The Quackometer

Sense about Science, a UK charity who aim to assist and campaign for better science reporting in the media, have today launched a new pamphlet design to help people understand how medical claims on the Internet may be misleading. The report entitled "I've got nothing to lose by trying it" explains "how to tell the beneficial from the bogus in the face of the miracle cure stories, new wonder-drugs and breakthrough therapies that are increasingly promoted" on the Internet. In particular, they focus on how quacks and charlatans may exploit people with long term chronic illnesses into trying unproven alternative treatments - usually at a significant cost.


This is something the quackometer cares about. The quackometer was set up to help people think critically about health claims on the web (and I am pleased to announce that the original quackometer engine should be restored to full working status within days.)


Tracy Brown of Sense about Science describes the reason for producing the guide as follows:

We’ve been contacted by so many people exhausted from the pressure they feel to try advertised treatments, dietary regimes and exercises. One person told us how the last years of his wife’s life were spent endlessly pursuing new treatments, from goats blood serums to unlicensed stem cell treatments abroad, all to no avail. This guide aims to help patients and their families to evaluate the treatment claims they are bombarded with.

Giving people false hope may well provide some temporary relief from whatever fears and frustrations they may suffer. However, the realisation that you have been patronised, deceived and fleeced of money must be devastating. The realisation that you could have been spending your time concentrating on more fruitful and meaningful parts of you life must be terrible. In my last post, I described how the World Health Organisation are actively promoting government funded quackery around the world. Often the justification is that because poor people cannot afford real medicine then it is alright to offer them unproven and nonsensical treatments. Alternative medicine is so often a cruelly deceiving distraction from what really matters in life. For that reason, I support what Sense about Science are doing here.


The MP Phil Willis puts it very well,

The cruelest deception for a patient with chronic illness is the promise of a cure based on empty hope not evidence. The publication of ‘I’ve got nothing to lose by trying it’ is an inspired attempt to empower patients to evaluate so called ‘miracle cures’ with evidence based advice.

Empowerment is such a key word. Quacks often talk of giving patients choice and condemn people like me for trying to restrict choice. But there can be no meaningful choice without being accuratly informed. It is therefore highly amusing to see how the Society of Homeopaths respond to this development from their arch-rivals at Sense About Science. Today, they issued a rare press release. They have not issued too many this year, probably after learning that keeping a low profile is the best way to avoid criticism of their actions.

They say,

The Society of Homeopaths, the UK’s largest regulator of homeopaths, welcomes the call by Sense About Science today for tighter regulation of the internet, to ensure that vunerable people are not exploited by dangerous treatments.

Whilst there is a large body of published evidence to show that homeopathy is both safe and effective, The Society considers it important that people consult a qualified and registered homeopath.

Registered members of The Society of Homeopaths are clearly identifed by the designation RSHom, which reassures the patient that they have met the required education standards, have undergone The Society’s registration process, are fully insured and have agreed to abide by a strict Code of Ethics & Practice.

Regular readers of this blog will know what a crock this is.

We know exactly how the Society fail to condemn homeopaths who exploit vulnerable people. We know how little evidence there is of homeopathic effectiveness and just how bonkers the whole process is. And we know just how little their code of ethics actually mean. The SaS pamphlet is design to see through the hogwash on the net dished out by almost all homeopaths.

I too look forward to greater regulation of quacks and when irresponsible homeopaths are in court trying to explain themselves. You really have to hand it to the Society for the sheer temerity of this press release. Bravo!

Labels: sense about science, Society of Homeopaths