Parents Guilty of Homeopathic Hoodoo
Last week, two parents in Australia were found guilty of manslaughter after homeopathic treatments of their daughter’s chronic eczema failed. The nine-month old girl died after the parents continued to reject conventional treatments prescribed for the condition. The description of how far they let their daughter decline is heart-wrenching:
By the time she died, she was the weight of an average three-month-old, her body was covered with angry blotches and her once black hair had turned completely white. [...] Any improvements in her condition after homeopathic treatment were short-lived, and the rest of the time she was irritable and in pain, crying whenever she was moved and taking refuge only on her mother’s breast.
Surely, these parents loved their daughter and wanted her to live. But they blatantly disregarded the advice of all the professionals consulted–even those in their homeland of India, where homeopathic medicine is an accepted equivalent to mainstream medicine. So, it’s important they be held accountable for the torture their daughter had to endure in her short life.
It’s such a shame, and hopefully this case will shed more light on the danger of homeopathy. It can kill.
Julie Said,
June 9, 2009 @ 3:33 pm
Sickening.
Jodie Miller Said,
June 10, 2009 @ 6:05 pm
Let’s not overly dramatise the situation. Homeopathy cannot kill. Evidence shows it has placebo value, at best, no impact at worst. I’ve been following Rational Moms for many months now and enjoy your collective outlook on science and culture but this entry borders on sensationalism (or bigotry?).
“They had treated Gloria’s eczema with the best intentions, and none of the health professionals they consulted – homeopathic and conventional – had warned them that the condition could imperil her life.”
My heart goes out to the family who obviously loved their daughter and sought refuge in familiar, though inadequate, treatments for her condition. Perhaps no-one intervened (as has happened recently in the US with the leukemia boy) because no-one, least of all the parents, thought it was a life-threatening situation.
Dash Said,
June 10, 2009 @ 6:10 pm
I currently have a small patch of excema on the webbing of my thumb and it’s driving me mad, as far as I can tell they are torturers. A definition of insanity is to do the same thing and expect different results, so unfortunately they also seem to be insane.
jessiemarion Said,
June 10, 2009 @ 7:36 pm
Talk about a parenting fail! I have to agree with the courts decision and with Jodi’s assessment.
If you want to be pedantic you can say that the belief in homeopathy kills.
Jodie M. are you referring to Daniel Hauser when you say the boy in the US with leukemia?
Jodi Said,
June 11, 2009 @ 6:40 am
Jodie M,
Thanks for writing in, and reading RM. Jessie is right in saying that the belief, or blind devotion, to homeopathy can kill. Further proof of that can be found here:
http://www.whatstheharm.net/homeopathy.html
The parents knew their daughter was worsening and chose not to follow the advice they were given by multiple sources. In fact, one doctor was so concerned about the little girl that he told the parents to bring her back every second day. Reading the description of what the nine-month old looked like at the end of her life, it would be hard to argue that the parents didn’t think her condition was life-threatening.
Sam Said,
June 11, 2009 @ 8:51 am
They tortured their baby daughter. How can that be overstated? Your good intentions aren’t worth shit when when your child is in pain and your denying her treatment. Sick.