leeslover Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 And no, not alcoholic cola. I find it a bit worrying that the new Health Secretary thinks that water has a memory. Whatever next, a US President wearing magical underpants? http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/tomchiversscience/100179258/jeremy-hunt-health-secretary-thinks-homeopathy-works/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beag_teeets Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 A transport minister who is scared of flying. An environment minister who denies global warming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rudemedic Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 Whilst his views on homeopathy are a bit baffling, he isn't LaLa. Personally I find it weird that the culture secretary who was found to be too close to Murdoch, therefore not doing his job very well, has gotten a promotion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beag_teeets Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 We've also got an education secretary who believes in God. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zorrro Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 And an equality minister who blah blah blah etc etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimsleftfoot Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 (edited) A guy in charge of the NHS, who co-authored a book in 2009, calling the said NHS 'a 60 year mistake'. Don't really get this, this could play right into the hands of Labour. Edited September 4, 2012 by jimsleftfoot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leeslover Posted September 4, 2012 Author Share Posted September 4, 2012 A guy in charge of the NHS, who co-authored a book in 2009, calling the said NHS 'a 60 year mistake'. Don't really get this, this could play right into the hands of Labour. People have been assuring us that it's the envy of the world for 60 years, generally without consulting the world first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimsleftfoot Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 People have been assuring us that it's the envy of the world for 60 years, generally without consulting the world first. The Times did a review of what different countries thought of the NHS on the back of the Olympic Opening Ceremony tribute. Most countries tend to hold it in high regard apparently, apart from the US who sees it as the devil incarnate. Though saying that, the administration of the NHS lets a lot to be desired at time, but it is political football. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilStarbucksSilkySkills Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 I have a rock that keeps away tigers to sell to the Defence Secretary. Anyone have his number? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ackey Posted September 5, 2012 Share Posted September 5, 2012 PSSS - if you can get me any decent sources on the Magic Water I'd appreciate it. I've just got in to an FB fight with an old friend who believes in it and so I want to armed ready. I've already offered to "overdose" on anything she wants to send me (subject to sensible precautions). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimsleftfoot Posted September 5, 2012 Share Posted September 5, 2012 (edited) Like the Science and Technolgy Commitee's View: http://www.publicati...ech/45/4502.htm Conclusions 110. The Government's position on homeopathy is confused. On the one hand, it accepts that homeopathy is a placebo treatment. This is an evidence-based view. On the other hand, it funds homeopathy on the NHS without taking a view on the ethics of providing placebo treatments. We argue that this undermines the relationship between NHS doctors and their patients, reduces real patient choice and puts patients' health at risk. The Government should stop allowing the funding of homeopathy on the NHS. We conclude that placebos should not be routinely prescribed on the NHS. The funding of homeopathic hospitals—hospitals that specialise in the administration of placebos—should not continue, and NHS doctors should not refer patients to homeopaths. Edited September 5, 2012 by jimsleftfoot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rudemedic Posted September 5, 2012 Share Posted September 5, 2012 PSSS - if you can get me any decent sources on the Magic Water I'd appreciate it. I've just got in to an FB fight with an old friend who believes in it and so I want to armed ready. I've already offered to "overdose" on anything she wants to send me (subject to sensible precautions). Ackey, an meta-analysis review article- possibly the best type of article for seeing if a treatment works; as it takes previous trials and using met-analysis combines them so it essentially is a much larger trial. The article's main author is the NHS's leading expert on complementary medicine. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/9820349/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ackey Posted September 5, 2012 Share Posted September 5, 2012 Ackey, an meta-analysis review article- possibly the best type of article for seeing if a treatment works; as it takes previous trials and using met-analysis combines them so it essentially is a much larger trial. The article's main author is the NHS's leading expert on complementary medicine. http://www.ncbi.nlm....pubmed/9820349/ Thanks! The article's main author is the NHS's leading expert on complementary medicine. How does one become an expert on bull :censored: working in medicine and not farming? ZING! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rudemedic Posted September 5, 2012 Share Posted September 5, 2012 Thanks! How does one become an expert on bull :censored: working in medicine and not farming? ZING! Some complementary medicine does work- Acupuncture is a recognised and recommended 2nd line treatment for back pain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ackey Posted September 5, 2012 Share Posted September 5, 2012 Are you :censored:ting me? http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/acupuncture-does-not-work-for-back-pain/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rudemedic Posted September 5, 2012 Share Posted September 5, 2012 Are you :censored:ting me? http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/acupuncture-does-not-work-for-back-pain/ No, most recent guidance, http://www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/live/11887/44345/44345.pdf Not the easiest thing to read on a phone though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ackey Posted September 5, 2012 Share Posted September 5, 2012 No, most recent guidance, http://www.nice.org....44345/44345.pdf Not the easiest thing to read on a phone though. But the NHS openly encourages the use or offering of 'complimentary' medicine - personally I remain exceptionally skeptical. Is this not the classic "drugs doing the work, placebo for the mind"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rudemedic Posted September 5, 2012 Share Posted September 5, 2012 But the NHS openly encourages the use or offering of 'complimentary' medicine - personally I remain exceptionally skeptical. Is this not the classic "drugs doing the work, placebo for the mind"? Possibly, but it is the only complementary medicine that NICE recommends and back pain is notoriously difficult to treat so anything with a placebo effect is going to be jumped on. NICE, does not recommend placebos, it defeats the object of NICE to do so. But put it this way, any doctor with a patient with lower back pain who wants acupuncture and has had the first-line treatment, will have to justify their reasoning to deny the patient acupuncture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilStarbucksSilkySkills Posted September 5, 2012 Share Posted September 5, 2012 Ackey, I can't really better the sources provided by others on here right now. But I always find it both an education, and a useful stepping stone to further reading, to listen to this guy on Science issues: I find c0nc0rdance to be a very knowledgable youtuber and he puts a hell of a lot of research into each of his videos. I personally find that proponents of homeopathy fall into two categories 1) those who claim that there is solid evidence beyond placebo of it actually working. ie liars or fools 2) those who acknowledge the lack of evidence (and maybe even acknowledge the evidence to the contrary) but still think that it is ethical to prescribe such treatments, in full knowledge that they are placebos, to an ignorant public. Both these points of view are toxic in my humble opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted September 5, 2012 Share Posted September 5, 2012 This quackery is being battered by @lecanardnoir aka Andy Lewis, worth a follow. Acks, we only got the Saturday that year, but remember the mass-overdose by Ten23, Simon Singh and other prominent Skeptics on the Sunday of QEDcon a couple of years ago? Here's their Vodka promo: Chiropracty next. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilStarbucksSilkySkills Posted September 5, 2012 Share Posted September 5, 2012 (edited) Acks, we only got the Saturday that year, but remember the mass-overdose by Ten23, Simon Singh and other prominent Skeptics on the Sunday of QEDcon a couple of years ago? Here's their Vodka promo: I remember pointing out at the time that technically, homeopathic vodka, if it existed and according to quack superstition, should have a sobering effect according to the rules laid out by these people. This would in fact be an accurate claim, since it is in fact only water. Edited September 5, 2012 by PhilStarbucksSilkySkills Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
24hoursfromtulsehill Posted September 5, 2012 Share Posted September 5, 2012 David Laws is the only person who's ever become a Minister after serving a suspension from Parliament. Heard a lovely story about Clare Perry, a Tory MP who quite fancies herself. She walked into her office on Monday, before the reshuffle, and haughtily gave her staff a week's notice, on the strong belief that she was about to become a Minister. Didn't get the call. Hard lines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leeslover Posted September 5, 2012 Author Share Posted September 5, 2012 But the NHS openly encourages the use or offering of 'complimentary' medicine - personally I remain exceptionally skeptical. Is this not the classic "drugs doing the work, placebo for the mind"? Acupuncture does involve physical stuff happening to the patient - therefore I don't thing you can throw it out of court from the off as you can with homeopathy. It may well still be a load of old pony of course but I remain sceptically opened to being convinced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leeslover Posted September 5, 2012 Author Share Posted September 5, 2012 David Laws is the only person who's ever become a Minister after serving a suspension from Parliament. Heard a lovely story about Clare Perry, a Tory MP who quite fancies herself. She walked into her office on Monday, before the reshuffle, and haughtily gave her staff a week's notice, on the strong belief that she was about to become a Minister. Didn't get the call. Hard lines. Don't MPs keep their constituency staff on when they become ministers, certainly junior ones? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zorrro Posted September 5, 2012 Share Posted September 5, 2012 Both Chiropracty and acupuncture helped me when I slipped a disc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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