Saturday, July 26, 2014

MP wants astrology incorporated into medicine

A Conservative MP has spoken of his belief in astrology and his desire to incorporate it into medicine. David Tredinnick, who once tried to claim expenses of £755 for a computer programme that uses astrology to diagnose medical conditions, said he had spent 20 years studying astrology and healthcare and was convinced it could work. The MP for Bosworth, a member of the health committee and the science and technology committee, said he was not afraid of ridicule or abuse.

"There is no logic in attacking something that has a proven track record," he said. He said he had studied the Indian astrological system Iahiri and the way it was used by that country's government and recalled how Chris Patten, Britain's last governor of Hong Kong, had an official astrologer, whom Mr Tredinnick had consulted while on a parliamentary delegation there. He said he had been the subject of much ridicule for his beliefs over the years, but many of the sceptics who had attacked him were "bullies" who had "never studied the subjects".



"I am absolutely convinced that those who look at the map of the sky for the day that they were born and receive some professional guidance will find out a lot about themselves and it will make their lives easier," he added. Explaining his beliefs, Mr Tredinnick said he had been right about herbal remedies and healing, which he said were now becoming accepted in parts of the NHS, and he now wanted to promote astrology, which was not just predicting the future but gaining an insight into personal problems.

He stopped short of suggesting astrological readings on the NHS, but said he wanted to raise awareness of it as an alternative among patients and clinicians. "I think it's something that people should be aware of as an option they have if they are confused about themselves." He said he had compiled astrological charts for his fellow MPs - he declined to reveal names - adding: "If you look at the charts I have done for people I have certainly made their lives easier."

2 comments:

Ratz said...

Is there no kind of vetting system to filter these lunatics out before they get onto panels? (See what I did there? ;))

Sadly, I've encountered someone very similar; he's one of the members on the EPSRC panel that funds university courses. He's an amazing salesman who could sell snowballs to Eskimos, but still can't find his arse with both hands, a mirror and a set of instructional diagrams.

Barbwire said...

I think I would rather our conservatives believed in astrology instead of their own brand of what they call Christianity--keep the homeless on the streets, don't feed them or any other hungry people, don't help the sick, incarcerate everyone you can, etc. Astrology seems pretty tame in comparison.