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21st October 2009, 03:02 AM | #1 |
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UK Parliament "Evidence Check: Homeopathy"
http://www.parliament.uk/parliamenta...n05_091020.cfm
The new Science and Technology Committee has been asked by the government to consider the evidence for homoeopathy, and is asking for "short submissions":
Quote:
Contact details and guidelines for submissions are available via the link. |
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21st October 2009, 03:15 AM | #2 |
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Well if they're looking for evidence of the effectiveness of Homoeopathy it'll be a mighty short submission
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21st October 2009, 04:09 AM | #3 |
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Hopefully yes, but note that we're already in the unfortunate circumstance of NHS funding of homeopathy so time invested preparing a blank sheet of paper could in this case be time well spent.
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21st October 2009, 05:54 AM | #4 |
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It's an awfully short deadline....
Rolfe. |
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21st October 2009, 06:02 AM | #5 |
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What about submitting the evidence that has already been published in medical journals, i.e. negative evidence?
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21st October 2009, 07:10 AM | #6 |
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I'm confused...
Quote:
If material already published cannot form the basis of a submission then that stops someone who has published research on the subject from making a submission based on their research... or have I mis-understood this? |
21st October 2009, 08:48 AM | #7 |
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I think you've misunderstood. I think they mean "don't just send us a copy of your pre-print from the _Lancet_; put it in context 'cause we're bureaucrats."
So you write a memo that says "As I showed in the _Lancet_ (see attached), there is no evidentiary basis for homeopathy whatsoever and therefore it should neither be funded nor supported through the NHS. Hugs and kisses, Lord Marmalade, MA (Cantab), DPhil (Oxon), FRS, FRCS, FRSPCA, OM, PC, DH, XYZ-PDQ" |
21st October 2009, 09:37 AM | #8 |
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21st October 2009, 01:45 PM | #9 |
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The Guardian's Science Blog has covered this: Homeopathy licences based on "no scientific evidence".
It includes a link to the governments responses to the committee's earlier questions: Memorandum from Government on the Innovation, Universities, Science & Skills Select Committee Evidence Check
Quote:
See also the comments about university courses in pseudoscience (p. 10 of the government responses document). ***Eagerly awaits the next posting on DC's Improbable Science*** |
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21st October 2009, 03:47 PM | #10 |
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In case anyone was curious about the first parliamentary Evidence Check, it concerns literacy interventions in the education system.
I wonder what, if anything, will come of these evidence checks. It's not as if anyone who cares to find out doesn't already know that homeopathy is garbage. |
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23rd October 2009, 01:03 AM | #11 |
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***Bump***
Is anyone submitting anything to them? |
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23rd October 2009, 03:54 AM | #12 |
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What sort of thing will the committee look at on its own account?
For example, are they likely to ask Edzard Ernst for an opinion or call him as a witness? |
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23rd October 2009, 07:23 AM | #13 |
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"i'm frankly surprised homeopathy does as well as placebo" Anonymous homeopath. "Alas, to wear the mantle of Galileo it is not enough that you be persecuted by an unkind establishment; you must also be right." (Robert Park) Is the pen is mightier than the sword? Its effectiveness as a weapon is certainly enhanced if it is sharpened properly and poked in the eye of your opponent. |
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24th October 2009, 03:06 AM | #14 |
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I think this consultation may be a bit different from the usual government gerrymandering. For a start the committee chairman Phil Willis MP is a good sceptic and he has good scientists as researchers (I know one of them). I suspect the aim is not to learn anything new about homeopathy, but to challenge the government's support of it.
Yes, I do know that highly authoritative people have been called to give oral evidence, so it could be interesting. I am preparing my submission, and I know others have done so, but they can't be published so you won't see them blogged. |
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20th November 2009, 10:21 AM | #15 |
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20th November 2009, 10:57 AM | #16 |
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20th November 2009, 12:54 PM | #17 |
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"i'm frankly surprised homeopathy does as well as placebo" Anonymous homeopath. "Alas, to wear the mantle of Galileo it is not enough that you be persecuted by an unkind establishment; you must also be right." (Robert Park) Is the pen is mightier than the sword? Its effectiveness as a weapon is certainly enhanced if it is sharpened properly and poked in the eye of your opponent. |
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20th November 2009, 02:37 PM | #18 |
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20th November 2009, 02:54 PM | #19 |
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20th November 2009, 03:50 PM | #20 |
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"i'm frankly surprised homeopathy does as well as placebo" Anonymous homeopath. "Alas, to wear the mantle of Galileo it is not enough that you be persecuted by an unkind establishment; you must also be right." (Robert Park) Is the pen is mightier than the sword? Its effectiveness as a weapon is certainly enhanced if it is sharpened properly and poked in the eye of your opponent. |
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24th November 2009, 11:30 AM | #21 |
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Heads up.
Homeopathy session on BBC Parliament tomorrow 9.30am or watch online at http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Pl...meetingId=5221
Quote:
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25th November 2009, 02:16 AM | #22 |
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Bump. Less than 15 minutes to go.
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25th November 2009, 02:40 AM | #23 |
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Who's the chair? He's brilliant.
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25th November 2009, 02:45 AM | #24 |
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Phil Willis?
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25th November 2009, 02:48 AM | #25 |
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Homeopathic manufacturers bloke complaining that the evidence that says homeopathy is rubbish is based on small trials! Not letting him get away with it though.
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25th November 2009, 02:52 AM | #26 |
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Yes, it is: http://www.philwillis.org.uk
This is serious stuff. The homeopaths must be squirming. http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Pl...meetingId=5221 |
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25th November 2009, 03:08 AM | #28 |
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Coming up... 10.30am Dr Peter Fisher, director of research, Royal London Homeopathic Hospital Professor Edzard Ernst, director, Complementary Medicine Group, Peninsula Medical School Dr James Thallon, medical director, NHS West Kent Dr Robert Mathie, research development adviser, British Homeopathic Association (A transcript of the proceedings will be available at the end of the week.) |
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25th November 2009, 03:15 AM | #29 |
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25th November 2009, 03:20 AM | #30 |
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25th November 2009, 03:26 AM | #31 |
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Professor David Colquhoun has just started tweeting on the proceedings:
http://twitter.com/david_Colquhoun (Keep refreshing his page.) |
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25th November 2009, 03:52 AM | #32 |
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"Mathie: "Efficacy is judged in placebo-controlled trials...it's specific, in terms of drug, dose and schedule. Efficacy is almost a laboratory experiment to see if a drug can have an effect."
Peter Fisher (London homeopathic hospital) - yes, treatments should be offered on the basis of efficacy and effectiveness" That pretty much kills off homeopathy then <editted typo> |
25th November 2009, 04:10 AM | #33 |
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Kumar will be pleased - one of them has just mentioned "silica"!
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25th November 2009, 04:38 AM | #34 |
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In a nutshell...
Quote:
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25th November 2009, 06:02 AM | #35 |
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Anyone know what this trial is that Robert Wilson used as his new
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"i'm frankly surprised homeopathy does as well as placebo" Anonymous homeopath. "Alas, to wear the mantle of Galileo it is not enough that you be persecuted by an unkind establishment; you must also be right." (Robert Park) Is the pen is mightier than the sword? Its effectiveness as a weapon is certainly enhanced if it is sharpened properly and poked in the eye of your opponent. |
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25th November 2009, 06:16 AM | #36 |
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For anyone who missed it, the session can still be viewed here (1hr 51mins):
http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Pl...meetingId=5221 NB. Next session:
Quote:
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25th November 2009, 06:25 AM | #37 |
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How extraordinarily frustrating it's been to listen to this debate, especially Peter Fisher's session.
Grrrnngggghhh! |
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25th November 2009, 06:37 AM | #38 |
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- Homoeopathy is old, and very popular in France.
- So is prostitution. Rolfe. |
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25th November 2009, 06:38 AM | #39 |
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Is Robert Wilson wearing a copper bracelet on his right wrist?
Does homeopathy not work for him? |
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"i'm frankly surprised homeopathy does as well as placebo" Anonymous homeopath. "Alas, to wear the mantle of Galileo it is not enough that you be persecuted by an unkind establishment; you must also be right." (Robert Park) Is the pen is mightier than the sword? Its effectiveness as a weapon is certainly enhanced if it is sharpened properly and poked in the eye of your opponent. |
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25th November 2009, 06:47 AM | #40 |
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My favourite bit (quoted from the grauniad commentary)
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