BMJ - new open access journal

[K DA SILVA-HILL]

Please pass this on, could be useful. Best, Grace
BMJ - new open access journal
Posted by: "Steve Scrutton" stevescrutton@btinternet.com steve107632
Tue Jun 10, 2008 3:19 am (PDT)

Registrar, Alliance of Registered Homeopaths
www.stevehomeopath.co.uk
Dear all

the editor of the BMJ is launching a new open access journal which will publish case reports from any area of healthcare.

this may be one way of demonstrating how homeopathy works! hence it would be good if we post cases that have good outcomes - perhaps including comments of satisfied customers!

the site address is www.casesjournal.com
----------------------------------------------------------
Grace DaSilva-Hill
Homeopathy, EFT, NAET
www.healingwithgrace.co.uk

[jayneygoddard]

Excellent Grace. A quick thought: Might I suggest that we make a
careful study of the way that cases are presented on this site - so
that we can then decide upon a 'house style' that we all adhere to.
The reason for this is that we are more likely to be taken seriously
as a medical discipline if we approach this in terms and style that
medics will most easily relate to. This way, the info is gently
absorbed rather then being seen as forign and thus an irritant. Let
us not forget that medics are overloaded with
papers/work/information - so if we can slip this to them in a really
easy to digest manner we are more likely to get in 'under the radar'
so to speak.
It is worth bearing in mind that much of the research undertaken by
the NIH in the US comes about as a result of case studies. So, can
we as a group come up with a protocol for gathering case studies and
then presenting them. Perhaps this already exists and I am just not
aware of it - if this is the case I apologise in advance.
Jayney
--- In minutus@yahoogroups.com, K DA SILVA-HILL
wrote:
will publish case reports from any area of healthcare.
would be good if we post cases that have good outcomes - perhaps
including comments of satisfied customers!
DaSilva-Hill

[Irene de Villiers]

I'm sorry but I disagree, with respect.

Homeopathy is not a rote system where all homeopaths do the same
things in the same cases - it is the very opposite - it is
individualized, and in specific cases, something may be emphasized
that is missing in other cases, and the presentation MUST change
according to what is relevant. So case presentation, like homeopathy,
is individualized, according to individual case differences AND
individual homeopath differences AND individual use of non-homeopathy
or new techniques to enhance progress..... different homeopaths have
different approaches which is GOOD not bad - and he list goes on.
he same, due to each homeopath;s individual style.
Excuse me but that is not a reason to do anything. One does not
change the homeopathy profession to be more like the allopathy one.
If the allopaths don't like homeopathy principles and
individualisation because they can't or don't want to even begin to
think that way - that's their problem - let's not make it ours.
Ours is to explain what we do - not to change it to look like what
they do!

When negotiating with what amounts to an adversary in terms of
acceptance of homeopathy, it does help to start on common ground,
which is hopefully the desire to cure gently and fully, long-term.
But after that it is necessary to explain the very different
principles by which homeopathy does this (and actually achieves it,
unlike allopathy). SO homeopahty cases need to be written a la
homeopathy principles - not a la allopathy principles!

It's important to support our science and art in a way that explains
what it is designed to achieve and how.
Allopathy looks for something entirely different - a disappearance of
symptoms for up to 5 years by any means possible, including toxic,
and with no regard to consequential issues that may arise.

That is SO different from a system that helps an individual to regain
long-term full health without adverse effects.

There's no way two such different systems with two such different
objectives and two such different methods, can present a case the
same way!!!
That is a false dream.
Homeopathy needs to be seen for what it is, in a honest and open way
and without cowering behind the skirts of allopathy.
Sorry but there is no short cut.
What you have to slip to them is the DIFFERENCES that they need to
understand in order to embrace homeopathy concepts.
To that end, what they need slipped top them is results - like before
and after photos of cured cases with associated lab reports or
whatever hard evidence there is.
They need to believe there is something to investigate before they
will open their minds.
You can not "slip something" into a close mind:-)
So we need to present *homeopathy* case studies but in the light of
what homeopathy aims to do, and does do, by homeopahty timelines and
criteria of success.
We do not measure water with a ruler - nor should we measure
homeopathy with an allopathy stick.
I do agree that homeopathy case studies are the way to present how
successful homeopathy is.
Maybe there needs to be a forum for it too.
But I would not restrict the style of presentation by individual
homeopaths.
It may be good to have a list of principles to meet?
Principles might be things like:
* Stating the objective at the start of the case
* Including what symptoms of the individual were matched to which
rubrics of remedy to get simillimum.
* Management of the case.
* Result with evidence that objectives were met at the close of a case.
No apology needed.
I think cases need to be presented somewhere allopaths have to fall
over them:-)
But using homeopathy principles not allopathy presentations.

Namaste,
Irene
--
Irene de Villiers, B.Sc AASCA MCSSA D.I.Hom/D.Vet.Hom.
P.O. Box 4703 Spokane WA 99220.
www.angelfire.com/fl/furryboots/clickhere.html (Veterinary Homeopath.)
"Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt one doing it."

[Carol Boyce]

I absolutely agree with Jayney. It's a great opportunity BUT.......

We need to be seen to be rigorous in our case write ups - I have been helping editi some cases / reports from the homeopathic world recently to bring the language into line with the convention for research papers etc. Furthermore we must be very careful about the conclusions we draw from cases - they need to be written from an objective perspective - offered up as information rather than as 'proof'. We need to be seen to be considering all the variables that might have contributed to the case outcome rather than immediately put forward the assumption it was 'all down to the remedy'.

And the cases also need to be well written, thoroughly spell checked and etc.

It might be that we need to pass them through some kind of filter re the above before submitting them to the BMJ?

Carol

Carol Boyce MCH, CCH RSHom(NA)

[Tanya Marquette]

sounds interesting
tanya

[Grace Dasilva-Hill]

Great idea Jayney, I understand exactly where you are coming from, and we don't need to
sacrifice any of our homeopathic principles either. Presentation is quite different from
principles, homeopathic principles stay as they are. As I understand it, the protocol you
suggest is a publications' protocol, not to make homeopathy allopathic. And we surely
need to get homeopathy in the BMJ - this would be a triumph for homeopathy, if they
allow us to publish there!!!!

However, this may not the best forum for discussing your suggestions. I may be wrong,
but I get the impression that there are those who discuss issues to the umpteenth degree,
and there are those who actually DO things. Nothing wrong with that of course, we are all
equal but different, and differences are respected totally. I wish I could help you more, at
the moment my list of jobs to do gets bigger by the day. Best wishes, Grace

--- In minutus@yahoogroups.com, "jayneygoddard" wrote:

[Jayney Goddard]

Hi Irine – I am talking “stylistically” – not meaning that we should dress Hx up as allopathy. I feel we all need to adhere to a ‘house style’ so that you don’t get a bunch of random case studies which are all written up differently. You have misunderstood what I said – for which I apologise. I bear the responsibility for communicating in a manner that has been unclear.
Yes – you can slip anything into a closed mind – I am talking about using a number of psychological techniques – including social compliance – it you remove obstacles to acceptance – you will manage to do this. Propaganda and advertising work like this – as do PR wars (we’re in one of those at the moment with Ernst/Singh et al at the helm).
By the way – not all medics are closed minded. I have taught and still teach at a number of medical schools – both faculty and students. These people are very keen indeed to know what CAM is – not how to do it – but what works, the theories behind it and how to relate this to the patients that they see.
In the UK 70% of GPs polled in GP magazine were in favour of CAM.
All I’m saying is not let’s make it any harder than it needs to be – a predefined format could be useful (i.e. let’s create a submission form e.g. Name of Px (e.g. Mr A), Sex, Age, Presenting Condition, Did this Px have a confirmed allopathic diagnosis?, Practitioners observations etc.etc.etc. and then the case presenter can continue the case in her/his own style.
And by the way – I’m not the kind of person to kowtow to the establishment – as many in this group will be awareJ
Bye for now

Jayney

[jayneygoddard]

Thanks Grace - just saw this - yes agree absolutely. Once you are
less snowed under and the Scientific Research in Homeopathy
Conference is over we ought to chat further - along with any other
interested parties.

So glad you 'get' what I meant

Jayney
xx

--- In minutus@yahoogroups.com, "Grace Dasilva-Hill"
wrote:
and we don't need to
quite different from
understand it, the protocol you
allopathic. And we surely
homeopathy, if they
suggestions. I may be wrong,
the umpteenth degree,
of course, we are all
I could help you more, at
wishes, Grace
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Grace