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The Society of Homeopaths (SoH) is a British private limited company^[1] formed in 1978 by "a small group of homeopaths who were keen to work together for the development of the profession and to ensure high standards in the practice of homeopathy"^[2] and at September 2018 had 997 members on the Society's register^[3] who can refer to themselves as RSHoms. The SoH's register was first accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA) in September 2014^[2] allowing members to display the Accredited Register's logo at the time. In January 2021 the PSA suspended the society's accreditation for failure to meet standards the PSA had set.^[4]

Homeopathy is a form of alternative medicine which is ineffective.^[5]^[6]^[7]^[8]^[9]^[10]^[11] Practitioners claim to treat patients using highly diluted^[5]^[6] preparations that are believed to cause healthy people to exhibit symptoms that are similar to those exhibited by the patient.

In July 2013, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) adjudicated against the SoH, finding that it was engaging in false advertising regarding claims of efficacy of homeopathic products and that at the same time discouraging users from seeking essential treatments for conditions for which they were needed.^[12]

In September 2016, the Compliance Team of the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) wrote to UK homeopaths "to remind them of the rules that govern what they can and can’t say in their marketing materials, including on their websites".^[13] The SoH initially responded by offering "support and advice" to any member^[14] though in November 2016, after a Board meeting, the SoH sought legal advice on "the legitimacy of the ASA and the actions it is taking (in) pursuing homeopaths"^[15] though later determined that to "take further action would lead to huge costs with little chance of success."^[16]

In 2017, the PSA received concerns about SoH registrants claiming to treat autism with CEASE Therapy. In their decision to re-accredit the SoH, the PSA panel issued the Society with a condition to develop a position statement on CEASE, to ensure that registrants offering the therapy "follow the Society's position and do not breach its Code of Ethics and Practice", and review the risks relating to CEASE and other therapies.^[17] In June 2018, the Society of Homeopaths published their position statement advising their members not to imply any cure of autism when marketing CEASE therapy.^[18] It has been estimated that more than 120 homeopaths are offering CEASE in the UK, though not all are SoH members.^[19]

An undercover investigation in May 2019 by The Times highlighted the ongoing problem of some alternative medicine practitioners offering alternatives to vaccination ('homeoprophylaxis') despite there being no evidence that this works.^[20] The SoH responded to one of their members being included in the feature (as someone who has offered homeoprophylaxis) by lodging an official complaint to IPSO, the press regulator.^[21]

In April 2019, the PSA re-accredited the SoH^[22] and the Good Thinking Society (GTS), concerned about ongoing CEASE claims made by SoH members, filed a Judicial Review request into that decision in June 2019.^[23] In October 2019, the High Court gave permission for the judicial review to proceed.^[24]

The SoH was re-accredited with conditions in 2020.^[25] The PSA found that the society was unable to meet the conditions set out and suspended its accreditation in January 2021.^[26]

References

^ "The Society of Homeopaths Ltd". Companies House. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
^ ^a ^b "About the Society". Society of Homeopaths. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
^ "Society of Homeopaths Annual Review 2018" (PDF). Professional Standards Authority. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
^ "The Authority suspends accreditation of the Society of Homeopaths" (news). Professional Standards Authority. 11 January 2021.
^ ^a ^b Ernst, E. (2002), "A systematic review of systematic reviews of homeopathy", British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 54 (6): 577–82, doi:10.1046/j.1365-2125.2002.01699.x, PMC 1874503, PMID 12492603
^ ^a ^b Science and Technology Committee, Evidence Check 2: Homeopathy, UK Parliamentary
^ Homeopathy, National Health Service, retrieved 4 December 2014
^ Altunc, U.; Pittler, M. H.; Ernst, E. (2007), "Homeopathy for Childhood and Adolescence Ailments: Systematic Review of Randomized Clinical Trials", Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 82 (1): 69–75, CiteSeerX 10.1.1.456.5352, doi:10.4065/82.1.69, PMID 17285788, However, homeopathy is not totally devoid of risks… it may delay effective treatment or diagnosis
^ Shang, Aijing; Huwiler-Müntener, Karin; Nartey, Linda; Jüni, Peter; Dörig, Stephan; Sterne, Jonathan AC; Pewsner, Daniel; Egger, Matthias (2005), "Are the clinical effects of homoeopathy placebo effects? Comparative study of placebo-controlled trials of homoeopathy and allopathy", The Lancet, 366 (9487): 726–732, doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(05)67177-2, PMID 16125589, S2CID 17939264
^ Musgrave, I (April 8, 2014). "No evidence homeopathy is effective: NHMRC review". The Conversation. Retrieved January 10, 2015.
^ "Swiss make New Year's regulations". Swiss Info. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
^ "ASA adjudication on Society of Homeopaths". ASA. 3 July 2013. Archived from the original on 6 July 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
^ "Advertising Standards for Homeopathy". Advertising Standards Authority. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
^ "Society responds to the ASA". Society of Homeopaths. 29 September 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
^ "Society takes legal advice on the legitimacy of the ASA". Society of Homeopaths. 15 November 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
^ "Minutes of the 308th Meeting of the Board of Directors" (PDF). Society of Homeopaths. February 2017. Retrieved 14 July 2019.^{[dead link‍]} Alt URL
^ "Accredited Registers Programme - Accreditation Panel's Decision: Society of Homeopaths" (PDF). Professional Standards Authority. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 February 2018. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
^ "Society publishes position statement on CEASE". Society of Homeopaths. 1 June 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
^ "More than 120 homeopaths trying to 'cure' autism in UK". The Guardian. 27 April 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
^ "How homeopaths push useless alternatives to crucial vaccines". The Times. 4 May 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2019. (subscription required)
^ "Society to protest to Press body after member is 'misled' by reporter". Society of Homeopaths. 7 May 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
^ "Society of Homeopaths Annual Review 2018" (PDF). Professional Standards Authority. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
^ "Good Thinking files Judicial Review over PSA reaccreditation of Society of Homeopaths". Good Thinking Society. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
^ "Homeopaths put children at risk with autism 'cure'". The Times. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
^ "Homeopaths Reaccredited by Standards Body but With Conditions". February 14, 2020.
^ "Professional Standards Authority suspends accreditation of Society of Homeopaths". Retrieved January 11, 2021.