Excerpts from “Unexpected: Chronicle of a Homeopath”
by Elena Cecchetto CCH, RSHom(NA), MSc(CAND, Vancouver, BC Canada
Keywords: homeoprophylaxis, HP, homeopathic profession, skeptics, homeopathy, creating a profession, homeopathic research, homeopathic immunity, Bayesian belief,
What do you do?
After becoming a homeopath, you start to understand the level of confusion people have about what a homeopath is. Anyone with an audience can add confusion to the answer to this question. The following series of emails and events points to this as a problem within a problem for homeopathy on a larger scale. While reading about the following, please consider whether the professional community of homeopathy is capable of putting forward a unified professional identity?
It started at the end of summer 2014 when an email (Image 1) was sent out by one of our homeopathic member organizations known as 3CH (Personal Communication, Canadian Consumers Centre for Homeopathy, August 20th, 2014);
IMAGE 1. Email Communication from 3CH to Access Natural Healing, August 20th, 2014
IMAGE 2. Email Communication to Access Natural Healing from CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) Marketplace TV show, Aug 25th, 2014
I did not reply to this email (Image 2) for many reasons. The main reason was (luckily) that I was heading out of town presenting on homeopathy at the conference with the Integrative Medicine For the UnderServed (IM4US) in Portland, Oregon. I say luckily because it buffered my reaction time and my anger that would soon drive my search for justice. This email went out to a handful of homeopaths and I felt a deep disappointment that there was a lack of options to right the wrongs within these actions.
On November 2014, this episode of CBC Marketplace used unauthorized, hidden camera footage with out-of-context excerpts of various homeopaths in consultation with what they thought were patients/clients. In essence, the set-up for this televised episode blamed homeopaths for the fact that a growing percentage of people are opting out of vaccinations.
IMAGE 3. Screenshot of CBC’s (2014) episode that can be seen on youtube.com at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5SdADq9E1U
Prior to these emails and this TV episode, I could not find any evidence that homeopaths have influenced people to choose homeoprophylaxis instead of vaccines. The premise of this media message seemed to me to be completely out of context.
Let’s really contemplate, collaborate and strategize how we could possibly get this point across; that homeopaths are not the ones to blame for the de-popularization of vaccines and won’t stand to be the scapegoats.
As with most television content and especially with supposed news items on the topic of vaccines, an onslaught of back-and-forth opinions were in a heightened frenzy. What is going to happen to the public opinion of homeopaths? How will we know? Have we ever known? When I looked for recent ‘health’ related public opinion polls (Image 4) conducted by Ipsos online (2015), here is one of the first ones I found.
IMAGE 4. Ipsos online, Canadian Polls, Health, 2015 at http://www.ipsos-na.com/news-polls/pressrelease.aspx?id=6646
Our homeopathic associations could benefit from public opinion polls in order to establish what would be important steps for future goal setting within our homeopathic community. We could create specific and appropriate messages (Encyclopedia, para. 2, 2015) to be released to raise a public profile and for the development of our profession as homeopaths.
For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction (Newton’s 3rd Law);
Armed with bibliographies of homeopathic research, including that specifically regarding homeoprophylaxis (APPENDIX A), I contacted the homeopathic associations in Canada, the political members in my riding, two lawyers, and I called the Canadian Radio-television Telecommunication Commission to find out where/how to lodge my complaints. The CBC’s own journalistic regulatory guidelines about using undercover tactics according to their own website (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, 2015, para. 13 named Hidden cameras and microphones; Justification for recording) states ‘‘If the recording reveals illegal or antisocial activity or an abuse of trust or contains information of public interest, its publication in whole or in part may be warranted, provided we have attempted to confront the persons recorded and have taken their reactions into account in our report. Publication of a clandestine recording provided by a third party requires Director approval.” The place to lodge my complaint was with the CBC’s own watchdog, which is known as the Ombudsman (CBC Complaint Review Process, para. 10, 2015). I wrote a succinct letter of complaint (See Appendix B) and their response was dissatisfying (See Appendix C). There are legal responsibilities that we homeopaths in British Columbia, Canada have to abide by according to the federal governmental guidelines and all of the homeopaths in CBC’s Marketplace episode were/are operating within those guidelines making the whole premise of their episode entirely false.
Show Me the Research
Homeopathy has a long history of traditional use. It also has a history of being criticized in North America, where the medical industry is dominated by the pharmaceutical industry. Homeopathy is second only to Jesus as the two most controversial topics, according to Huffington Post (2014).
Considering my previous career in political advocacy focusing on environmental and conservation issues, I sometimes ask myself, is this what attracted me to homeopathy? No! It was the fact that once I gave it a try for my lifetime struggle with debilitating eczema, it did something that nothing else could do for me and so I was ecstatic (Medhurst, 2013). That success indeed was what made me passionate about ensuring that people know about homeopathy and equally homeoprophylaxis as an option if they so choose. Unfortunately, (fortunately?) that passion has led me here – writing to justify the amazing services that I am now able to do for many others, now that I’ve spent over ten years continuing to study all aspects of homeopathy with a specialty interest in homeoprophylaxis above and beyond my four year diploma requirement in order to call myself a homeopathic practitioner (HomeopathicCures, 2015).
Question Period
Why are homeopaths and homeoprophylaxis such an easy target? What makes up our community? Is homeopathy even an appropriate profession within the current dominating paradigm? What is an appropriate education for a person to become a homeopath? This essay is a step in the process to attempt to write through these questions.
Discussion: Homeopathic Community, Education, and Professionalism
At the present time, within the existence of homeopathy as a modality, opportunities are not yet being taken advantage of. There could be an increased variety of ways one can practice homeopathy in a more integrated fashion. In this type of practice, where there is support within a more integrated system, homeoprophylaxis could be well implemented and well used. What would help is if it is within an environment of mutual respect and support amongst the homeopathic community. Are there steps we can implement in order for this to become a rewarding possibility? If so, what are they and which will be the most direct?
The purpose of this article is to spark discussions regarding conscious community building within the homeopathic professional development. As a result of this well-crafted skeptic activity in Canada, the recognition of the benefits of a coherent and active community of professional homeopaths became clear.
What are the methods we can employ to encourage a professional identity that supports and respects a growing diversity within the profession, instead of marginalization? Fostering and supporting a variety of methods or approaches within the profession while maintaining unity amongst homeopaths can create strength in diversity. Let’s use and create opportunities to consider methods to maintain our united front in order to represent a healthy variety of professional homeopaths.
Challenges and Limitations; Confusion
In order to bring homeopathy and homeoprophylaxis into the mainstream, a list of challenges and limitations to overcome might include: Confusion of homeopathy and naturopathy, implausibility of homeopathy, dominance of materialistic paradigm of popular science, lack of political/professional coherence, and the degree of marginalization of homeopaths already.
If you were to market yourself as a life coach or a health coach instead of a homeopath, would it be easier for you and more appealing to potential clients? I’ve found myself considering this after I’ve told someone I’m a homeopath and they’ve mistaken me for a Naturopath or someone who does aromatherapy or Emotional Freedom Technique, or tapping, EMDR, and even mind reading.
This phenomenon is difficult to overcome. Each person comes to a conclusion of their own, depending on prior experiences and beliefs. Think back before you had any interaction with homeopathy. If something is in contrast with a strong belief (homeopathy and particularly homeoprophylaxis), even the highest quality of research won’t suffice to change that belief, despite what those scientific studies show.
Rutton (2008) describes what should be our ‘highest goal’ as homeopaths: “Prior beliefs are updated in the Bayesian process, but the first prior belief has a special position. This first prior belief is very strong, we need to consider how strong and why. It is in fact paradigmatic and might not be susceptible to Bayes’ theorem”. Only a strong personal experience (seeing is believing) might be the only thing that can change a strong prior belief (Cecchetto, 2014).
Expansion & Contraction
The ability for homeopathy and homeoprophylaxis to maintain a stronghold amongst the growing options for healing has been tenuous. Compare our contemporary status with when homeopaths used to be equally considered amongst conventional physicians and that there were homeopathic hospitals and publicly accessible clinics of homeopathic medicine. Coincidentally, my two nieces were born in the hospital (Women’s College Hospital) that in 1859 (a time when homeopathy was a recognized medical profession in Ontario) began as a homeopathic institution (North Toronto Homeopathic Medicine, 2015).
At this time, the use of homeopathy has built itself back up to being used by over 500 million people (Montreal Institute of Classical Homeopathy, 2015). An important aspect of developing the profession lies in our ability to capture the people’s trust and the trust of the establishment. Then when they give homeopathy and homeoprophylaxis a chance, the professional medical practice of homeopathy can demonstrate how it can be applicable in so many important aspects of people’s health care.
Attracting more Bees with Honey than Vinegar
What happens when we allow aspects of our differences as homeopaths to disrupt the public from being able to access homeopathy? As seen in APHORISM 56, Hahnemann describes “how fundamentally unhelpful and hurtful this method of treatment is” (Hahnemann, 1996). Although Hahnemann did busy himself with writing aphorisms focused on criticizing allopathy, wouldn’t this be one of the pieces of Hahnemann’s history that we wouldn’t want to repeat?
Conscious Awareness
Acknowledgement of the deficiencies within our community allows for the recognition of what can be done in order to make it better; Addressing race and gender inequality: financial advantage/privilege/favouritism: educational establishment rivals: associations decisions and policies driven by ego. To change some of these areas of weakness, it takes some trust in our governance (Placemakers, 2012) and some understanding of each other’s communities within the general public scope of homeopathic medicine.
Codes of Conduct
When I first started implementing homeoprophylaxis into my homeopathic practice, some of my colleagues seemed to be either scared (will the health authorities completely shut you down?), skeptical (that isn’t homeopathy) or superior (we just don’t need to). Meanwhile, I decided that it was something that I ethically could not deny from my clients. There are people who are desperately searching for this exact service. I was one of them before I became a homeopath. Now, as a homeopath, I feel that it is my duty to be able to conduct this essential aspect of homeopathic practice for those who seek it.
In writing this article I looked up a few written Codes of Conduct amongst our professional associations. I also remembered that in Kim Kalina’s teaching of the CEASE Therapy course (CEASE Training Seminar, Toronto, June 2012), she specifically stated that it is important to remember the idea that ‘we are all one. Ours is not a better way. Ours is just another way.’
What do we Know
If there is one leap that occurred within my education at the University of Central Lancashire it is that when someone says they ‘know’ something, my mind goes into the question of how do they know and what is it that makes them think that they know something. As the online dictionary, Merriam Webster (2015) explains; “Knowledge (epistemology) defined: Definition of EPISTEMOLOGY: “the study or a theory of the nature and grounds of knowledge especially with reference to its limits and validity.” Now I more often feel like I need to ask more questions than I can feel like I know something.
People have the Power (Holistic, People!)
Here is a critical look at community, what it is, what it is in reference to homeopathy and how it can be developed. Oxford online dictionary (2015) describes community as “feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.” Within the homeopathic community, we can count on the fact that we have people. We have an extremely passionate and very engaged population of homeopaths. We can put people power first (Atlee, 2015). We can create conscious community building exercises into every conference and treat ourselves as we would our patients. Instead of trying to fit ourselves into the mainstream, let’s not forget the important principles of holistic medicine within our own community. We can implement the holistic principles we use in our practice of medicine into creating a strong homeopathic community and developing the homeopathic profession within that holistic model.
Elena Cecchetto is on the founding board of Side by Side Homeopathy, helping people with addictions. Some of the health concerns she commonly helps people to address include anxiety, PTSD, ADHD, ASD, OCD, depression, migraines, hormone imbalances, digestion concerns, skin complaints and insomnia. In addition she is doing a research Masters in Integrative Healthcare. See her Patreon projects here (Patreon to Help Homeopathic Research).
She loves hearing back from new parents about getting the teething, colic, reflux, nursing issues, sleeping, coughing, and rashes successfully addressed with homeopathic care. Her focus on fertility and children, have been supported by extra courses with Dr. Sunil Anand, Louis Klein (and others) plus monthly case conference evenings with Laurie Dack.
As of 2012, Elena has been CEASE Therapy Certified. In 2004 Elena Cecchetto was on the founding board of the Canadian Society of Homeopaths. In 2007 she was invited to present at the BC Society of Homeopaths (BCSH) Case Conference. In September, 2009 the Health Action Network Society, requested a presentation of her Homeoprophylaxis Program.
See her Vancouver Calendar of availability here: https://www.schedulicity.com/scheduling/ANHRSV
MORE: http://www.accessnaturalhealing.com/ or at info@accessnaturalhealing.com 604-568-4663
https://twitter.com/accesshealing
https://www.facebook.com/homeopath
https://instagram.com/accesshealing/
https://homeopathiccures.wordpress.com/
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Elena_Cecchetto
APPENDIX A: Bibliography for Homeoprophylaxis
A Bibliography for Homeoprophylaxis (taken from the article to be published in Links Homeopathic Journal in December 2015 called “Homeoprophylaxis; Can you believe it?” which is a critical look at using homeopathy for prevention of specific infectious diseases, belief systems and the Bayesian perspective.).
Bandyopadhyay, B. (2010) Decreased intensity of japanese encephalitis virus infection in chick chorioallantoic membrane under influence of ultradilutions of belladonna extract. American Journal of Infectious Diseases 6 (2): 24-28.
Bandyopadhyay, B. (2011) Suckling mice of “belladonna 200” fed mothers evade virulent nakayama strain japanese encephalitis virus infection. International Journal of Microbiological Research 2 (3): 252-257.
Billings, M. (1997) The Medical and Scientific Conceptions of Influenza. Last accessed December 16th, 2013 at http://virus.stanford.edu/uda/fluscimed.html.
Bodman, F. (1975) The quest for specifics. British Homoeopathic Journal. 64 (1): 30-39.
Bracho, G., Varela, E., Ferna ́ndez, R., Ordaz, B., Marzoa, N., Mene ́ndez, J., Garc ́ıa, L., Gilling, E., … Campa, C. (2010) Large-scale application of highly-diluted bacteria for leptospirosis epidemic control. Homeopathy 99, 156-166. doi:10.1016/j.homp.2010.05.009.
Fuller, S. (2003) Kuhn vs. Popper. Duxford, Cambridge, UK: Icon Books Ltd.
Golden, I. (2007) Vaccination & homeoprophylaxis? A review of risks and alternatives (6th edition), Canberra: National Library.
Hahnemann, S. (1996). Organon of the medical art (6th Edition) edited and annotated by W.B. O’Rielly. Redmond, Washington: Birdcage Books.
Hahnemann, S. (1852) Lesser writings of Samuel Hahnemann last accessed Dec 2, 2013 at http://books.google.ca/books?id=YwTZzl_fk74C&dq=lesser%20writings%20by%20samuel%20hahnemann&pg=PR7#v=onepage&q=lesser%20writings%20by%20samuel%20hahnemann&f=false.
Ipsos online,(2015). Canadian Polls, Health. Last accessed Oct 19, 2015 at http://www.ipsos-na.com/news-polls/pressrelease.aspx?id=6646
Mathie, R., Baitson, E., Frye, J., Nayak, C., Manchanda, R, and Fisher, P. (2013) Homeopathic treatment of patients with influenza-like illness during the 2009 A/H1N1 influenza pandemic in india. Homeopathy 102, 187-192. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.homp.2013.04.001.
Malthouse, S., (2010) Homeopathy and Influenze; The Spanish Flu experience. The Immunity Challenge Conference Presentation. last accessed December 2, 2013 at
http://www.cmcgc.com/media/handouts/061035/040_Malthouse.pdf.
Navab, I. (2012) Lives saved by homeopathy in epidemics and pandemics. last accessed November 23, 2013 at http://drnancymalik.wordpress.com/2013/01/23/epidemics-and-pandemics/.
Puri, B. (2009) Last accessed Dec 12-13 at http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/some-seek-alternative-swine-flu-therapies-1.833973.
Roniger, H & Jacobs. (2010) Prophylaxis against leptospirosis using a nosode: Can this cohort study serve as a model for future replications?. The Faculty of homeopathy 99, 152-155. doi.10.1016/j.homp.2010.06.004.
Rutton, A. (2008) How can we change beliefs? A bayesian perspective. The Faculty of Homeopathy 97, 214-219. doi:10.1016/j.homp.2008.09.007.
Vandenbroucke, JP & de Crean. (2001) Alternative medicine “a mirror image” for scientific reasoning in conventional medicine. Ann Intern Med 135, 507-513.
Webster’s online dictionary. Last accessed November 23rd, 2013 at http://www.webster-dictionary.org/definition/epidemic.
Webster’s online dictionary. Last accessed November 23rd, 2013 at http://www.webster-dictionary.org/definition/pandemic.
APPENDIX B: Letter to CBC’s Ombudsman
Ombudsman CBC
P.O. Box 500, Station A
Toronto, Ontario M5W 1E6
Fax: (416) 205-2825
Telephone: (416) 205-2978
ombudsman@cbc.ca
Date: January 5th, 2015
RE: CBC’s Marketplace episode “Shot of Confusion” aired November 28th, 2014
Dear Ombudsman,
CBC has allowed a bias to be presented as ‘science’ or truths. This episode upsets the lives of an incredible number of upstanding, highly educated and independently-minded Canadians. This episode insinuates that the Homeopathic Profession is doing something it could not possibly be responsible for. The fact that people are choosing not to vaccinate their children is no fault of Homeopaths.
I am writing to have CBC address the following:
1. Why were the reporters sent without our (the homeopaths) knowledge?
2. On what grounds was this made permissible?
3. The statements given about the science behind homeopathy are wrong. No experts on homeopathy were consulted with a chance for fair representation.
4. With what criteria were the people representing an expert on vaccinations (the nurse) and an expert on research criteria appropriate for homeopathic studies (University of Hamilton professor) chosen?
As an admission to the public of the level of deceit involved in the making of this episode, I would like to see the following events occur:
1. CBC Marketplace journalists Erica Johnson and others involved retract the inaccurate statements made about Homeopathy in a publically aired apology to the public. The statement must also include a public apology to the general public and to the Homeopathic Profession that the episode was not based on any true representation of facts, nor science. This statement of apology and admission is to be on the Marketplace time slot and on the CBC’s website, CBC Marketplace’s website, youtube, facebook, twitter pages etc… or anywhere that the CBC’s Marketplace episode ‘Shot of Confusion’ has and does appear. Here is an outline of the messages conveyed on CBC’s Marketplace that should be retracted in a publicly aired apology stating they are not true:
1. Homeopaths are misleading/misinforming the public. In fact - they are helping concerned/curious people find resources to more information.
2. Homeopathy has no science to it. In fact - there is a high level of integrity involved in the science of homeopathy that has a more ancient history than conventional medicine.
3. Homeopathic remedies are unscientific. In fact - there are many resources and types of science that show homeopathy works and much of it is beyond the very narrowly applicable RCT method.
4. That the Homeopaths who were misrepresented by hidden cameras without their permission be compensated.
As I have written to CBC Ombudsman in the past with an unsatisfying response, I would like to request that you please do not respond to this letter with any of your ‘knowledge’ of Homeopathy, as I am clearly the expert on Homeopathy especially when compared to anyone else employed or hired by CBC.
I await your response addressing each of these concerns. I understand that the Executive Producer has 20 days to respond to my complaint.
Sincerely,
Elena Cecchetto CCH, RSHom(NA)
cc
Member of Legislative Assembly: Honourable Jenny Wai Ching Kwan
Member of Parliament: Honourable Libby Davies
Health Canada: The Honourable Rona Ambrose, P.C., M.P.
Canadian Consumers Centre for Homeopathy (3CH)
BC Human Rights Tribunal
Canadian Broadcasting Standards Council
APPENDIX C: CBC’s Response
Dear Elena Cecchetto:
Thank you for your email of 6 January addressed to Esther Enkin, CBC Ombudsman, drawing our attention to shortcomings you find in the Marketplace episode, “Shot of Confusion”, originally broadcast on 28 November, 2014. It present “bias” as “’science’ or truths”, you wrote.
Since Marketplace is my responsibility, I would like to reply.
Let me begin by saying that I sincerely regret that you are disappointed in CBC. I can assure you that the CBC prides itself on the excellence of its journalism. We take very seriously any assertion that our journalism is inaccurate, biased or unfair, or in any way fails to meet the rigorous criteria set out in the CBC’s Journalistic Standards and Practices. Where criticisms are justified, we take immediate corrective action.
However, in this case – and I say this with respect – I strongly disagree with your assessment. Allow me to explain why. You raised four numbered issues and I will respond to then in turn, but before I do, I want to be clear about our program and the focus of this episode.
It is important to understand that Marketplace, a multiple award-winning program of investigative journalism and one of CBC Television's longest running current affairs programs, chiefly focuses on the interests of consumers. It looks at products, services, individuals and organizations that affect consumers – all from a consumers’ point of view. That was true in this case.
In the past few years, we have seen a number of Canadian communities experience outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles and whooping cough. The World Health Organization says both measles and whooping cough are highly contagious, serious diseases. Measles is still one of the leading causes of death among young children globally. In 2013, there were 145,700 measles deaths around the world, and over 195,000 children died from whooping cough. In some Canadian communities more than 40% of children aren’t vaccinated against these and other serious diseases.
Many parents find the decision to vaccinate a difficult one. They’re often confused by seemingly contradictory information, and are not sure who to trust. Though there may be heated debate on the internet and on the celebrity show talk circuit on television, there is little scientific debate about the value of childhood vaccines. They are considered safe, effective and are not linked to illnesses like autism. (The link to autism was based on a fraudulent study published in 1998 and now thoroughly discredited.) On the question of side-effects and anecdotal reports of illness from vaccine, accredited experts point out that scientific evidence overwhelmingly demonstrates that the very small risks associated with vaccines are far outweighed by the benefits of immunization.
When Marketplace began to investigate vaccine trends and falling vaccination rates, we discovered that many parents who visit alternative health care providers are being discouraged from immunizing their children. We learned one group of practitioners – homeopaths – was going further, offering parents vaccine alternatives they advertise as over 90 percent effective, despite the absence of credible evidence.
Let me emphasize that there is no accepted, peer-reviewed scientific evidence that homeopathic vaccine alternatives offer any protection. That’s why the Canadian Homeopathic Pharmaceutical Association cautions, “Our association and its members cannot recommend the use of any homeopathic medication, in lieu of conventional medical vaccinations. To our knowledge there have been no homeopathic substances thoroughly tested as consistently effective replacement therapeutics for conventional medical vaccinations”. Yet, even a quick scan of online advertising by some Canadian homeopaths offering vaccine counselling suggested they might be going a lot further in the vaccine advice they were offering. Our program gave viewers the opportunity to see first hand the advice homeopaths offered the mothers who visited them.
But that was not the only point of view heard on the program. There are others – including supporters of homeopathy – and we heard from them too.
We spoke with many experts, scientists, and researchers for our story. Among them, we interviewed Dr. Isaac Golden, often considered the founder of modern homeoprophylaxis, who told us there is a “safe homeopathic option”, what he calls a “homeopathic immunization”. He explained on the program that it “works on different principles”, on a “very subtle level as does homeopathic treatment”. It is difficult to explain he said, but urged our viewers to “look at the evidence of whether it does work”.
We did that. We sent Dr. Golden’s research to be analyzed by three different experts, including a professor of infectious diseases. Those researchers found his studies on homeoprophylaxis “concerning”, and one found that the “material presented essentially no evidence” that homeopathic vaccines could “protect children from serious, often life threatening infection”.
We made appointments with five Canadian homeopaths who offered vaccine consultations. The mothers we sent on visits were real moms with their real kids – not reporters. One of our researchers accompanied them for each visit to document the exchanges. As is always our practice, we subsequently shared our findings with each of the homeopaths we visited, with an offer to do an interview or to provide us with any additional information they might want to add. We also contacted every major homeopathic organization with an invitation to appear on our program and help us interpret what we found. All declined.
It is CBC’s mandate, part of its obligation under the federal Broadcasting Act, to carry different points of view on controversial matters like this one. It is a concept that lies at the heart of the notion of fairness in journalism. Of course, not everyone will agree with the views expressed, as clearly you do not in this instance. Fair enough. But it is the CBC’s responsibility to ensure that Canadians are given the opportunity and the information they need to make up their own minds.
With that context, now let me turn to the four specific issues you raised:
1.You asked why our “reporters” were sent to visit homeopaths without their (the homeopaths) knowledge?
As I explained, we did not send reporters. We asked real mothers with their children to visit five homeopaths who offered vaccine consultations. Vaccines are a controversial issue among some alternative health care providers. We wanted to hear what homeopaths said in a realistic setting when typical mothers asked for their advice about vaccines.
2. You asked “on what grounds” is this permissible?
CBC journalistic policy sets out strict conditions for the use of “clandestine methods”, among them the use of a hidden camera. That policy says that we can only use such methods when there is no other way to credibly document illegal, antisocial activity or, as in this case, an abuse of trust. Before we can use such methods, however, we must first satisfy to the head of CBC News Journalistic Standards and Practices that this is the only way to get the information and secure his approval to go ahead.
3.You wrote that what we said about the science behind homeopathy is “wrong”, adding that “no experts” on homeopathy were consulted or given “fair representation”.
With respect, that is not the case. We repeatedly offered homeopaths and experts in homeopathy the opportunity to discuss these issues. As I wrote, above, we spoke at some length to Dr. Golden, a highly respected advocate, who told us that the science of homeopathy is based on “different principles” and is “very subtle”, but would not explain it further. Although repeatedly offered the opportunity, none of the homeopaths we videotaped wanted to add any further information to what they had said on videotape or discuss the issues in an interview. All of the major homeopathic organizations declined our invitation to discuss what we had found.
4.You asked what criteria we used in selecting those we asked to evaluate the science of homeopathy.
Knowledge and experience. We asked two people, Shannon MacDonald, a registered nurse and adjunct assistant professor at the University of Alberta, who researches vaccine trends, and Jason Busse, a professor of research methodology at McMaster University in Hamilton. Based on her studies and experience in the area, Ms. MacDonald offered her views on the value of childhood vaccination, the reasons some parents decide against vaccination and the sometimes very serious consequences of not being vaccinated against preventable diseases.
We asked Dr. Busse, an expert in medical research methodology, to sit through the full-day seminar in which Dr. Golden presented the science supporting homeopathy. After reviewing the studies Dr. Golden had cited as well as Dr. Golden’s own work, Dr. Busse concluded that the “quality of the evidence is low”.
In light of the above, Marketplace will not be making an apology or retraction as you requested.
Thank you again for your email. I hope my reply has reassured you of the continuing integrity of our program and our news service.
Finally, it is my responsibility to inform you that if you are not satisfied with this response, you may wish to submit the matter for review by the CBC Ombudsman, Esther Enkin. The Office of the Ombudsman – an independent and impartial body reporting directly to the President – is responsible for evaluating program compliance with the CBC's journalistic policies. Ms. Enkin may be reached by mail at the address shown below, or by fax at (416) 205-2825, or by e-mail at ombudsman@cbc.ca
Sincerely,
Marie Caloz Executive Producer, Marketplace, CBC News
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