Page 21 - Winter 21-22

“Medicine is an art and
not a science
Georges CANGUILHEM
We fully subscribe to this and we intend to listen to our clients: they come to us for their animals and ask us to intervene in the context of their choice of livestock management. We have, in particular, clients who have chosen the framework of organic farming, whose specifications, now encouraged by the EU prefer to implement complementary therapies first, provided that they are effective. Faced with these demands, it is up to us to discern, in the exercise of our art, whether our prescriptions are really effective.
Problems may arise in the absence of the consultation of the veterinarian, in the absence of a medical diagnosis being made, and in this case, in the absence of consideration of the animal's well-being.
At no time is it a question of forcing the owner of the animal in need of care, but of listening to him and hearing his expectations, having sometimes touched the limits of conventional therapies.
Nature abhors a vacuum: so we claim our place in the landscape of these therapies to develop a responsible and scientific approach in the practice of our veterinary art.
The prescription of any therapy whatsoever, cannot be exempt from a diagnostic approach, from the clinical examination of the animal, while listening to the owner. The follow-up of the evolution of the case, ensured by the prescriber, allows him, in all intelligence, to practice his art.
As veterinarians, we cannot deviate from the classical diagnosis, with the contribution of medical imaging or analysis laboratory means. To this we add, as a complement, the homeopathic diagnostic approach, with the informed consent of the owner.
Not to consider this obvious fact is the manifestation of a regrettable ignorance.
“Freedom begins where ignorance ends” according to Victor HUGO. In accordance with the WHO Strategic Plan for traditional medicine for 2014-2023, we support the consolidation of the knowledge base and to strengthen safety, quality and efficacy by regulating the use of these complementary therapies.
Fighting ignorance requires objective training, without any falsehoods and with benevolence. The true scientific attitude would be to welcome these unconventional therapies, by providing our professional bodies with discernment criteria: firstly, on ethics (the law, of course, but now also on its relationship with nature), on reason (the scientific criteria used with conventional therapies, but also the criteria needing to be determined to integrate non-conventional medicines) and, in the a second phase, criteria concerning the therapist himself: his competence, his honesty, his absence of omnipotence, his respect for the freedom of the owners, his transparency on the implementation of his therapy.
As with other medical techniques, there are still scientific unknowns, this is also the case in relation to explaining the functioning of homeopathic medicine. But let’s be factual, be concerned with the clinical part of medicine, nothing but the clinical aspect of medicine with relevant documentation: share our rigorous observations, remaining vigilant in relation to bias, without stereotyping,
and engage in a debate with the dignity of disputatio universitaire that used to be the norm, with a university education true to its name, to eliminate all ignorance, raise above prejudgement and engage in real scientific research in this country.
Homeopathy is totally in line with a clinical approach, based on listening to the owners, on observing the animal, with attention to much detail. Homeopathy enriches the clinical senses of the veterinarian also in assessing the follow up of cases in order to provide effective medicine. In this way, homeopathic practice strengthens the link between the owner of the animal and the veterinarian, a link which is essential to guarantee ethics in the practice of his art. It is also often less expensive.
Even if he does not know everything, the veterinary practitioner, in his daily practice, remains a curious and tireless researcher, for the well-being of the animal. This is also the case for the veterinarian using homeopathy.
We understand that the CNOV must watch out for any drift in animal care that may present a danger, or even a real loss of chance, particularly in the absence of a diagnosis. However, the veterinarian including homeopathy in their therapeutic arsenal deserves the confidence of his colleagues and must keep the possibility of training in the framework of continuing education as for any other discipline.
We hope to have been able to enlighten the CNOV and remain at its disposal in a spirit of dialogue for any thoughts and discussion on homeopathy and non- conventional techniques.
President Vice-President Secretary Treasurer
Richard BLOSTIN, Marie-Noëlle ISSAUTIER, Christine FILLIAT, Loïc GUIOUILLIER
19