Comments on: Newsnight/Sense About Science Malaria & Homeopathy Sting – The Transcripts

By: jiangjiang

jiangjiang — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 02:02:53 +0000

ed hardy ed hardy ed hardy clothing ed hardy clothing ed hardy shop ed hardy shop christian audigier christian audigier ed hardy cheap ed hardy cheap ed hardy outlet ed hardy outlet ed hardy sale ed hardy sale ed hardy store ed hardy store ed hardy mens ed hardy mens ed hardy womens ed hardy womens ed hardy kids ed hardy kids ed hardy kids

By: wayscj

wayscj — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:31:53 +0000

Laptop Battery Laptop Battery Laptop Batteries Laptop Batteries discount laptop battery discount laptop battery notebook battery notebook battery computer battery computer battery replacement laptop battery replacement laptop battery notebook batteries notebook batteries

By: Ben Goldacre

Ben Goldacre — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 14:05:15 +0000

from melanie oxley:

“I trust you realise this is NOT the transcript but a very edited and thereby falsifying extract.

“We are still trying to get the SAS to release the FULL transcript so we can chase up any members who have been remiss. As it stands, and as it looks, given their refusal to let us see the material, I can only think some very shameful behaviour has taken place between Newsnight producers and SAS. If you do happen to receive the FULL transcript, perhaps you would pass it to me under the table?”

i’ve just checked and been told that you have in fact been sent every word of two conversations with the fellow of the society of homeopaths who was caught in the sting (in which ten out of ten homeopaths gave dangerous advice).

not only was this full transcript sent to you, but apparently the email with the attachments was acknowledged by your chief executive. perhaps this document has been lost within the Society of Homeopaths.

which aspects of the document i have posted above are “falsifying”?

By: Ben Goldacre

Ben Goldacre — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 13:43:39 +0000

Melanie Oxley:

thanks for this. do you not think they might just be avoiding releasing any identifying information about the people involved? that seems quite decent to me: if there is anything you would like short of that kind of personal info then i’d be happy to ask, this seems like a fairly comprehensive document to me.

after seeing you on newsnight defending the use of homeopathy in malaria in the context of this survey (video online various places) it’s great to hear that you are so keen to follow up on policing the issue.

By: Melanie

Melanie — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 13:31:12 +0000

Dear Ben
I trust you realise this is NOT the transcript but a very edited and thereby falsifying extract.
We are still trying to get the SAS to release the FULL transcript so we can chase up any members who have been remiss. As it stands, and as it looks, given their refusal to let us see the material, I can only think some very shameful behaviour has taken place between Newsnight producers and SAS. If you do happen to receive the FULL transcript, perhaps you would pass it to me under the table?

BW
Melanie

By: Delster

Delster — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 10:43:22 +0000

i have an idea…. what we do is get volunteer doctors and homeopaths to medicate themselves with their chosen anti malarial medications.

We then stick them in a room full of hungry mosquitoes that are known to be carriers and then compare numbers of infected doctors v homeopaths… also if symptoms develop then they can only medicate from within their field….

possibly a bit harsh on the doctors getting bitten a lot but it should help weed out the numbers of homeopaths a bit!

By: Dave M

Dave M — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 09:47:25 +0000

“It seems I may have been mis-remembering (blushes). Please ignore my previous post.”

I am sure you remebered correctly, I think WHO still recommends Chloroquine and/or Proguanil for India, both of which you can buy over the counter. It is only the nastier anti-malarials that you have to get prescribed (possibly for the very resason that they need to run through dangers/side-effects with you?)

By: wilksie

wilksie — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 07:30:45 +0000

“Most anti-malarials are prescription only so you would have to go to your GP (or a travel clinic) to get them”

It seems I may have been mis-remembering (blushes). Please ignore my previous post.

By: Dave M

Dave M — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 10:46:53 +0000

Most anti-malarials are prescription only so you would have to go to your GP (or a travel clinic) to get them. I

have been on a number of trips that involved taking anti-malarials and have always found GPs to be really helpful. They have always explained the choice of anti-malarials for each region and the potential side-effects. (E.g. Vivid nightmares with Mefloquine versus increased photosensitivity with Doxycycline.)

I can’t specifically remember people talked to about mosquito nets but I my GPs explained that no malaria prophylaxsis is 100% effective so I should avoid mosquito bites. Also what symptoms to look out for and what to do if I thought I did have malaria.

By: wilksie

wilksie — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 09:29:23 +0000

I wonder how many people go to the GP for anti-malarials? I bet a large number buy them over the counter at the chemist. This is how my daughter obtained her anti-malarials for a trip to India. I don’t recall any advice but she was given a leaflet – which of course some people won’t bother reading.

By: Mojo

Mojo — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 09:06:51 +0000

“I have a feeling this is going to come across as defending homeopathy or attacking conventional medicine, neither of which are my intention at all, but I did find myself wondering how many GPs approached for a prescription for anti-malarials (i.e. not a specialised travel clinic) would give advice on possible side-effects, not getting bitten, recognising the symptoms and so on.”

All the medication my doctor prescribes comes with a leaflet listing reported side effects.

By: Daniel Rutter

Daniel Rutter — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 23:16:22 +0000

Another good read on this subject: Alternative medicine versus chicken pox.

By: Ben Goldacre

Ben Goldacre — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 22:55:07 +0000

interesting point, my guess is it would be much more than nought out of ten. doctors often have a spiel that goes with certain drugs, it comes out of your mouth without you even noticing. also, of course, doctors are stylised by the homs as being the pillpushers, while the homs are the holistic ones. for me the failure of homeopaths here to give “holistic” advice about bite prevention was by far the funniest thing about the whole sting, and it demonstrated how much “holistic” is product-branding rather than anything more meaningful.

By: HarryR

HarryR — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 19:59:47 +0000

I have a feeling this is going to come across as defending homeopathy or attacking conventional medicine, neither of which are my intention at all, but I did find myself wondering how many GPs approached for a prescription for anti-malarials (i.e. not a specialised travel clinic) would give advice on possible side-effects, not getting bitten, recognising the symptoms and so on.

As I say, I’m not trying to bash conventional medicine, but it would be nice to have a comparison. I’m going to need a prescription for malaria pills myself soon; I’ll be interested to see how the appointment goes.

By: Nebbish

Nebbish — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 18:56:00 +0000

Any chance of naming the clinics/homeopaths concerned? Some of them can be worked out from the Newsnight segment; why not name and shame them all?

I’d be very interested to know what George Lewith (practising homeopath who also holds a university chair in complementary medicine) has to say about all this…