If someone believed that paracetamol was efficacious in preventing heart disease and the paracetamol said on it "this can be used to prevent heart disease" you would not be happy and I am sure Jayne Lawrence would not be happy with that. So what is it about homeopathy which does not give you qualms when they make claims which you say you do not believe stand up? No-one is saying you should not sell them and you should not sell them as certified as safe and well-manufactured and the box says what is in it, which is nothing - that is fine - but do you not have qualms about selling things that have assertions on about clinical effectiveness that do not have evidence behind them and evidence that you do not believe?"