"Prince Charles' recent editorial in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine is worth reading – because it explains how a little knowledge paired with unwavering beliefs can result in vastly mistaken conclusions...Let us examine the subliminal references to complementary therapies and the way in which pick-and-mix evidence selection can undermine what we know about health. HRH is right when he says that we should do more to 'enhance the length of contact and continuity' between doctors and patients – but if that time is spent doling out alternative medicine, we may as well not bother.  Where Prince Charles has it wrong, in my view, is in assuming that complementary therapies have a role in modern medicine. Relying on things we know don't work means we don't pay attention to what does work.  Sticking to alternative medicine because it is sometimes good at delivering placebo effects creates massive problems, not least in effectively misleading patients...It's time for hard-nosed, evidence-based medicine to take back the word 'holistic'. For too long, the advocates of alternatives have allowed themselves to think that it is only them who really 'care'.  In fact, it is impossible to truly care for patients whom we think so little of that we give them placebos. This kind of thinking is endarkening. Our NHS deserves better."  Dr Margaret McCartney, Pulse (9th January 2013)