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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not want to see a GP who had a qualification in Homeopathy?

158 replies

cordiality · 01/05/2011 17:30

I've been offered an appointment with a newnGP at my surgery instead of my usual one, 'as she's a woman' (not that I requested that, but that's another issue entirely!)

I looked her up on their website and, among other specialities, she is a qualified homeopathic practioner.

Am I BU to think that you either practice mainstream medicine or homeopathy (which I, possibly wrongly, consider as being a bit 'woo') and to think that she's not the sort of doctor I would want to see?

Am perfectly open to being told I'm wrong by the way!

OP posts:
EldonAve · 01/05/2011 18:16

YANBU

Flisspaps · 01/05/2011 18:21

YABU. If treatment is required for your condtions, state that you would like convential treatments please, and let that be that.

DaisyLovesMetronidazole · 01/05/2011 18:22

YANBU.

In fact, you are being very very reasonable and rational.

grandmaagain · 01/05/2011 18:22

we had a dr (now retired) who was a conventional and homeopathic dr and the best we have ever had.keep an open mind no two people are exactly the same what works for one won!t always work for another!

virginiasmonalogue · 01/05/2011 18:23

yabu, and very small minded!

Original poster
cordiality · 01/05/2011 18:29

I wonder under what circumstances she would offer a homeopathic alternative to conventional medicine and whether she offers other alternative medicine as well?

Are there any guidelines as to how an NHS GP should or shouldn't be treating their patients or are they free to use any methods they want?

OP posts:
AlmightyCitrus · 01/05/2011 18:30

YAB a bit U.

As (I presume) she's a GP at a normal National Health surgery she can't tell you to go and drink a tincture at sunrise and that will cure you. She has to offer you a bog standard medical treatment, but she can also suggest that you try a complementary therapy.
I dare say she'll have a good idea after the initial consultation who will be open to alternative ideas and who won't, so you may find that she won't even ask. If she does you just have to say that you prefer standard treatment, thanks.

grandmaagain · 01/05/2011 18:31

if she is anything like our old dr was she will never force any course of action on you that you are not happy with just explain the two options and let you choose which you prefer.

DontGoCurly · 01/05/2011 19:06

Yanbu

I wouldn't want to be treated by someone who believes in magic water.

Giselle99 · 01/05/2011 19:22

Did she get her homeopathic qualification then go on to medical school? If it was in that order I'd have no problem with it. Otherwise I'd be sceptical if my own GP or a colleague (I'm a doctor) had a homeopathic qualification and treated people that way - yes placebos have been proven to work, but once you start people on the homeopathy slippery slope you'll have to justify why sugar pills are not suitable for cancer etc. Best to stick to tried and tested reassurance, non-invasive investigations and eventually psychological therapy (including therapeutic waiting lists) to manage hypochondriacs.

Continuum · 01/05/2011 19:25

YANBU

I thought I read somewhere once that it was unethical to prescribe a placebo anyway and as all homeopathy has been proved to be is a placebo then what's the point of this being a "qualification" as surely it would be unethical for a doctor to even suggest it?

mercibucket · 01/05/2011 19:27

loads of French doctors are qualified in homeopathy and imo their medical care is the best in the world - certainly way better than ours

CoteDAzur · 01/05/2011 19:28

YANBU. I wouldn't want to put my health in the hands of a doctor who hasn't got the education or the intellectual capacity to understand that homeopathy does not work and it cannot work, except as a placebo.

CoteDAzur · 01/05/2011 19:29

I actually live in France, and no, I have never seen a "doctor qualified in homeopathy".

If I saw one, I would turn around and walk out of his office.

ZZZenAgain · 01/05/2011 19:30

YANBU if you think it is a load of bunkum. I wouldn't be bothered but then I would think you could simply say you don't believe in all that and so would prefer her to stick with conventional medicine in her treatment of your family. I should think she offers both but you can surely refuse the homeopathic treatments if she suggests any?

CoteDAzur · 01/05/2011 19:33

If French medical system is better than its UK equivalent, it is probably because here, we go straight to specialists and then are reimbursed by the state, rather than having to pass through GPs and wait months for appointments with specialist doctors.

SardineQueen · 01/05/2011 19:35

YANBU IMO

KvetaBarry · 01/05/2011 19:37

YANBU at all! I wouldn't trust a doctor who used homeopathic remedies, I would immediately lose all faith in their medical abilities. (really complimentary medical treatments, like acupuncture and herbal medicine, have their place, but IMO there is no place for alternative 'woo' shite in modern day medicine)

galois · 01/05/2011 19:41

I'd ask why she offered homeopathy. If she said "placebos work and they're cheaper and safer than prescribing drugs with active ingredients" I'd be all for it. If she actually genuinely believed in all the woo woo magicy water stuff, despite a chemistry A level and 6 years of university study I'd be asking for an appointment with someone else.

ExpatAgain · 01/05/2011 19:42

i wouldn't worry - many GPs are GPwSI - gps with special interest (in all sorts of things) it's probaby that this Gp elected to do homeopathy for this but on top of the full usual medical training (without which could never practise as NHS GP)..I share yr concern about homeopathy - complete quackery but I woudn]t let this put me off seeing this GP as they will still go through the standard procedures/checks..

Jonnyfan · 01/05/2011 19:45

No doctor will force you to accept a homeopathic remedy if you do not want it. My doctor when I was pregnant and all through my children's childhood was an advocate of homeopathy and we sometimes tried it; results were good, although this may be a coincidence. I had great trust in her and did not consider that she was weird in any way.

wotnochocs · 01/05/2011 19:47

YANBU.I would imagine her to be a fruit loop!

Prunnhilda · 01/05/2011 19:49

YANBU at all. I would think less of her professional judgement if she was happy to think that chalk pills with a bit of binder in them were the answer to anything. It is such a lot of arse.

Original poster
cordiality · 01/05/2011 20:42

I don't think that I am concerned that she would somehow force homeopathy on me against my will, or not offer me conventional medicine. That would be totally unethical of her.

I'm just not sure that one can be a sensible rational person and also believe in 'woo'. And, at the very minimum, I'd like my GP to be sensible.

OP posts:
breathing · 01/05/2011 20:49

TANBU. Its diametrically opposed to my own profession so I would be very dubious