Maria, a biochemist, was chatting with her friend Derek at a café. Derek was telling Maria about a mutual acquaintance who was convinced of having been cured of a serious kidney infection through the administration of a homeopathic remedy. Like Maria, Derek was very sceptical about the claims of homeopathy but, unlike her, he wasn't a scientist, so he asked her if there was any kind of explanation for this. Which of the following is likely to have been Maria's response?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The placebo effect is the most likely explanation for the perceived improvement in the kidney infection. Homeopathy lacks scientific evidence to support its claims, and there is no specific reason why it would be effective for kidney disease. Additionally, there is no recent research by the American Medical Association that confirms the effectiveness of homeopathy.

Maria, a Biochemist, Was Chatting with Her Friend Derek at a Café