FionaK |
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| Yes it does. Homeopathy has this great advantage: it allow a lot more time to be spent with the patient. That is certainly a good thing, but we do not have to pretend that homeopathy works in order to achieve that. There are far preferable ways
There are a number of things which can lead to a doctor suggesting homeopathy. For example a GP has about 5 minutes to spend with each patient in the current course of things. The "worried well" are a nuisance and while they may respond well to time and relationship, the GP can't give that: so referring on to a homeopath is in the doctor's interest: it does not necessarily mean he thinks that homeopathy works, but waiting lists are far lower for that than for other professions offering time and attention, such as psychologists. So the GP gets rid of the patient at no cost and with no need to jeopardise a relationship which is important when that person does become genuinely ill
Similarly, with the best will in the world a doctor is not going to be comfortable telling a patient who is genuinely ill that there is nothing to be done: a referral to a homeopath is a "hope of last resort" and it has a value in that sense which, again, is nothing at all to do with medicine.
In a well funded health service such services could be provided more honestly: but we do not have a well funded health service, and it is being dismantled on grounds of cost. In these circumstances there is no justification whatsoever for continuing to fund this nonsense: and especially not by a person who is very active in the privatisation of care.
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