title: A Not-So-Gentle Refutation of the Defence of Homeopathy.
abstract: In a recent paper, Levy, Gadd, Kerridge, and Komesaroff attempt to defend the ethicality of homeopathy by attacking the utilitarian ethical framework as a basis for medical ethics and by introducing a distinction between evidence-based medicine and modern science. This paper demonstrates that their argumentation is not only insufficient to achieve that goal but also incorrect. Utilitarianism is not required to show that homeopathic practice is unethical; indeed, any normative basis of medical ethics will make it unethical, as a defence of homeopathic practice requires the rejection of modern natural sciences, which are an integral part of medical ethics systems. This paper also points out that evidence-based medicine lies at the very core of modern science. Particular arguments made by Levy et al. within the principlist medical ethics normative system are also shown to be wrong.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Philosophy, University of Warsaw, Krakowskie Przedmieście 3, Warszawa, 00-097, Poland. jakub@zawila-niedzwiecki.pl.
authors.forename: Jakub
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zawiła-Niedźwiecki
authors.affiliation: Institute of Philosophy and Sociology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Nowy Świat 72, Warszawa, 00-330, Poland.
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Olender
mesh_terms: D028663:Ethical Theory; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006705:Homeopathy; D006801:Humans; D012586:Science
keywords: Evidence-based medicine (EBM); Homeopathy; Medical ethics