Unethical aspects of homeopathic dentistry.
In the last year there has been a great deal of public debate about homeopathy, the system of alternative medicine whose main principles are that like cures like and that potency increases relative to dilution. The House of Commons Select Committee on Science and Technology concluded in November 2009 that there is no evidence base for homeopathy, and agreed with some academic commentators that homeopathy should not be funded by the NHS. While homeopathic doctors and hospitals are quite commonplace, some might be surprised to learn that there are also many homeopathic dentists practising in the UK. This paper examines the statements made by several organisations on behalf of homeopathic dentistry and suggests that they are not entirely ethical and may be in breach of various professional guidelines.
Dental School, Faculty of Medicine, University of Glasgow, 378 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, G2 3JZ. david.shaw@.glasgow.ac.uk
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D000329:Advertising / Q000941:ethics; D003815:Dentists / Q000941:ethics*; D004990:Ethics, Dental; D006705:Homeopathy / Q000941:ethics*; D006801:Humans; D008419:Materia Medica / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012953:Societies, Dental; D014076:Tooth Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D006113:United Kingdom
D008419:Materia Medica; D028321:Plant Preparations