Perhaps there really is a “tsunami of change” occurring. This is brilliant.

Source: Sydney Morning Herald

Quack cracks
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One has to wonder about the sincerity of naturopaths and other alternative therapists who want to get rid of “quacks” through the establishment of a national register (“Register to hit shonks”, smh.com.au, June 14).

In NSW, a code of conduct for unregistered practitioners was introduced in August last year. It says they “must not make claims to cure certain serious illnesses”, including cancer; and that they must display the code and information about how to contact the Health Care Complaints Commission.

In my recent visits to places of practice, I have not seen the code displayed. I have also been told that a $12,000 course of homeopathy can cure my cancer.

Given the lack of adherence to this legislation, I can’t help but wonder if a new register is simply a stunt to distract us from the fact that many alternative “therapies” are as useful as a placebo. By definition, complementary and alternative remedies are unproven. Alternative medicine that is proven to work is called medicine.

Dr Rachael Dunlop, vice-president, Australian Skeptics, Petersham
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It appears Australia is about to repeat Britain’s mistakes about regulation of alternative medicine. It should be self-evident that it makes no sense to set educational standards in a subject without having decided whether that subject is nonsense. If it is, what does “educational standards” mean?
Your article cites naturopathy, which subscribes to a form of pre-19th-century vitalism. I fail to understand what it means to be properly qualified in ideas that the educated world left behind 200 years ago.

David Colquhoun, research professor of pharmacology, University College London
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Chris Logan (Letters, June 15) tells us it was the failure of homeopathy devotees to accept expert advice that resulted in the death of their daughter. On the contrary, Thomas Sam is a highly expert homeopath – he is a BSc, bachelor of homeopathic medicine and surgery, has a master’s in public health and was a senior lecturer in medical science at the Sydney College of Homeopathic Medicine.

The problem is that “expertise” in the pseudo-science that is homeopathy is of no value to a sick child, hence Sam’s conviction.

Matthew Collaery, Wanniassa (ACT)

Thursday 23 April, 2009

People who falsely promote and provide unethical, fraudulent and potentially dangerous treatment for cancer are the focus of three significant documents launched by the Cancer Council today.

A book titled ‘Complementary and alternate cancer therapies‘, a fact sheet to help patients and their families make decisions about therapies and another fact sheet for medical professionals with tips on how to help patients avoid such practices has been produced with funding from the State Government of Victoria, Department of Human Services.

‘Many people with cancer use some sort of complementary therapies for legitimate reasons such as maintaining hope and staying in control of their situation,” Dr Amanda Hordern, Deputy Director of the Cancer Information and Support Service said.

“Health professionals are the best people to help people make a safe treatment choice so we have gone to great lengths to publish some guidelines to assist them with this.

“Targeting sick people with unproven alternative therapies can be fraudulent and may have a huge effect emotionally, physically and financially on the person with cancer and their family.

“The new information has been developed to help people recognise which therapies may be helpful and which may be making false claims. This is an important aspect with many complementary and alternative therapies proving to be a risk for some cancer patients,” Dr Hordern said.

Associate Professor Michael Jefford, Clinical Consultant to the Cancer Council said people usually used these treatments hoping to get better.

“People are hoping to shrink or even cure their cancer, deal with side effects, or just improve how they’re feeling,” Associate Professor Jefford said.

“Sadly, people with cancer rarely discuss the use of complementary and alternative cancer therapies with their cancer specialist.

“Doctors are particularly concerned if people use unproven, alternative treatments instead of standard treatment options. They need to discuss all options with their doctor and then make an informed decision on alternative therapies,” he said.

“A major worry is when people with curable cancers don’t get the treatments that could cure their disease.

“It’s about access for patients to the right information and ensuring that they come to the best possible decision that will give them the best possible chance of dealing with their illness.

“Cancer Council Victoria has developed some really good information about these treatments.

“The Cancer Council Helpline has easy access to information about a lot of complementary and alternative medicines. Also, the Cancer Council is training health professionals to talk about complementary and alternative medicines with their patients,” he said.

Cancer Council Victoria keeps statistics on all cancers in Victoria and over the past 20 years survival rates have increased year on year. Detailed stats can be found at www.cancervic.org.au.

The booklet and fact sheets are available free, through the Cancer Council Helpline, 13 11 20, and are also available online.

To interview Dr Amanda Hordern or Associate Professor Michael Jefford please contact Tim Coghlan on 9635 5262 or 0431 150 365.

I have previously blogged about cancer quackery here.

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Unregistered health provider ordered to stop misleading cancer patients

A Mackay woman who made misleading and deceptive claims about a mineral supplement has been ordered by the Brisbane Supreme Court to discontinue providing intravenous treatment to cancer patients. Minister for Fair Trading Peter Lawlor said unregistered health provider Jillian Margaret Newlands was caught administering a concoction made from a mixture of citric acid and sodium chlorite to cancer sufferers and claiming the product cured cancer.

“The Office of Fair Trading was alerted to Ms Newland’s activities following a Health Quality Complaints Commission investigation. The Office of Fair Trading sought an injunction under the Fair Trading Act 1989 to prevent her from misleading and deceiving consumers,” Mr Lawlor said.

“Ms Newlands has no formal qualifications as a nurse or naturopath,” Mr Lawlor said. “Ms Newlands went so far as to inject her ‘patients’ with a ‘miracle mineral supplement’ while dishonestly promoting its benefits with no scientific basis for her claims.

The court order obtained by the Office of Fair Trading banned Ms Newlands from administering any substance intravenously and supplying any goods, services or any other substance which has not been approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.”

“Ms Newlands was ordered to pay court costs of more than $12,000 and has also been restrained from making any claims she is able to treat, cure, or benefit any person suffering from cancer” he said. “She charged cancer sufferers up to $2000 for treatment services she administered in her home garage and went so far as to advise one cancer patient not to pursue chemotherapy treatment”.

“There was no evidence of any sterile handling techniques or any proper storage of medical utensils and equipment used by Ms Newlands at her home. “This sort of deceptive conduct is completely unacceptable.

If consumers have concerns in regards to their dealings with Jillian Newlands, they should visit their nearest healthcare professional immediately.

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This story begins with an investigation by A Current Affair earlier this year, with the help of our very own Loretta Marron, where she went undercover with a hidden camera. You can watch the video below.

Loretta Marron busts a cancer quack on A Current Affair

News articles of the story today cite evidence from a cancer patient who was told not to seek chemotherapy treatment. This cancer patient is our very own Loretta. In fact, it was her who contacted the QLD Health Complaints Commission and told them to get in touch with A Current Affair for the footage.

Readers of my Zone blog would also be aware that it is illegal in NSW to claim to cure incurable illnesses including cancer, in accordance with the Code of Conduct for Unregistered Practitioners. Perhaps QLD will one day get a similar code, but in the meantime I applaud the hard work and tenacity of Loretta Marron and congratulate her on her continued efforts to protect the vulnerable and sick from opportunistic quacks.

For example, hair analysis (see here and here) proponents who claim to able to cure all manner of incurable illnesses by identifying food allergies with magic machines are particularly offensive to me. Advice such as, “Just cut out tomatoes and walnuts, drink gin but not wine and your terminal cancer will magically go away” are just about the lowest of lows in my opinion.

Today I heard about a new scam artist on the prowl in Sydney. His name is (name removed for legal reasons), a man with no medical or scientific training but who claims to have invented or discovered an organic formula to cure AIDS, cancer, diabetes and high blood pressure. A report by Harley Dennett detailing these claims appeared in the Sydney Star Observer on Thursday February 5 th.

The report states the man, who runs a skylight installation business on the Northern beaches “produced magnified pictures of blood cells to justify his cure claim” (which sounds suspiciously like live blood analysis to me..). According to the report, he would not let the Star Observer retain the photos for examination claiming;

“I’ve got the negatives but I’d rather keep those in a top secret facility”.

“The pharmaceuticals don’t want this getting out, so I’m trying to keep it low profile with like-minded people I can trust”.

The Star Observer reports the man has previously been investigated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). On this occasion, the man has allegedly been soliciting for donations to fund a backyard trial for his top secret cure-all.

Professor Sean Emery from the National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research said anyone claiming a cure or asking for money should set off alarm bells. “Often people who peddle these things say there’s a conspiracy against them, that the drug companies don’t want you to know about their treatments”.

Soliciting donations for a dubious clinical trial is not illegal in Australia but the government’s SCAMwatch website advises victims to report cases to authorities via SCAMwatch or directly to the TGA.