Homeopathy 2017; 106(04): 191-193
DOI: 10.1016/j.homp.2017.10.001
Editorial
Copyright © The Faculty of Homeopathy 2017

Homeopathy and intellectual honesty

Peter Fisher

Subject Editor:
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
17 December 2017 (online)

EASAC, the European Academies' Science Advisory Council, which includes 27 European national academies of science, published a statement on homeopathy, entitled ‘Homeopathic products and practices: assessing the evidence and ensuring consistency in regulating medical claims in the EU’ in September 2017.[ 1 ] Its purpose was to ‘to reinforce criticism of the health and scientific claims made for homeopathic products’, and to call for the implementation of ‘a standardised, knowledge-based regulatory framework’. The EASAC statement purports to have examined mechanisms of action, alleging that homeopathy is implausible and inconsistent with established scientific concepts; that there is no evidence of its effectiveness beyond placebo and that it may cause delay in patients, including veterinary patients, receiving evidence-based treatment.