The smell of pork pies and burning underpants was wafting through Parliament in the early hours of this morning (20 February) as David Tredinnick got onto his hind-legs to promote woo.
In his speech he claimed that:-
“…the Royal Homeopathic Hospital has conducted more than 130 randomised and controlled trials of homeopathic treatments…”
Really? Where were they published? What was the outcome? Did they in fact take place at all? Could the Honourable Member have possibly been uttering what in Parliament-speak are called terminolgical inexactitudes and the rest of us call fibs?
He goes on:-
“…homeopathic hospitals have had to face ill-informed and hostile media coverage, as well as a dirty tricks campaign…”
The only dirty tricks campaign I am aware of is the Society of Homeopaths threatening legal action against Andy Lewis for the crime of disagreeing with them. I don’t know of any by sceptics and the Honourable Member does not enlighten us. Nor does he give us examples of the “ill-informed and hostile” media coverage. The only ill-informed coverage of homeopathy that I can recall has been pro woo.
He goes on (and on) to praise the use of homeopathy to treat malaria in Kenya where “…a local herb product has been used…”. I suspect it is possible that a local herb product is useful (quinine is derived from a herbal product) but I rather doubt that the local herbalists use homeopathic dilutions. I assume that Tredinnick is suffering the classical confusion between herbalism and homeopathy rather than deliberately attempting to mislead but he should really try to be sure of his facts before he starts mouthing off.
He concluded by singing the praises of a homeopathy clinic inSwaziland. How does he know it is so wonderful? Because a homeopathist wrote and told him.
With morons like this in Parliament, you have to fear for the future of the NHS.
Tags: David Tredinnick MP. NHS, homeopathy, malaria, Royal Homeopathic Hospital
February 20, 2008 at 10:59 pm |
You should fear for the future of the nation.
February 20, 2008 at 11:52 pm |
To quote Lord Denning: “The House of Commons starts its proceedings with a prayer. The chaplain looks at the assembled members with their varied intelligence and then prays for the country.”