Homeopathic gynaecologist turns to internet for advice on tumour

Homeopaths like to think of themselves as an ethical bunch with their patients best interests at heart. However, with any profession that is essentially unregulated there remains a remarkable capacity for abuse and dangerous and misleading advice. A lot of people would contend that all homeopathy is misleading and is merely taking advantage of the placebo effect, others argue that despite homeopathy having no known therapeutic effect a nice chat with a sympathetic individual can work wonders in helping patients deal with minor ailments. Homeopaths would, of course, argue that like cures like and homeopathy can cure disease. The more sensible ones, like Peter Fisher, recognise that even if you believe in homeopathy serious ailments are the preserve of the proper medical profession and that if serious illness is suspected patients should be advised to consult a proper doctor. Unfortunately as there is no code of ethics, reasonable standards or professional accountability for homeopaths any old crank can dispense silly, misleading and staggeringly dangerous advice.

I came across this shocking and creepy example of the dangers of the unregulated profession the other day. At the otherhealth.com forums a homeopath, called Bernard, asked for advice on the following:

“at the inner labia patient has (lookes like) little holes in it. Hurting (burning) during intercourse.

how can I find that (holes….are called ….) in the repertory”

further investigation revealed that Bernard had asked the following previously:

“I have a patient with two swellings (tumors..) in the anterior orifice of the vagina. It changed from tumors (the front one like marble size, the one right behind half the size) into polyps. But now it changed back into tumors (swellings) again. Risk or no risk ??

I personally think the polyps were like the dynamus was trying to remove them…… “

Now the idea of a homeopath, presumably male, performing gynaecological examinations is profoundly disturbing in itself as there is potential for abuse. But what is more disturbing is that not only does Bernard appear ignorant of medical conditions and terminology pertaining to the vagina and labia but that he apparently observes tumours and turns to a internet forum for advice on how to treat them. His own personal theory is that dynamus [sic], according to Hahnemann the spiritual vital force, is causing this.

Frankly this is scary. There are people out there that do not think it appropriate to send somebody that they suspect has a tumour to a medical doctor and turn to make-believe to deal with it. In a sensible world such people would not be allowed to dispense misleading and dangerous medical advice without sanction. I hope for the sake of Bernard’s patient that there is nothing seriously wrong with her but if there was I doubt that Bernard would be held to account by his fellow homeopaths.

To be fair the one response to Bernard’s tumour question does seem to suggest that a surgical option may be required but there is no sense of the outrage that I feel. I am sure that if a medical doctor turned to an internet forum offering quack treatments for advice on tumours they would be held to account by their professional body. That homeopaths can carry out gynaecological examinations and ignore tumours with impunity should serve as a wakeup call to those that believe homeopathy has a place in modern medicine.

*Update*

I have had some email contact with Bernard and he assures me his patient is now seeing a proper gynaecologist as well.