03 November 2017
BVA's longstanding position has been that we cannot endorse the use of any products making therapeutic claims that don't have a proven evidence base
The
Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Council has approved a new position
statement on the veterinary use of complementary and alternative medicines,
including homeopathy.
According
to the statement, homeopathy ‘exists without a recognised body of evidence for
its use' and is not based on sound scientific principles.
The
RCVS has called for homeopathy, and any similar treatments, to be regarded as
‘complementary rather than alternative to treatments for which there is a
recognised evidence base or which are based in sound scientific
principles'.
Responding
to the announcement, British Veterinary Association Senior Vice President
Gudrun Ravetz said:
“Veterinary
medicine is grounded in scientific evidence, which is why our longstanding
position has been that we cannot endorse the use of homeopathic remedies, or
any other products making therapeutic claims, that don't have a proven evidence
base. As vets, animal welfare is our top priority, and complementary and
alternative treatments that are not based on sound scientific principles or
evidence could have detrimental consequences for animal health and welfare.
“RCVS's
statement firmly places homeopathy and other non-evidence-based treatments as
complementary rather than alternative therapies, to be used alongside
treatments with proven scientific bases, and we will be updating our position in consultation
with BVA Policy Committee.”
