Archive for the ‘Government’ Category
Standing up for science and evidence
Science and evidence frequently have a hard time surviving in the seat of our democracy, but it seems it is going to become even more difficult in this new session, particularly where health is concerned.
David Tredinnick (Conservative, Bosworth) — he of astrology software expenses fame — put down four Early Day Motions about homeopathy a few days ago. They are unbelievably ignorant of science and Julian Huppert (LibDem, Cambridge) tabled amendments to correct Tredinnick’s misaprehensions and misunderstandings.
EDMs don’t really change much, but it is sometimes important to put a marker down. And, given Tredinnick’s and Nadine Dorries‘ recent appointments to the Health Select Committee, this is even more important. So I have just emailed my MP, Barry Gardiner, urging him to support Julian’s amendments:
Barry
We strongly urge you to support Julian Huppert’s amendments to EDM 284, 285, 286 and 287 originally laid by David Tredinnick. We hope we don’t have to explain the woolly thinking and utter disregard for evidence that is embedded in the original motions.
Julian’s amendments correct that nonsense: it is important that a marker is put down that Parliament will not support such ignorant notions and that it is made clear that homeopathy is dangerous pseudo scientific quackery.
With the astonishing appointment of David Tredinnick and Nadine Dorries to the Health Select Committee, we can see many battles looming ahead and we need to ensure that health decisions and funding are based on facts, not fantasy.
Two articles in today’s Guardian are worth reading if you are not familiar with Tredinnick and Dorries’ views on science:
Conservatives put Dumb and Dumber on the Health Select Committee by Martin Robbins
Health select committee lunacy by Adam Rutherford
We look forward to receiving your reply and your support
Thanks and best regards.
I’ll post any reply I get and urge others to write to their MPs asking them to stand up for science and evidence.
OfQuack: not fit for purpose
Fellow scourge of chiropractors, Simon Perry, has just blogged about the admission by the CNHC — the quack’s regulator — that they are refusing to, well, regulate: OfQuack launches six-month bullshit amnesty: the regulator that doesn’t regulate.
NHS Choices
The NHS Choices website has the tag line “Your health, your choices” and aims to inform the public:
NHS Choices is the online ‘front door’ to the NHS. It is the country’s biggest health website and gives all the information you need to make choices about your health.
They provide first-rate information about your health, illnesses, careers, etc as well as helping you find a local GP or other NHS services.
They also have some pages on alternative therapies such as homeopathy. On the page for homeopathy, they say:
Homeopathy is a type of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). CAMs are treatments that are not based on conventional scientific theories. Other CAMS include:
- acupuncture – where needles are placed in certain parts of the body,
- chiropractic – where physical manipulation of the spine and joints is used to try to relieve symptoms, and
- faith healing.
It’s good to see them place chiropractic firmly along side homeopathy, acupuncture and faith healing.
Mass Lobby for Libel Reform
Do you know who your MP is?
If you don’t, you can find him or her on the excellent They Work for You website.
Why is this important? Well, in case you’ve been hibernating all winter (and who could blame you), there’s going to be a General Election fairly soon and there’s no better time to lobby your MP and find out what his/her views are on important issues.
In case you’re struggling to think of something to ask your MP, here’s a suggestion:
Libel law.
Richard Dawkins to address Lib Dem Conference to call for libel law reform
Today [Sunday] Professor Richard Dawkins will put the case for libel law reform to the Liberal Democrat conference proposing an amendment to the civil liberties bill.
The scientist and author is to appear as a guest speaker at Liberal Democrat Party Conference on Sunday.
Professor Dawkins will tell the conference that the chilling effect of libel laws on public debate about science and medicine, on writers and authors and on responsible journalism can no longer be ignored.
Regulating nonsense
David Colquhoun’s frustration — and indeed anger — is palpable. And understandably so.
He brilliantly covered Monday’s announcement by the Department of Health (DoH) of their consultation into the regulation of “acupuncture, herbal medicine, traditional Chinese medicine and other traditional medicine systems”.
This consultation is the DoH’s response to the infamous Pittilo Report, which saw the light of day just over a year ago.
