Mark Hanna • Apr 19, 2017 •
New Zealand has several layers of regulation to protect us against misleading health claims. Sometimes they all fail. My struggle against quackery over the last few years has given me some familiarity with the ways we’re protected against it, and with their shortcomings. Misleading people about their healthcare options is something that is clearly unethical. To quote the alt text … Read More
Mark Hanna • Dec 15, 2016 •
A decades old loophole in New Zealand’s patient protection legislation is letting quacks get away with what could amount to health fraud, right under the regulator’s nose. In New Zealand, patients are protected from “health fraud scams” by the Medicines Act. This legislation, which is enforced by Medsafe, only allows products making strong health claims to be sold … Read More
Peter Griffin • Jun 03, 2016 •
Many Sciblogs readers will know the work of Dr Ben Goldacre, the doctor, academic, Guardian columnist and author of the best seller Bad Science. Goldacre touches down briefly in Auckland in September for one event at the Mercury Theatre, which if his previous public appearances are anything to go by, will be a funny, enlightening and ironic affair. Read More
Helen Petousis Harris • May 23, 2016 •
There is a measles outbreak in the Waikato and folks are presenting certificates of homeopathic prophylaxis against measles as proof of immunity, to avoid exclusion from school. It is frightening to think that the holder of the certificate below is under the impression they have protection against the listed epidemic diseases. Certificate of immunity to infectious diseases Homeopathic … Read More
Grant Jacobs • Oct 01, 2015 •
The New Zealand Pharmacy Council want to change to supply complementary therapies or other healthcare products without evidence of efficacy. As reported in NZ Doctor and Stuff, the New Zealand Medical Association is not happy. Read More
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
Mark Hanna • Jun 19, 2015 •
This year has not been a good year for homeopathy. There have been many blows to the industry in the form of more research finding it ineffective, position statements from organisations of health practitioners discouraging its use, and successful complaints to regulatory authorities. And this trend shows no signs of abating. In March, the Australian […] … Read More
Grant Jacobs • Apr 14, 2015 •
Today the New Zealand Press Council released it’s rulings on complaints filed by Mark Hanna and the Science Media Centre about an article on homeopathy in the Wairarapa Times-Age. Mark and Peter have already covered the back story and how these rulings would seem to ‘allow’ newspapers to write inaccurate or unbalance coverage on the basis … Read More
Mark Hanna • Apr 14, 2015 •
In February this year, an article was published in the Wairarapa Times-Age (both in print and online) headlined Use of natural remedies is on the rise. The article discussed some specific cases of so-called “natural remedies” being used to treat serious diseases, such as intravenous vitamin C for leukaemia and homeopathy to treat various forms […] … Read More
Grant Jacobs • Mar 17, 2015 •
Or: Homeopathic remedies in NZ pharmacies redux A little over five years ago I wrote suggesting New Zealand pharmacies should not be selling homeopathic remedies. Over the past few days there have been renewed calls for pharmacies to stop carrying these junk remedies following an Australian survey of the evidence. One … Read More