Two new campaigns which call on the veterinary profession to unite against the practice of homeopathy have been launched this week.
Both campaigns raise concerns about the ethics of veterinary surgeons using irrational, unscientific and ineffective remedies to treat ill animals or in place of conventional vaccinations.
The Campaign For Rational Veterinary Medicine presents the case against homeopathy on a new microsite, and asks the profession to unite around a call for the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons to issue a public position statement that homeopathy is ineffective in animals, bringing it into line with the NHS, the findings of the British government's own review of homeopathy, and the BVA.
The campaign also asks that veterinary surgeons who prescribe homeopathic remedies be required to get owners to sign a consent form, prepared by the College, giving the College’s views on the ineffectiveness of homeopathy.
Lastly, the campaign asks that promotion or advertising of homeopathy by veterinary surgeons should abide by Advertising Standards Authority regulations and carry a statement from the College.
The Campaign for Rational Veterinary Medicine has been set up by a group of practitioners including the BSAVA Past President, Mike Jessop, Alex Gough, Martin Whitehead, Niall Taylor, Phil Hyde, Martin Atkinson and Brennen McKenzie, supported by VetSurgeon.org Editor, Arlo Guthrie. It also has the support of the noted author, academic and erstwhile dog owner, Professor Edzard Ernst.
Arlo said: "This is not just about the ethics of prescribing or tolerating the practice of prescribing water to animals that are dependent on us. There are 13m pet owning households in the UK. As well as visiting the vet, they will all be patients at some stage in their lives. So what you and the College say about homeopathy in animals has the potential to affect the choices they make for themselves too. Think how much money and false hope you could save them, and the consequent benefit to human welfare."
By complete coincidence, another campaign against veterinary homeopathy was launched last week. This one, by Danny Chambers MRCVS goes further, calling for a complete ban on the prescription of homeopathic remedies by veterinary surgeons. The petition has already gathered over 750 supporters.
Arlo said: "I think it’s important to say that the two petitions are not mutually exclusive. If you think both represent acceptable solutions, then sign both!"
Visit the Campaign for Rational Veterinary Medicine here, and sign the petition here.
Sign Danny Chambers' petition on change.org here.
PS: Whilst you're here, take a moment to see our latest job opportunities for vets.
The belief system, 'conformation bias', works two ways Arlo, with the majority of vets being just as fanatical in their beliefs that it doesn't work (without ever reading any papers about it, being present in a homeopathic consult or anything) as homeopathists are in the belief that it does work. Four out of five large meta-analyses, presenting, for example, the overall odds ratio of homeopathy having a positive effect, drawing from very many studies analysed after setting strict inclusion criteria, actually present conclusions in favour of homeopathy. You can say you don't belief it but don't say the work doesn't exist.
People who don't belief in it will never take any existing evidence on board. That is the way the world works... creating simple black and white messages, ridiculising what other people do and especially a degree of hysteria, invariably goes down well - it seems to appeal to us all, especially if we present it as if we have 'ecvidence based medicine' on our side. Your reply just repeats the phrases we have been presented with and adds a few things to unjustifyably make homeopathy look ridiculous. This works fantastically well in terms of point scoring. But whether all of this actually does any animals or vets a service remains to be seen. I would rather see that both 'parties' actually try to learn from each other. 'Alternative therapies' tend to have been around for very much longer than the therapies we prescribe. Narowing the spectre of treatments available - ridding ourselves of knowledge on alternatives - is not going to serve animals.
Can you please show me the evidence that homeopathy, as claimed, is BAD for animal welfare?