Honest Universe

Featured image: It’s Detox Season

It’s Detox Season

Mark Hanna • Dec 11, 2015

Summer is detox season, but beware misleading health advice. Every summer, we are bombarded with advertisements, editorials, and advertorials chastising us for all the toxins we have poisoned ourself with by indulging in fruit mince pies and Christmas ham. But it’s okay, we are told, for there is a solution to this toxic overload. And … Read More

Featured image: What Fake Astrophotography Can Teach Us

What Fake Astrophotography Can Teach Us

Mark Hanna • Nov 12, 2015

The New Zealand Herald has an article today about a cool and very popular image of the Moon positioned perfectly within a radio satellite, produced by astrophotographer Chris Pegman: Supermoon image goes into media orbit Image by Chris Pegman The article talks about how there has been debate online about whether or not this could … Read More

Featured image: What Fake Astrophotography Can Teach Us

What Fake Astrophotography Can Teach Us

Mark Hanna • Nov 12, 2015

You can learn a lot from fake astrophotography. The New Zealand Herald has an article today about a cool and very popular image of the Moon positioned perfectly within a radio satellite, produced by astrophotographer Chris Pegman: Supermoon image goes into media orbit The article talks about how there has been debate online about whether or not this … Read More

Featured image: Pharmacists Don’t Want to Sell Unproven Products

Pharmacists Don’t Want to Sell Unproven Products

Mark Hanna • Oct 22, 2015

The Pharmaceutical Society doesn’t think pharmacists should be able to sell healthcare products with no evidence of efficacy. Last week I wrote about the Pharmacy Council’s proposal to change their Code of Ethics, and summarised the submissions that I was aware of. One important organisation that was missing from that roundup is the Pharmaceutical Society. The Pharmaceutical Society is … Read More

Featured image: Pharmacists Don’t Want to Sell Unproven Products

Pharmacists Don’t Want to Sell Unproven Products

Mark Hanna • Oct 22, 2015

The Pharmaceutical Society doesn’t think pharmacists should be able to sell healthcare products with no evidence of efficacy. Last week I wrote about the Pharmacy Council’s proposal to change their Code of Ethics, and summarised the submissions that I was aware of. One important organisation that was missing from that roundup is the Pharmaceutical Society. The Pharmaceutical Society is … Read More

Featured image: Pharmacy Council’s Code of Ethics Proposal: Submissions Roundup

Pharmacy Council’s Code of Ethics Proposal: Submissions Roundup

Mark Hanna • Oct 16, 2015

The Pharmacy Council has proposed a change to their code of ethics, here’s everything you need to know. EDIT 22/10/2015: When this article was published it didn’t include details of the Pharmaceutical Society’s submission. Since then, I have spoken with their Chief Pharmacist Advisor, Bob Buckham, about their submission. For more details, see my article summarising it: Pharmacists Don’t … Read More

Featured image: Pharmacy Council’s Code of Ethics Proposal: Submissions Roundup

Pharmacy Council’s Code of Ethics Proposal: Submissions Roundup

Mark Hanna • Oct 16, 2015

The Pharmacy Council has proposed a change to their code of ethics, here’s everything you need to know. EDIT 22/10/2015: When this article was published it didn’t include details of the Pharmaceutical Society’s submission. Since then, I have spoken with their Chief Pharmacist Advisor, Bob Buckham, about their submission. For more details, see my article summarising it: Pharmacists Don’t … Read More

Featured image: Ethical Pharmacy Practice 6: An Opportunity for Change

Ethical Pharmacy Practice 6: An Opportunity for Change

Mark Hanna • Sep 21, 2015

I’ve written a lot about ethical pharmacy practice in New Zealand, advocating for New Zealand pharmacists to choose not to promote or sell healthcare products that aren’t supported by credible evidence of efficacy. I’ve also complained in the past about misleading advertising of ineffective healthcare products in pharmacies. I strongly believe that we should be able to feel confident … Read More

Featured image: Ethical Pharmacy Practice 6: An Opportunity for Change

Ethical Pharmacy Practice 6: An Opportunity for Change

Mark Hanna • Sep 21, 2015

I’ve written a lot about ethical pharmacy practice in New Zealand, advocating for New Zealand pharmacists to choose not to promote or sell healthcare products that aren’t supported by credible evidence of efficacy. I’ve also complained in the past about misleading advertising of ineffective healthcare products in pharmacies. I strongly believe that we should be able to feel confident … Read More

Featured image: Ethical Pharmacy Practice 5: Looking for Leadership

Ethical Pharmacy Practice 5: Looking for Leadership

Mark Hanna • Aug 12, 2015

In New Zealand, the Pharmacy Council is legally responsible under section 118(i) of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 for setting standards of ethical conduct for New Zealand pharmacists. As part of this, they’ve written a Safe Effective Pharmacy Practice Code of Ethics, which requires that: YOU MUST: Only purchase, supply or promote any […] … Read More