Homeopathic Action Trust still funding unethical AIDS trials

The Homeopathic Action Trust (HAT), the homeopathy charity controlled by the Society of Homeophs (SoH) and funders of Jeremy Sherr have had the ethical issues associated with funding amateur trials of AIDS patients in the developing world pointed out to them.  This did not stop them funding Jeremy Sherr and it has not stopped them continuing to fund extremely dubious projects in Africa.

Peter Chappell and Harry van der Zee’s Amma Resonance Healing Foundation (ARHF) has been criticised by many bloggers, Sense About Science and newspapers columnists for claims such as that AIDS patients using his remedies ” do better or sometimes much better than on ARVs alone.”.  There is no evidence for this despite the recruitment of Professor Harald Walach of Northampton University to oversee research.  Chappell’s remedies are not physical substances, but vibrations of atoms and molecules, what we call ’sounds’.  Chappell believes sound can cure AIDS, the trauma of rape and the side effects of ARVs.  So convinced is he of his products success that he is actively pushing it to healthcare workers in the developing world.  Chappell’s work is funded in part by HAT, who take donations on behalf of ARHF, their 2008 annual report stating the following:

Peter Chappell Projects
The projects are now undertaking a new series of AIDS research initiatives in Africa and India and are
also putting in place a low cost clinic education and support structure for Africa, which involves special
remedy kits, training manuals and clinical support. We have assured funding for this for the next year
and we are also applying to the Gates Foundation for more funding and also the EU.

This makes HAT complicit and responsible for any harm done by Chappell or the ARHF.  As HAT are controlled by the SoH, they too are complicit and responsible for any harm.

This is what homeopathy is.  It’s not just sugar pill placebos, it’s not a harmless eccentricity, it’s a dangerous and irresponsible delusion.

Jeremy Sherr does not act alone, but with the support of the homeopathic establishment

I, and others, have been doing some digging and complaining about the activities of Mr Sherr, the homeopath carrying out his healing fantasies by human experimentation in Tanzania.   There is an excellent summary of the situation by Martin over at Layscience who also has another post examining Mr Sherr’s recent attempts to edit and censor his blog as well as an examination of the dishonest defence of his actions.  Our investigations have revealed that not only is Jeremy Sherr making false claims of academic support but that he could not have achieved his goals of taking homeopathy to Tanzania without the support of sections of the homeopathic establishment.

Peter Chappell promotes miracle musical prophylactic against norovirus

You may have heard about the nasty norovirus that’s putting the in into European Continent. Thankfully Peter Chappell has the cure. You may remember Peter Chappell from his dangerous attempts to cure bird flu that possibly made individuals more susceptible to the virus. However, I am pleased to confirm that norovirus does not cause a cytokine storm so Peter Chappell’s claims that he can strengthen the immune system may be beneficial.  Here is Peter’s announcement that displays a rather charming illiteracy: