Sir, - The Irish Society of Homeopaths, the representative body for homeopaths in Ireland, would like to comment on recent press reports regarding the Mayo South Coroner's inquest into the death of Mrs Jacqueline Alderslade. We are extremely concerned at the way the term homeopath is being used to describe anyone who practices alternative therapies.
Although at the moment anyone can claim to be a homeopath, we submit that only those who have completed the professional training course can properly be so described.
The Irish Society of Homeopaths is a professional self-regulatory body, which, like the Medical Council, is responsible for ensuring that the professional standards of its members are maintained. Unlike the Medical Council, however, the society does not yet have statutory registration. In order to promote safe administration of homeopathic remedies and maintain professional standards of practice, the society is currently working with the Department of Health to set up a system of statutory registration of homeopaths. We are also embracing recent European directives to safeguard the public interest with regard to both homeopathic remedies and their administration.
Once statutory registration is put into effect, only those persons qualified to practice will be able to describe themselves as homeopaths. We believe this is necessary to protect the public and ensure that the term homeopath can legally be used to describe only qualified homeopaths registered with the Irish Society of Homeopaths.
Regrettably, until such time as statutory registration is in place, the free use of the term homeopath will continue and the profession of homeopathy will suffer as a result. - Yours, etc.,
Hannah P Chew, Honorary Secretary, Irish Society of Homeopaths, Galway.