Australia: Call For Homeopathy Rules

[Kyuuketsuki]

The Sydney Morning Herald: Call For Homeopathy Rules

The NSW Coroner has found there is sufficient evidence for the Director of Public Prosecutions to consider laying charges against the parents of a baby who died after they treated her with homeopathic remedies.

Gloria Thomas died in May 2002 in Sydney Children's Hospital of sepsis, or bacterial infections.

The nine-month-old, who was severely malnourished, had been suffering from such terrible eczema that much of her skin was split.

The inquest at Glebe Coroner's Court has been told the cracks in her skin caused the baby agonising pain and were a potential source of entry for the bacteria that killed her.

Parents Thomas Sam, a homeopath, and IT professional Manju Samuel treated her with homeopathic remedies rather than her prescribed medication.

State Coroner Mary Jerram terminated the inquest today after finding there was a reasonable prospect the evidence presented to the inquiry could convince a jury to convict "a known person or persons of a serious crime".

Ms Jerram said the evidence showed the known person or persons caused Gloria's death and that their negligence warranted criminal punishment.

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I am reading Ben Goldacre's "Bad Science" at the moment and, having just read the chapter on Homeopathy (where he pretty much destroys any claim they have to any evidence basis to their quackery), this is welcome news. As I recall the UK government was planning a crackdown (via some kind of sales legislation?) on the kind of people that claim this kind of crap works.

Kyu