A Victorian hospital has employed a naturopath to the staff of an endometriosis clinic.
This is despite an admission by the Technology/Clinical Practice Committee that ‘There is no good evidence of effectiveness for naturopathic advice in patients with endometriosis.’
Endometriosis is a painful condition characterised by bloating, period pain, heavy or irregular bleeding and occurs when the tissue that normally lines the uterus (the endometrium) is found outside the uterus. Endometriosis can be a chronic, recurring condition and occurs in approximately 10% of women. The causes are not fully understood, but treatments include surgery, hormone therapy as well as medication for pain relief.
In a bizarre decision summary (full pdf here), released by the Committee, of the Southern Health Moorrabbin Hospital, they state;
The applicants have stipulated that the naturopath will not initiate discussions about naturopathic medication, however it is anticipated that patients may bring this up. In this situation the naturopath will advise that there is no evidence for safety or effectiveness (my emphasis).
This seems in stark contrast to the role of the committee which is described as ‘to ensure that new technologies and clinical practices at Southern Health are introduced within a rigorous and evidence-based framework’.
The decision summary also states that;
‘The naturopath will not be prescribing..’ but will ‘be providing dietary and exercise advice and general health measures.’
It’s curious therefore that the hospital did not employ a dietitian, who could easily fulfill such a role without the humiliation of having to tell patients that there is ‘no evidence for the safety and efficacy’ of their own profession.
The proposal was also put forward in 2008, but rejected. It is not clear why it was approved on this occasion.
In the decision summary, the committee states (perhaps in acknowledgement of the lack of evidence) that the ‘This clinic will provide opportunities for research into the role of naturopathy in endometriosis.’
The position will be trialled for two years, then reviewed with the option of making it permanent.
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Thanks to Jo and Kathy for the tip off.
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Comments ( 16 )
[...] » Hospital employs naturopath despite admitting ‘no evidence’ for effectiveness [...]
What kind of doctor do I see for neck/back pain? added these pithy words on Mar 30 10 at 7:38 amMick added these pithy words on Mar 16 10 at 9:37 pmThis is just… weird. It’d at least make sense if they believed naturopathy works.
Nescio added these pithy words on Mar 16 10 at 10:00 pmThis is Victorian as in the Australia state, not as in some historically-themed hospital? There is good evidence regarding naturopathy. It’s nonsense, based on false premises and ideas that were abandoned for good reasons many years ago.
Grendel added these pithy words on Mar 16 10 at 10:11 pmOh.
Crap.
Just as the Health System is under review all over Australia we have a local health board pulling a stunt like this.
It looks like an effort to find a job for some local and I hope that is not the case, but regardless, it is plumbing the depths of poor decision making.
AndyD added these pithy words on Mar 17 10 at 1:13 amOr maybe the naturopath is now a captive of Big-Pharma? How will anyone trust him/her?
David Driscoll added these pithy words on Mar 17 10 at 6:39 amWill post this on a dietitians mailing list and see whatctgd response is. For exercise advice they could also consult an exercise physiologist, four year degree qualified health professional at http://www.aaess.com.au
Steve added these pithy words on Mar 17 10 at 7:03 amThis doesn’t bode well for moving more control of hospitals to the local level. Next they’ll be opening a homeopathy clinic.
;There are a number of interesting changes from the 2008 rejection to the 2009 approval: Consistent, clinically important benefit? changed from “no” to “unknown”. Clearly this appointment is not supported by an evidence base. Even minimal costs from the program budget should be directed elsewhere. Concerns about interactions of recommended natropathic treatments with medical therapy seem to have been resolved. And concern about the lack any professional body from which to seek guidance about such things as professional capacity and professional development has also dissappeared.
.Most shocking though is the recognition that this staff member may make recommendations for which “there is no evidence of safety” with an unknown consistent, clinically important benefit.
.It is a law suit waiting to happen.
Ken McLeod added these pithy words on Mar 17 10 at 10:33 amHave I got this right? Taxpayers’ money is going to pay for this? Can someone find out the name and address of the officer reponsible for this decision so that we can all let him/her know what we think of this? I shall also be writing to my MP.
Maggie added these pithy words on Mar 17 10 at 10:38 am@Ken,
According to their website, http://www.mihsr.monash.org/cce/shtcp.html The Centre for Clinical Effectiveness is the Secretariat for the Southern Health TCPC. Please refer any enquiries or correspondence to the person responsible for Clinical matters Dr Claire Harris Director, Centre for Clinical Effectiveness Phone: 9594 7576 Email: claire.harris@southernhealth.org.au
AndyD added these pithy words on Mar 17 10 at 11:55 amI hear that David Copperfield can make things mysteriously disappear. Although there’s no rigorous scientific evidence to support the claims, anecdotal evidence of his amazing powers abounds (I’ve seen it myself of TV!!!). Is there any truth to the rumour that another Victorian hospital is looking to employ him in their cancer ward – on a trial basis?
Ilijasx added these pithy words on Mar 19 10 at 6:37 pmYet another example of the standards of science being compromised to allow the incursion of non-scientists to permeate the health care industry.
That sort of stuff just peeves me right off.
Just how this decision could be rationalised or justified is beyond me. It’s like putting a roof painter in charge of restoring the Sistine Chapel.
Sean the Blogonaut added these pithy words on Mar 20 10 at 5:30 pmHow does this shit happen? Really?
Michael Kingsford Gray added these pithy words on Mar 21 10 at 5:53 pmAs someone pointed out at the recent 2010 Global Atheist Conference, what manager is not going to say “yes please’ to the offer of another bod on the ground?
In a perfect world, hospital managers would be given a choice:
* Naturopathetic
* Social Worker
* Psychologist
* Hygeinist
* Homeopathy Fraud
* Cleaner
…and be allowed to chose the value-for-money.But if given no choice: “Naturopath or Nobody”, what (as a manager) would you choose? It is a case of one more person, as ineffective as they may be, on the payroll.
Dan Buzzard added these pithy words on Mar 22 10 at 10:53 amDisappointing to see Hospitals defraud the patients they are supposed to be helping. The lure of money, combined with the ability to get away with it is obviously very strong.
