Homeopathy Awareness Week: Vets to march in London

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    [post_date] => 2018-04-13 08:00:21
    [post_date_gmt] => 2018-04-13 07:00:21
    [post_content] => Vets will march in London on Monday (April 16), reiterating their opposition to a move by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) to discourage the use of homeopathy in animal treatments.

Pet owners, farmers and animal therapists are also expected to join the protest, the second this year led by the British Association of Homeopathic Veterinary Surgeons (BAHVS).

It follows the RCVS decision to urge its members effectively to abandon complementary treatments for animals, including homeopathy, published in a position statement in November 2017.

The British Association of Homeopathic Veterinary Surgeons (BAHVS) claims the decision would deprive pet owners and others of choice in the type of treatments used and says the decision was made without proper consultation with those experienced in using homeopathy to treat animals.

The association fears that the statement could pave the way for an outright ban on homeopathy in veterinary treatments.

Monday's protest is timed to coincide with Homeopathy Awareness Week. A BAHVS petition opposing the college's move has attracted nearly 19,000 signatures.

Homeopathic vet Geoff Johnson said the RCVS move was depriving owners of the freedom of choice to decide treatment for their animals.

"The statement by the RCVS forces animals to have  powerful drugs with many acknowledged side-effects for conditions which may be life-long," he added. "These treatments make no attempt to deal with the origins of the disease, especially mental and emotional stresses, and offer no prospect of cure."

When it published the statement, the college said it had arrived at the decision "after long-standing discussions within the veterinary community about the efficacy and ethics of complementary and alternative medicines."

But Mr Johnson said the RCVS Council did not at any point ask the opinion or seek the knowledge of any homeopathic vet, researcher or academic in writing despite such representation being requested. "Instead they relied on acknowledged anti-homeopathic campaigners working to their own agendas," he said.

The Society of Homeopath has also previously criticised the RCVS position on homeopathy.

4Homeopathy – the umbrella group of homeopathy organisations which includes the Society of Homeopaths – is highlighting the march as part of promotion for Homeopathy Awareness Week 2018, April 10-16.
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Vets will march in London on Monday (April 16), reiterating their opposition to a move by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) to discourage the use of homeopathy in animal treatments.

Pet owners, farmers and animal therapists are also expected to join the protest, the second this year led by the British Association of Homeopathic Veterinary Surgeons (BAHVS).

It follows the RCVS decision to urge its members effectively to abandon complementary treatments for animals, including homeopathy, published in a position statement in November 2017.

The British Association of Homeopathic Veterinary Surgeons (BAHVS) claims the decision would deprive pet owners and others of choice in the type of treatments used and says the decision was made without proper consultation with those experienced in using homeopathy to treat animals.

The association fears that the statement could pave the way for an outright ban on homeopathy in veterinary treatments.

Monday’s protest is timed to coincide with Homeopathy Awareness Week. A BAHVS petition opposing the college’s move has attracted nearly 19,000 signatures.

Homeopathic vet Geoff Johnson said the RCVS move was depriving owners of the freedom of choice to decide treatment for their animals.

“The statement by the RCVS forces animals to have  powerful drugs with many acknowledged side-effects for conditions which may be life-long,” he added. “These treatments make no attempt to deal with the origins of the disease, especially mental and emotional stresses, and offer no prospect of cure.”

When it published the statement, the college said it had arrived at the decision “after long-standing discussions within the veterinary community about the efficacy and ethics of complementary and alternative medicines.”

But Mr Johnson said the RCVS Council did not at any point ask the opinion or seek the knowledge of any homeopathic vet, researcher or academic in writing despite such representation being requested. “Instead they relied on acknowledged anti-homeopathic campaigners working to their own agendas,” he said.

The Society of Homeopath has also previously criticised the RCVS position on homeopathy.

4Homeopathy – the umbrella group of homeopathy organisations which includes the Society of Homeopaths – is highlighting the march as part of promotion for Homeopathy Awareness Week 2018, April 10-16.

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