Homeopathy is dereliction of a duty of care 5 Jun 2009 In a rather upsetting case in Australia, two Indian homepathic parents (I do not mean that they parented by diluting contact) have been convicted of failing to render a duty of care to their 9 month old daughter, who died from an infection caused by eczema. They treated their daughter using homeopathic drops, and she died over a period of five months. Their failure to get real medical care, for what is an easily treatable condition, is being treated as a criminal act. They face 25 years jail each. Science Sermon
History Follies d’Air 30 Dec 2007 The New York Times has a long overdue article on the stupidity of airport security measures for those flying to, within or in markets affected by the United States post-9/11. Pointing out that the security screening at airports in no way reduces any threats (but screening luggage does considerably), and… Read More
Ecology and Biodiversity There is no missing link 11 May 2009 Again, the press are talking about “the missing link“. Let’s get one thing clear. There is no missing link. Rather, there are an indefinite number of missing branches. To have a missing link, you need to visualise evolution as a chain. If there’s a gap in the chain, then you… Read More
Creationism and Intelligent Design Travel Diary 11: Notre Dame 3 Nov 2009 This conference is turning out to be interesting, in a kind of weird way. I am very much the agnostic in the Catholic lion’s den, but so far the lions haven’t so much as looked my way hungrily. I did have an interesting discussion tonight with Simon Conway Morris, and… Read More
What’s really troubling is that the people who convinced this couple that homeopathic ‘remedies’ were effective will themselves receive no punishment.
I am an ex-homeopath (I doubted in the beginning, but it took me 1 1/2 yrs to research my doubt, 2 years until out). I am an ex-Marxist — 5 years until out. I am an ex-Christian — 7 years until fully out. I also use to work in Dermatology. I saw lots of kids with severe eczema hospitalized and a few died. The vast majority were by families who just neglected not only their children, but themselves. Half of the inner city would be put in jail if we jailed these folks. Can society afford this, should the afford this? Is the government the way to handle this?
Sabio, it’s my opinion that failure to apply sanctions in support of the duty of care has made people in general pretty careless of their responsibilities to others. Yes, I think this is in fact something government, or at least the legal system, needs to address.