Should pharmacies sell homeopathy?

Question

Alliance Boots is the largest pharmacy chain in the UK, with an annual turnover in excess of £17 billion. They sell homeopathy right alongside evidence based medicines.

However, recently Paul Bennett, the director of professional standards at Boots, the chemist, confirmed to a House of Commons committee that homeopathic pills and potions don’t work. “There is certainly a consumer demand for these products,” he said. “I have no evidence to suggest they are efficacious.”

See this news article for more info:
"However they sugar it, you’re swallowing a delusion"
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article6936389.ece

Is it ethical for Boots to continue selling homeopathy given they are only in it for the bottom line?

The UK based Merseyside Skeptics Society is so incensed with this, they have issued an open letter to Alliance Boots. It says in part:

"The majority of people do not have the time or inclination to check whether the scientific literature supports the claims of efficacy made by products such as homeopathy. We trust brands such as Boots to check the facts for us, to provide sound medical advice that is in our interest and supply only those products with a demonstrable medical benefit.

We don’t expect to find products on the shelf at our local pharmacy which do not work."

Read the entire Open Letter here:
http://www.merseysideskeptics.org.uk/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alliance_Boots

Answer 1

So long as there is a label that says "No scientific proof exists that this product is effective whatsoever" then yes, they should sell it. They should sell it for 400$ a pop so that they can turn a good profit.

Answer 2

While you and I probably think alike on the question of homeopathic remedies, I cannot say that I believe that a company which sells them along with a host of other products, including supplements, is any more in it for the bottom line than other retailers of other products. Most publicly traded companies in the US where I live are "in it for the money." We can say that by selling the products that the customers request is serving them. And denying the customers access to the homeopathics will send them to those who do sell them. Some would say that as long as the company is not required to guarantee their products, then they could be under obligation to the shareholders to maximize profits.

While this seems unseemly (terrible construction, sorry.) Many of the other products that they sell may also work poorly for some of the customers, including the patent drugs. In fact, some of these medicines rarely do kill. (I am thinking of Tylenol® as an example) But they still sell them because of the perceived need.

Now, should you find this offensive, shopping at a more responsible pharmacy is an option. An where you invest your stock portfolio is also a choice to make.

When we close the pubs and bars because alcohol can damage your liver or we say that the cute servers at the restaurants shouldn't flirt, then life becomes more controlled. But some of us still want to do those things.

Fair question, to be sure. But we can have different answers and still be friends. I hope.

Answer 3

Hmmm.Good question.

In Australia a lot of pharmacies sell Homeopathy but i was surprised to hear that someone said that in Canada pharmacies sell cigarettes.That is unheard of here.

Also,a very concerning problem here is that alot of times pharmaceuticals Dont come with the information leaflets inside-just the drugs.



Your question is a deep issue because one could claim where does one draw the line?

For example someone could say they don't believe pharmacies should be selling Homeopathy because there is limited evidence of its (non placebo) effectiveness but another person could claim pharmacies shouldn't sell lollies,coke and other sugary foods which are known to cause weight gain,teeth deterioration and generally dont promote good health.

Also theres the issue of vending machines.Here,in hospitals of all places, vending machines are filled with lollies,chocolate bars,chips and softdrink & other unhealthy foods so the question is raised should'nt they be filled with healthier alternatives such as vegetable juices,carrot cakes or whatever etc or at least for the large part of it.



I dont think a pharmacy could ever get it 100% "right" and somebody will always be displeased but as long as theyre genuinely trying and not just motivated by money to sell Homeopathy.

I dont believe in "controlling" things/limiting peoples options by not making them available-that to me is like a "police state" type of mentality.I believe people should be free to make choices even if those choices arn't in their best interests so to me the best option wouldn't be not to sell it but

to have it available but with lots of information both verbal and written that it hasn't been proven effective,that alot of people think its just a placebo etc and ask the customer to sit down and read the information first there so that the customer can be well informed before deciding to purchase it.



Also if the pharmacies decide not to sell Homeopathy i think they should have lots of information leaftets explaining to their customers what made them form that decision.

Answer 4

Hey (Me/Stormy/dog lady)



When someone goes into a drug store they expect to find products that are safe and effective. Since it has become very clear that homeopathic remedies are not effective, selling them becomes unethical. Choice? People should be able to decide between real treatments.





Fretochose: Of course science doesn't know everything. It constantly challenges itself to come up with explanations for new problems. If it knew everything, it would simply stop. One thing the science world has learned though, is that pure water/alcohol/lactose will not have any effects on a person. Believers in the paranormal, such as homeopathy, never change/adapt to new challenges. They use the same theory to explain everything. Did the homeopathy community gather together and figure out a way to deal with the swine flu? Is there a new homeopathic remedy for the swine flu, or do you use the same water used for the regular flu? Who has tunnel vision?



Where are all the "Big Pharma" critics. Shouldn't they apply the same "its all for a buck" theory to homeopathic remedy makers?

Answer 5

Hi Gary, I saw an article about that in one of the newspapers the other day. Apparently Boots are selling homoeopathic preparations even though they admit it doesn't work. Amazingly this didn't seem to bother them, they think it's a good seller so what the heck.



I think it's very disappointing that such a big company like Boots would sell what is essentially water/sugar pills.



In answer to your question, no. Homoeopathy is a scientific fraud with no scientific basis and evidence of efficacy, I think it's highly inappropriate to have such preparations sold along side other medicines. The problem is, because Boot's is such a well known trusted store, people might be fooled into thinking that because they stock homoeopathic 'medicines', there is some evidence that it works.



Edit

Know the cause: As I said before, you have lost the ability to rationalise, it's almost no point even attempting to reason with you.



I am not going to comment on the conspiracy nonsense. But All POMs come with a patient advice leaflet that quite clearly states any known side effects. It doesn't necessarily mean that one will experience side effects. Most people do not experience severe side effects. And any side effects that are experienced have to be balanced with the benefits the actual drug has on the rest of the body.



Doctors don't hide side effects from patients. If we stand there and list every known side effect when giving a patient medication, some people have a habit of hypochondriacally convincing themselves that they have those side effects......and that's before they've even taken the medication!

Answer 6

We have the same problem in Canada. I do think it's unethical for a supposed health promoting business to sell something it admits is useless. I'm not sure about Boots, but here, the large chain hire pharmacists as employees, so they probably don't get much say in product that is sold over the counter.

Pharmacies still sell cigarettes as well, and we know the health effects of those.

Basically if there is a demand for a product, they are a business first, and they will sell it.

Answer 7

interesting letter

"We don't expect to find products on the shelf at our local pharmacy that do not work" should have been followed by "We do not mind buying products that do not work as long as the pharmacist puts it in a bottle with a label that tells how to take"



'...science as we know it..." Herein lies the real problem. Some believe that "science" knows everything there is to know and that the current generation is somehow more intelligent than previous ones. Might be a good idea to become acquainted with the brilliance of past thinkers.



Yes, I think pharmacies should be allowed to sell what consumers wish to purchase. I do not wish to have small-minded folk with tunnel vision directing my ability to spend as I like.

Answer 8

thank God where I'm from, homeopathy is virtually unknown but the minute it appears here and starts getting sold in stores, I hope that the local medical association files a complaint with the local food and drug board.



We already have trouble with supplements here that claim all sorts if things in their TV ads but at the end of it have a disclaimer "No approved therapeutic claims."

Answer 9

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Answer 10

Well...this is a "rant" (doesn't follow YA Q and A format b/c you've already "answered your own question"...you KNOW what I meant by that), soooo on that note you are lucky I'm not "immature" like your friends around here,or else I would report you(like you all do me) LOL



But to answer it...yes,I see NO issue with giving people CHOICES:-)

Answer 11

Another stupid doctor trying to turn the tide of people towards the meds that kill so many people in the world. Trying to persuade us little dumb @$$es into buying into this ridicules charade of medicated Wonders. I know lots of people that started with one medication then another and finally they carried around a zip lock bag full of prescription bottles and each prescription was to counter the side effects of the one before. AND THE DOCTORS DON"T TELL THEM NOTHING! So why do all these people on Q&A look into alternative meds? Because they are SICK and tired of people like you trying to keep them sick so you can spend a week in Cancun on their hard earned money. Leave these people alone! because the way things are going don't you think you've done enough!!!!!

Answer 12

fantastic, well sourced. Good work Gary. I give..... 17 points well done mate. great links. Hope for the future perhaps?



Ignore "know the cause"



He is an ignorant Racist pig

this link shows a recent question he posted

https://answersrip.com/question/index?qid=20091126114352AAamFrs