Abstract
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 398–409 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Journal | Bioethics |
| Volume | 26 |
| Issue number | 8 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Oct 2012 |
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Against homeopathy - a utilitarian perspective. / Smith, Kevin R.
In: Bioethics, Vol. 26, No. 8, 10.2012, p. 398–409.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Against homeopathy - a utilitarian perspective
AU - Smith, Kevin R.
PY - 2012/10
Y1 - 2012/10
N2 - I examine the positive and negative features of homeopathy from an ethical perspective. I consider: (a) several potentially beneficial features of homeopathy, including non-invasiveness, cost-effectiveness, holism, placebo benefits and agent autonomy; and (b) several potentially negative features of homeopathy, including failure to seek effective healthcare, wastage of resources, promulgation of false beliefs and a weakening of commitment to scientific medicine. A utilitarian analysis of the utilities and disutilities leads to the conclusion that homeopathy is ethically unacceptable and ought to be actively rejected by healthcare professionals.
AB - I examine the positive and negative features of homeopathy from an ethical perspective. I consider: (a) several potentially beneficial features of homeopathy, including non-invasiveness, cost-effectiveness, holism, placebo benefits and agent autonomy; and (b) several potentially negative features of homeopathy, including failure to seek effective healthcare, wastage of resources, promulgation of false beliefs and a weakening of commitment to scientific medicine. A utilitarian analysis of the utilities and disutilities leads to the conclusion that homeopathy is ethically unacceptable and ought to be actively rejected by healthcare professionals.
U2 - 10.1111/j.1467-8519.2010.01876.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1467-8519.2010.01876.x
M3 - Article
VL - 26
SP - 398
EP - 409
JO - Bioethics
JF - Bioethics
SN - 0269-9702
IS - 8
ER -