Comments on: UNCRC Demands Equal Access to Quackery for Children http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2009/10/uncrc-demands-equal-access-to-quackery.html Experiments and Thoughts on Quackery, Health Beliefs and Pseudoscience Thu, 29 Jul 2010 20:52:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Dr Aust http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2009/10/uncrc-demands-equal-access-to-quackery.html#comment-9033 Dr Aust Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:44:05 +0000 http://www.quackometer.net/wpblog/2009/10/uncrc-demands-equal-access-to-quackery-for-children.html#comment-9033 The answer is, Niklas, not the same one - it's a <a href="http://draust.wordpress.com/2009/10/24/keepin-it-unreal-again/" rel="nofollow">different (parallel?) quantum (un) reality.</a> I once suggested they use the slogan:<br /><br /><i>“Don’t like the physical laws of this universe? Insist on being judged by the laws of a parallel one you thought up specially!<br /><br />Choose Homeopathy now!”</i><br /><br />Which I think sums it up. The answer is, Niklas, not the same one – it's a different (parallel?) quantum (un) reality. I once suggested they use the slogan:

“Don’t like the physical laws of this universe? Insist on being judged by the laws of a parallel one you thought up specially!

Choose Homeopathy now!”

Which I think sums it up.

]]> By: Niklas Smith http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2009/10/uncrc-demands-equal-access-to-quackery.html#comment-9032 Niklas Smith Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:50:32 +0000 http://www.quackometer.net/wpblog/2009/10/uncrc-demands-equal-access-to-quackery-for-children.html#comment-9032 I can't see the specific article you are refering to in your link to the Swedish homeopaths' society, but I did notice a brochure about homeopathy for children: http://www.sakh.se/images/stories/barnbroschyr.pdf<br /><br />Given that I am bilingual in Swedish I had a read, and to me it looks like a Swedish equivalent of the notorious "Happy Families" brochure from the BCA. Some choice quotes:<br /><br />"Homeopathic treatment helps the child's immune system to work better, so that it can begin to defeat illnesses itself."<br /><br />"Homeopathy has the potential to treat practically all illnesses that can appear in childhood and there is more and more research evidence that supports the effectiveness of homeopathy for these conditions."<br /><br />"Homeopathy is especially useful for the treatment of mental and emotional problems."<br /><br />"Children and their health problems have for a long time been successfully treated with homeopathy."<br /><br />"...homeopathy offers a safe and effective treatment method for many conditions."<br /><br />What planet do these people live on? I can't see the specific article you are refering to in your link to the Swedish homeopaths' society, but I did notice a brochure about homeopathy for children: http://www.sakh.se/images/stories/barnbroschyr.pdf

Given that I am bilingual in Swedish I had a read, and to me it looks like a Swedish equivalent of the notorious "Happy Families" brochure from the BCA. Some choice quotes:

"Homeopathic treatment helps the child's immune system to work better, so that it can begin to defeat illnesses itself."

"Homeopathy has the potential to treat practically all illnesses that can appear in childhood and there is more and more research evidence that supports the effectiveness of homeopathy for these conditions."

"Homeopathy is especially useful for the treatment of mental and emotional problems."

"Children and their health problems have for a long time been successfully treated with homeopathy."

"…homeopathy offers a safe and effective treatment method for many conditions."

What planet do these people live on?

]]> By: physicsmum http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2009/10/uncrc-demands-equal-access-to-quackery.html#comment-9031 physicsmum Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:20:57 +0000 http://www.quackometer.net/wpblog/2009/10/uncrc-demands-equal-access-to-quackery-for-children.html#comment-9031 Wondering where we stand now - deep in backwaters perhaps?<br />I just logged on to U of C home page to find this interesting item:<br /><br />www.drrogersprize.org<br /><br />(Sorry - this is my first attempt at a link - bit of a dinosaur :P )<br /><br />Apparently CAM is quite well recognized here, and I thought it was much more standard practice in Europe? Wondering where we stand now – deep in backwaters perhaps?
I just logged on to U of C home page to find this interesting item:

http://www.drrogersprize.org

(Sorry – this is my first attempt at a link – bit of a dinosaur :P )

Apparently CAM is quite well recognized here, and I thought it was much more standard practice in Europe?

]]> By: Warhelmet http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2009/10/uncrc-demands-equal-access-to-quackery.html#comment-9024 Warhelmet Sun, 01 Nov 2009 13:40:52 +0000 http://www.quackometer.net/wpblog/2009/10/uncrc-demands-equal-access-to-quackery-for-children.html#comment-9024 The idea that CAM is "recognized" in Europe is a bit of a laugh really. By whom? The UK the law does not recognise any CAM as medical treatment. CAM treatment can exist in the UK because of the law that Common Law works. Some other European countries have "quacksalver" laws.<br /><br />UK non-recognition of CAM as medical treatment means that parents who rely on CAM as primary care for their children run the risk of prosecution for neglect. The CAM practitioner runs the risk of proescution for complicity. The idea that CAM is "recognized" in Europe is a bit of a laugh really. By whom? The UK the law does not recognise any CAM as medical treatment. CAM treatment can exist in the UK because of the law that Common Law works. Some other European countries have "quacksalver" laws.

UK non-recognition of CAM as medical treatment means that parents who rely on CAM as primary care for their children run the risk of prosecution for neglect. The CAM practitioner runs the risk of proescution for complicity.

]]> By: Cavall de Quer http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2009/10/uncrc-demands-equal-access-to-quackery.html#comment-9023 Cavall de Quer Sat, 31 Oct 2009 12:43:17 +0000 http://www.quackometer.net/wpblog/2009/10/uncrc-demands-equal-access-to-quackery-for-children.html#comment-9023 "It also stopped pregnant women being treated with CAM". In the interests of whom? The foetus, presumably.<br />"There is also no clear understanding how the child, or even unborn infant, can exercise their right to choose their methods of treatment.". I realise I'm opening a can of worms here about an issue in which I have litle interest, but does anyone else see a conflict with the various abortion camps on the horizon? "It also stopped pregnant women being treated with CAM". In the interests of whom? The foetus, presumably.
"There is also no clear understanding how the child, or even unborn infant, can exercise their right to choose their methods of treatment.". I realise I'm opening a can of worms here about an issue in which I have litle interest, but does anyone else see a conflict with the various abortion camps on the horizon?

]]> By: Gumpy http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2009/10/uncrc-demands-equal-access-to-quackery.html#comment-9020 Gumpy Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:39:54 +0000 http://www.quackometer.net/wpblog/2009/10/uncrc-demands-equal-access-to-quackery-for-children.html#comment-9020 The analogy is amusing and would work in a comedy sketch but doesnt actually hold true.<br />Are there University courses in carpet flying leading to membership of the Society of Carpet Flyers?<br />Are there millions of 'deluded' persons convinced that they have flown on a magic carpet?<br />Is there any carpet flying subsidised by taxpayers money?<br />Does the aviation board allow carpet manufacturers to make claims regarding traditional use of carpet flying? ie short flights only but not for long haul.<br />How long before the duck is headhunted and writing for his comedian friends? He must be already surely? The analogy is amusing and would work in a comedy sketch but doesnt actually hold true.
Are there University courses in carpet flying leading to membership of the Society of Carpet Flyers?
Are there millions of 'deluded' persons convinced that they have flown on a magic carpet?
Is there any carpet flying subsidised by taxpayers money?
Does the aviation board allow carpet manufacturers to make claims regarding traditional use of carpet flying? ie short flights only but not for long haul.
How long before the duck is headhunted and writing for his comedian friends? He must be already surely?

]]> By: Dr Aust http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2009/10/uncrc-demands-equal-access-to-quackery.html#comment-9019 Dr Aust Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:11:12 +0000 http://www.quackometer.net/wpblog/2009/10/uncrc-demands-equal-access-to-quackery-for-children.html#comment-9019 That really is a ridiculous decision, all the more so since they bang on about the principle of "the best interests of the child". How was it, for instance, in the "best interests" of baby Gloria Sams to be treated by homeopathy until she died of septicaemia, when simple conventional medical management of her eczema at an earlier stage would have saved her life?<br /><br />Sadly, in some tragic cases the best interest of a child is to be protected from its parents' delusions. The UNCRC seems to have misconstrued autonomy, and the idea that access to CAM will offer "the highest attainable standard of health" is laughable. It might just be arguable in a 3rd world setting, if NO affordable conventional care was available locally, but in a developed nation it is a joke.<br /><br />As with the WHO and various kinds of CAM, it seems that a politically-correct determination not to be seen to discriminate against "traditional" belief systems has paralysed an NGO's ability to think straight. That really is a ridiculous decision, all the more so since they bang on about the principle of "the best interests of the child". How was it, for instance, in the "best interests" of baby Gloria Sams to be treated by homeopathy until she died of septicaemia, when simple conventional medical management of her eczema at an earlier stage would have saved her life?

Sadly, in some tragic cases the best interest of a child is to be protected from its parents' delusions. The UNCRC seems to have misconstrued autonomy, and the idea that access to CAM will offer "the highest attainable standard of health" is laughable. It might just be arguable in a 3rd world setting, if NO affordable conventional care was available locally, but in a developed nation it is a joke.

As with the WHO and various kinds of CAM, it seems that a politically-correct determination not to be seen to discriminate against "traditional" belief systems has paralysed an NGO's ability to think straight.

]]> By: Andy http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2009/10/uncrc-demands-equal-access-to-quackery.html#comment-9018 Andy Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:07:01 +0000 http://www.quackometer.net/wpblog/2009/10/uncrc-demands-equal-access-to-quackery-for-children.html#comment-9018 Absolutely! Now if you could just get that into a 140 character sound bite, I'd twitter it all over the interweb. Absolutely! Now if you could just get that into a 140 character sound bite, I'd twitter it all over the interweb.

]]> By: Colin http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2009/10/uncrc-demands-equal-access-to-quackery.html#comment-9017 Colin Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:02:58 +0000 http://www.quackometer.net/wpblog/2009/10/uncrc-demands-equal-access-to-quackery-for-children.html#comment-9017 Hear Hear! Excellent analogy. I may be tempted to steal at some point too. Hear Hear! Excellent analogy. I may be tempted to steal at some point too.

]]> By: Michael Kingsford Gray http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2009/10/uncrc-demands-equal-access-to-quackery.html#comment-9016 Michael Kingsford Gray Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:28:59 +0000 http://www.quackometer.net/wpblog/2009/10/uncrc-demands-equal-access-to-quackery-for-children.html#comment-9016 I like, nay: love your 'flying carpet' analogy.<br />My I steal it, please? I like, nay: love your 'flying carpet' analogy.
My I steal it, please?

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