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Summary Jeremy Hunt is becoming famous for controversial and knack for inviting scandal.
He supports homeopathy, a practice that many experts liken to snake oil. He opposes late-term abortion, falling afoul of this mostly pro-choice nation. During the London Olympics, he offended many Britons with a jab at the cherished National Health Service.This is Jeremy Hunt Britains new health minister. Hes only been in his job since Tuesday, but already some experts fret that his controversial views and general knack for inviting scandal could sow confusion in an already fragile health system.Hunts personal beliefs shouldnt influence policy because his job will mostly be to implement reforms that have already been agreed. Still, British media slammed Hunts appointment, mainly basing their criticism on his support of homeopathy. The Telegraph newspaper headline read: Jeremy Hunt as Health Secretary: Are you kidding? The magazine New Scientist labeled him the new minister for magic.And medical views aside, the 45-year-old Conservative ally of Prime Minister David Cameron has already developed an image as a magnet for controversy notably during his just-completed stint as minister for media, culture and sport.In that job, he was criticized for maintaining close ties to Rupert Murdoch even as a phone hacking scandal engulfed the media tycoon. Opposition lawmakers said Hunt, whose office had jurisdiction over Murdochs ambitions to take over a TV station, should face a government inquiry. Hunts adviser Adam Smith resigned after the contacts between Murdochs News Corp. and the ministers office were disclosed.Some had expected Hunt to be demoted after the scandal. But in his first major Cabinet shakeup, Cameron gave Hunt another high-profile job instead.In announcing the Cabinet changes, Cameron said ministers would be expected to focus on implementing policies that have already been approved in Parliament, meaning that Hunt will likely be on a short leash.Many scientists view homeopathy as modern day quack medicine. It relies on highly diluted drugs made from natural ingredients. The U.S. government has stopped paying for studies of homeopathic treatments, saying theres little evidence any of them work.A government website notes homeopathy is based on concepts that are inconsistent with the fundamentals of chemistry and physics.
