Homeopathy prosecution in Canada?

[Wolfman]

From Canada's Globe and Mail newspaper (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/canadas-sports-doctor-to-the-stars-faces-drug-charges/article1343070/): a Canadian doctor (and not just any doctor, but our very own "Doctor to the Stars") is being investigated for the use of homeopathic remedies. However, he is not, as one might suspect, being investigated because these 'remedies' are completely bogus and don't do a thing...he's being investigated for the use of illegal drugs.

The irony in this article is rich. The doctor who could very easily get out of the whole thing by simply saying, "Hey, they don't actually do anything, they're completely harmless"...but who would then destroy his credibility (and business by doing so. So he has to come up with an argument that he's done nothing wrong, that these medications do have some effect, but that they do not need to be controlled or approved by Canada's medical authorities.

Then there's this brilliant quote from his lawyer:
"He has the pulse of the international community and the international sports community has his pulse," the lawyer said. "We're not talking about the charlatans with cancer cures and everything else, or the other ones, the superagents, propping up their athletes with superenhancement drugs. This is not it at all. This is really going into healing injuries.""We're not talking about charlatans"...well, yes, in fact, we are. "This is really going into healing injuries"...well, no, in fact, its not.

I sent the article to Randi, as it seemed just up his alley, and hope he'll be commenting on it in SWIFT, also.

[Vic Vega]

I didn't know it was illegal to bring water into Canada.

[Mojo]

It would be interesting to find out exactly what the medicines in question were.

From the story linked in the OP: "Editor's Note: We have closed comments on this story for legal reasons. We appreciate your understanding."

[Toke]

Interesting dilemma for him. :D

[Gord_in_Toronto]

I didn't know it was illegal to bring water into Canada.

I don't believe it is. :(

However, the only drug mentioned in the Globe and Snail is Actovegin and that apparently is not actually homeopathic. I have no idea why the good doctor would appear to think it was. (Though I could speculate why he says so. :D)

I am laying in a huge supply of popcorn to see this play out in the courts.

[pakeha]

From the linked article:

"There's a group of homeopathic medications we use for muscle tears and they're not available in Canada," Dr. Galea said. "So I had one of my assistants get them from Germany. And we use it on the treatment of muscle tears. It wasn't Health Canada-approved, but under the College of Physicians and Surgeons, I can use substances that are not approved by Health Canada. But the patients have to be informed. So that's what kind of was the misunderstanding with the RCMP."

What could this 'group of homeopathic medications' include?
Other than water.

[pakeha]

I've been Googling and found this:

Few Homeopathic Remedies to Consider
•Arnica is the first remedy to think of in sudden injuries, for example in the case of a torn Achilles tendon which usually occurs suddenly. Pain from the injury is typically described as feeling sore and feels worse for touching. It is a first-rate first-aid remedy for sprains and speeds healing of injuries, especially trauma injuries. Bruising and bleeding are greatly lessened by using Arnica. Arnica is also helpful for chronic injuries that resulted from an initial trauma. Excellent before and after surgery.

•Ruta Grav is useful with injuries to the bones and periosteum (the connective tissue that covers bones). Pain from the injury is typically described as feeling bruised, and 'as if beaten' , and feels very stiff. Usually the injury is worse when lying on the affected part., and also worse in wet, cold weather. Very useful in chronic overuse of tendons, especially wrists.

•Rhus Tox is useful in sports injuries especially in muscle sprains and where tendons feel torn. The pain is typically described as feeling worse for being wet and cold, and often is worse at night. A keynote to using this remedy is that the injury feels better with application of heat and from hot baths. It is useful with arthritic complaints. Pains responding best to Rhus Tox are those which improve with movement, although first movement is painful, but continuous motion relieves the pain.


Read more: http://209.85.229.132/search?q=cache:PRpfdau-rREJ:mindbodyfitness.suite101.com/article.cfm/homeopathy_for_injuries_in_sports+homeopathy+muscl e+tears&cd=20&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=es&lr=lang_en#ixzz0VOz77FPB


I wonder if Traumeel is available in Canada.
Not homeopathic, of course, the active ingredient is Arnica.

Added- Yes Traumeel pomades and similar are available in Canada.

[blutoski]

I don't believe it is. :(

However, the only drug mentioned in the Globe and Snail is Actovegin and that apparently is not actually homeopathic. I have no idea why the good doctor would appear to think it was. (Though I could speculate why he says so. :D)

I am laying in a huge supply of popcorn to see this play out in the courts.

The lawyer appears to be in full damage control mode.


the medicines are 'homeopathic' and not covered by the Act
OK: even if they are illegal drugs for this application, under the act, he's allowed to use them if he tells patients they're experimental and obtains their consent
OK: even if they're illegal drugs for this application and he didn't obtain consent for an experimental procedure as required by the Act, he's not "selling" the substances, so technically he's not violating the letter of the Act which governs the sale of drugs in Canada
and if the Globe and Mail wants to write about this... If they think the bankruptcy of their parent company is grief, wait until I send them so many legal briefs and threats that it'll make their head spin. shut down discussion on the website or face my wrath

[Gord_in_Toronto]

The lawyer appears to be in full damage control mode.


the medicines are 'homeopathic' and not covered by the Act
OK: even if they are illegal drugs for this application, under the act, he's allowed to use them if he tells patients they're experimental and obtains their consent
OK: even if they're illegal drugs for this application and he didn't obtain consent for an experimental procedure as required by the Act, he's not "selling" the substances, so technically he's not violating the letter of the Act which governs the sale of drugs in Canada
and if the Globe and Mail wants to write about this... If they think the bankruptcy of their parent company is grief, wait until I send them so many legal briefs and threats that it'll make their head spin. shut down discussion on the website or face my wrath



Thus my getting in a huge supply of popcorn. I want to see what the courts have to say. Let's hope it gets there.

WRT to the Globe and Mail. I think they have sufficient legal advice to face off against the doctor's lawyers. That they don't want random people from the Internet posting is probably wise. However, there is no reason for them not to continue publishing the facts as they arise. I would really like to have the Ontario College of Medicine become involved but they seem only to react to complaints from patients. :(

I just checked and the story has been updated on the Globe website and there a few comments -- the one about the legal knowledge of the doc's lawyer is priceless.

I also note via Google that the item has been picked up by the TO Star and CTV.