Latest letter campaign - to Unichem

Attn: Store Manager

Hello,

I'd like to register my disappointment at noticing, while browsing your store a few days ago, that you have an entire section devoted to homeopathy.

While I accept the increasingly important role that some natural/alternative/non-western remedies can play in a holistic health approach, homeopathy simply cannot ethically be included in this group. Not only is there zero credible evidence that it has an efficacy beyond mere placebo, but there isn't even a plausible scientific mechanism to support many of the claims of modern homeopaths. Homeopaths are known to claim a pharmacological effect from solutions which are diluted to the point that they contain no pharmacologically active molecules; which is clearly a breach of fundamental scientific principles. 'Water has a memory' has been a popular response, but there are no verified observations of this.

Homeopathy is quackery, a pseudoscience; but the concern isn't simply that it doesn't work. Not only are people being lured into wasting their time and money by this supremely deceptive industry, but they do so often at the direct cost of trying proven effective treatment options (be they traditional or alternative methods). This isn't a case of people having nothing to lose; they have everything to lose, if they lend homeopathy undue credibility and pay less attention to proven treatment options.

Given this, how can Unichem in good conscience provide these products at all, let alone in a prominently displayed entire section? Indeed when looking at the Pharamcy Council of NZ's 'Code of Ethics 2011', the #1 guiding principle is "Make the health and well-being of the patient your first priority". Is this really being achieved by promoting an inherently deceptive and unproven industry? I understand of course the counter-balance to this principle is promoting a patient's autonomy and freedom of choice, but that range of choice (at least at a pharmacy) should surely encompass only options that we can demonstrate are actually going to help them.

I appreciate your time taken to read this and look forward to your response.

ok then

I am certain that what this guy did, worked.

P.S. I should also declare that I sometimes use Rescue Remedy if I'm stressed out about something. I know fully well it doesn't actually have anything in it that causes me to instantly lose that stress, but it still works for me. I put it down to the ritual of using it.

Misunderstanding of placebo effect ITT...

I studied psychology at university for 2 years, and have a good understanding of the placebo effect.

No idea what Rescue Remedy is, but if you recognise that it's probably just the ritual, why don't you start your own ritual that doesn't require you to buy something?

Well then you realise how absurd you sound when you say that you "know" your story isn't a case of the placebo effect...

No idea what Rescue Remedy is, but if you recognise that it's probably just the ritual, why don't you start your own ritual that doesn't require you to buy something?

I think davil's story is interesting and warrant further investigation that simply writing it off as "Placebo effect" surely. To me the placebo effect when used as an explanation like that makes it almost like science's very own mystical panacea.

Chemists are there to make money and they make fuck loads...they dont care about your letter youre wasting your time. People buy homeo shit so what....if you have so much time on your hands why not donate the time and your intelligence to the community...doing something helpful this shit is just a waste.

Actually Spike some remedies do contain measurable amounts of the main ingredient, depending on how diluted it is eg. C1-30 or D1-24. So if someone were to take too much it could cause problems.

No idea what Rescue Remedy is, but if you recognise that it's probably just the ritual, why don't you start your own ritual that doesn't require you to buy something?

Misunderstanding of the placebo effect ITT

What would be a good outcome in this case? Are you intending to take this further? Not being a smart ass at all, I'm just curious as to what your plan of attack will be

Also what (in layman's) terms is the 'Placebo Effect?'

This is disputed...

http://www.medindia.net/news/Placebo-Effect-Successful-Even-With-Patients-Knowledge-78439-1.htm

This is disputed...

Nobody is past placebo effect making them feel better really.. *


* unless they're smart, in which case placebo wouldn't work for this

even if placebo works with the belief that what you're taking is fake, then why not simply take your own sugar pills from home and save money?

Aaaannnd attitudes like this is exactly how this shit happens to begin with. There's lots of other fun shit I could be doing. True, I do get some satisfaction from doing this kind of thing, but that satisfaction is off the back of knowing that I can make a difference. I only give a shit about any of the stuff I write letters about because I hate seeing people being deceived and abused by business interests. No idea why you'd lash out at me for that, but whatever

Misunderstanding of placebo effect ITT...

While you are at it, ask them why they stock and sell by the tonne products containing Phenylephrine...


Because that shit sure as hell doesn't work and they know it.

thats serious stuff peat... pech is after cheap shits and giggles I would suggest

Perhaps the person is reasonably smart but has a negative outlook in general. For some reason they may have been more positive or optimistic about this treatment so it had an effect. It does not mean they are not intelligent.

I didn't mean it to sound bitchy, it's just a waste of time is all. There is a market for it so why shouldn't chemists sell it...

... the 2011 Code of Practice

Only purchase, supply or promote any
... other healthcare product
where there is no reason to doubt its
quality or safety and when there is
credible evidence of efficacy

Homeopathy is one of the most globally relevant complementary medicines with upwards of 550 million users. With its effectiveness demonstrated for over 200 years in both acute and chronic diseases, it is now also showing significant and positive results in the most stringent modern clinical trials. It is a complete system of health care harnessing the best from nature to re-establish balance in the health of a client. Gentle yet effective, homeopathy offers the most versatile health care solutions to regulate the body’s homeostatic processes.

Insanity, yours sounds like applied kinesiology - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Applied_kinesiology

it's reasonable to at least give them a chance to address it before I start working my way up the ladder. It adds more weight to your argument later on if you can show you've tried at least that..

Hi Luke

Thank you for your email clarifying the nature of your concerns.

I have discussed your email with the Council’s Registrar and the Professional Standards Advisor.

Pharmacists are able to ‘purchase, supply and promote any medicine, complementary therapy, herbal remedy or other healthcare product where there is no reason to doubt its quality or safety and when there is credible evidence of efficacy” (Code of Ethics (CoE) 2011 obligation 6.9).

As with many complementary or alternative “remedies” controversy surrounds “credible evidence of efficacy" with points of view ranging from sceptics to believers.

Pharmacists must also promote patient self-determination, respect patient’s rights, autonomy and freedom of choice (CoE Principle 2). Pharmacists cannot therefore, pressure or coerce a patient into purchasing any treatment or remedy, or use their position as a trusted health professional to influence a purchase. They must ensure the information they provide is impartial, relevant, up-to-date and independent of personal considerations (CoE obligation 2.4).

The patient makes the final informed decision about purchasing the treatment or remedy, be it complementary, herbal, alternative or homeopathic.

It is not Council’s responsibility to direct pharmacies as to what products they can stock. However, it is Council’s responsibility to remind pharmacists of their ethical obligations, which we will do in out next Newsletter.

Kind regards
Jenny Ragg
Deputy Registrar
Pharmacy Council of New Zealand

Hey Jenny,

Thanks again for replying.

I do accept that it's a controversial topic, and that many people whole-heartedly believe in its efficacy; but we don't base health policies on the beliefs of anyone. We conduct legitimate research, submit that research to peer-reviewed journals, and then others will try to replicate controversial findings, conduct meta-analyses etc.

I don't mean to sound condescending or like I'm saying anything you don't already know, but I'm just clarifying the point that if we conduct an honest review of the available scientific literature on the subject, it overwhelmingly fails to support any homeopathic claims, and to this day no homeopath has even theorised a verifiable mechanism for some of their claims, let alone recorded actual observations of it. So while controversy and ambiguity certainly exist within the public discourse, the actual available data paints a dominantly one-sided story.

But this story is not reflected at all, seemingly, in the Unichem branch. Here we not only have a plethora of products being offered, but they're sign-posted in their own area. Surely, we cannot deny that the average customer's perception of homeopathy is going to be influenced (if even only slightly) toward legitimacy, as a result of seeing this display. Pharmacists are highly educated and trained, so we trust them, we trust that the products being offered to us have been demonstrated to be safe, and effective.

So there is a fairly evident disconnect apparent to me, between the available pool of legitimate evidence, and the policy of at least this particular pharmacy. This disonnect ostensibly constitutes a breach of ((CoE) 2011 obligation 6.9). The product is being sold, and hasn't been proven as effective [beyond placebo], or even plausible. I understand and resolutely advocate the patient's right to autonomy and freedom of choice, but I really don't think that it's affected here. After all, as it stands today, the consumer's freedom of choice only exists within the pool of available products that have already been washed of ones considered unsafe or ineffective. My claim is that the ethical breach here warrants reclassifying homeopathy outside the pool, which has no effect on the consumer's freedom of choice for effective remedies.

When pharmacies take an at best ambivalent policy stance on unproven remedies, it creates an opportunity for unethical companies to use the public's inherent trust of the pharmacist to sell ineffective and potentially dangerous remedies. It's a very real threat to the public, and one which I worry isn't being contained by simply making an appearance in your newsletter.

Looking forward to your thoughts, and thanks for your time in this matter. I do believe that we all want what's best for the patient, so I'm just trying to understand your organisation's position on how that's being achieved in the status-quo, and how it is currently determined whether a product is fit for sale based on efficacy.

Hi Luke

Thank you for your further email. As the Council has addressed the public safety issue, that being our mandate, the Council has nothing further to add.

However, if you wish to make a complaint about a pharmacy service you are able to do so to the Health and Disability Commissioner. Please see my earlier email for the Commissioner’s contact details.

Kind regards
Jenny

Jenny Ragg
Deputy Registrar
Pharmacy Council of New Zealand

Placebo suck. Very crap band.

It really seems like you're making a big deal out of nothing, its certainly not harming anyone. BUT then you make a good point that things are likely to be more credible if sold in a pharmacy.... so, onwards and upwards indeed.

Whats the scent and taste in homeopathic medicine if it is just water?

It really seems like you're making a big deal out of nothing, its certainly not harming anyone. BUT then you make a good point that things are likely to be more credible if sold in a pharmacy.... so, onwards and upwards indeed.

No but seriously, some of it, like that rescue remedy, has a definite taste. Do they spray it with something?

maybe from alternative "treatments" in general, but nobody is going to be directly harmed by homeopathy

Instances of arsenic poisoning have occurred after use of arsenic-containing homeopathic preparations.[28] Zicam Cold remedy Nasal Gel, which contains 2X (1:100) zinc gluconate, reportedly caused a small percentage of users to lose their sense of smell;[158] 340 cases were settled out of court in 2006 for 12 million U.S. dollars.[159] In 2009, the FDA advised consumers to stop using three discontinued cold remedy products manufactured by Zicam because it could cause permanent damage to users' sense of smell.[160]

Brandy.

Yep, brandy.