"Safe and competent" snake oil salesman

According to the Daily Mail, there's a rising trend among UK universities to grant degrees in "complimentary medicine." Complementary medicine is, of course, a term used to try to legitimize the use of quackery like herbalism, “natural” remedies, and other unscientific, unproven, ineffective means to treat illness. Of course, the snake oil remedies are defended by the instructors of these classes in order to ensure that the “practitioners are safe and competent.” I’m sure that will help, someone who’s competent with the mystical potions which have no proven effects as they fraudulently peddle them to an ever-increasing market. The other justification? That there are now millions of people who are seeking to buy these products despite huge evidence that they’re worthless. It’s good to know that if you can con enough people into ignoring the mountain of scientific evidence that you’re a fraud you can even get a job at a university teaching other frauds.

Row over surge in 'scandalously un-academic' university courses
The Daily Mail

Universities were today accused of offering "scandalously unacademic" courses such as complimentary medicine to boost their funding.

Spiralling numbers of students are flocking to the courses while scientific disciplines such as anatomy and pharmacy are suffering.

Now angry dons are breaking ranks to claim many so-called soft degree subjects represent a cynical attempt to generate income with little regard for academic standards.

Latest official figures reveal how degree course applications are up 5.3 per cent across the board on last year.

Yet some subjects are registering much steeper rises. Complementary medicine has drawn 31.5 per cent more applicants, so far receiving 1,908.

Physics is up 12.5 per cent but other science subjects have seen relatively modest increases, such as pharmacology, toxicology and pharmacy on 6 per cent. This represents barely any improvement at all, given the 5.3 per cent rise in applications overall.

The figures prompted leading pharmacologist David Colquhoun to accuse universities of "cashing in" on subjects such as complementary medicine.

The professor of pharmacology at University College London, told the Times Higher Education Supplement he was "appalled" by the trend.

"These courses are basically anti-science" he said.

"Universities that run them should be ashamed of themselves."