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Rapid Responses: Rapid Responses published:
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Patient's comments
- Kathleen P McAnespie (7 August 2003)
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Patients need authoritative information comparing standard western medicine to homeopathic alternatives
- Terrill J Smith (21 May 2005)
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Re: Patients need authoritative information comparing standard western medicine to homeopathic alternatives
- Peter Morrell (22 May 2005)
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Kathleen P McAnespie, NA Belfast
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I know this is a response page for a qualified medic, but having read your article, I am stimulated to write as the recipient of a gall bladder operation to remove same. I was not told of the consequences of such an operation and was not given any alternative whatsoever. I subsequently suffered badly from ascending cholangitis which was blamed on the existence of remaining stones in the bile duct itself. After another invasion by surgery, stones were not detected and a slit was made in the duct "in case" stones which were possibly not detectable could make their way out. I have to say, I did not suffer from classic gall bladder symptoms, eg. severe pain, but did suffer from dreadful retention of gas and after an ultra sound which showed up gall stones, was told that removal of the gall bladder was the answer. The only reason I am writing to you is because not many doctors ever seem to be interested in epidemiology which to my mind curtails proper dissemination of information to patients who have to make a decision in relation to surgery and are therefore not given alternative choices. Competing interests: None declared |
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Terrill J Smith, computer engineer Lexington Massachusetts 02420
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As a man of 64 with asymptomatic, ultrasound-confirmed gallstones I used the internet to educate myself regarding gallbladder disease. Many reputable sources of such information are available that have ties to the western medical establishment: journals, academic web sites, professional medical organizations and government sites. It is quite easy to review a number of these sites, and when general agreement exists on a topic it is clear that that agreement represents the consensus of western medicine’s position on said topic. One need only be sure to avoid information sources on the internet that can not be identified as mainstream, reputable sources of healthcare related information. I found a large number of internet information sources that held themselves out as offering information on homeopathic alternatives to acceptable western medical treatment for gallbladder disease. I was not able to determine whether these alternatives such as the "gallbladder flush" (to eliminate gallstones without surgery) represent serious thinking by reputable and accomplished organizations or are simply a means of selling books and other products. If I could have traced any of these organizations back to a respected university, government healthcare organization or other reliable tie to the established medical authorities I would then have been better able to consider the information offered on their web sites. What people such as me need is a source of information that is clearly part of the trained, professional, respected, medical establishment. This source would clearly and scientifically discuss these homeopathic alternatives. I understand the problems involved. If the medical establishment says homeopathic alternative “A” is dangerous or worthless many will complained that this is just the establishment protecting its prerogatives. Nonetheless clear scientific discussion could categorize alternatives into three groups: 1. Dangerous for significant portions of the patient population
Such characterization of homeopathic alternatives from sources that can be relied on would be of great help to someone like me and need not require the medically authoritative organization or person to endorese or advocate alternatives. The material I read regarding the “gallstone flush” indicates that by purging, then drinking a mixture of olive oil and lemon juice one can simply pass gallstones. Such extraordinary claims should be addressed by the medical establishment. The claim is either a medical fraud or even if it works for only highly selected patients is of some value. In either case some method of getting reliable, scientific, verifiable information in front of the public would seem appropriate. Competing interests: None declared |
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Peter Morrell, Hon Research Associate, History of Medicine Staffordshire University, UK
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Just to set the record straight, the treatment Mr Smith refers to as a 'gall-bladder flush' involving ingesting a mixture of Olive oil, Garlic and Lemon juice has nothing whatsoever to do with homeopathy, as anyone who knows what homeopathy is will tell you. It is a technique used in herbal medicine and Nature cure. Competing interests: None declared |
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