Andy L – Page 4 – The Quackometer Blog

Curzon Cinema Soho Hosting Fraudulent Doctor and dishonest VAXXED film.

26th January, 2017 73

Curzon Cinema in Soho appears to screening a secret showing of controversial quack film VAXXED and holding a Q and A afterwards with the film’s director – struck-off and discredited doctor Andrew Wakefield. A ticket website is selling tickets for a screening on Valentine’s Day and looks to be close to selling out. The cinema website itself does not appear to list the screening. In addition to the ‘premier’ screening, [read more…]

Society of Homeopaths ‘Taking Legal Advice’ to Fight the ASA.

15th November, 2016 9

In September, the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority wrote to all homeopaths informing them that it would be taking action against homeopaths that did not comply with the rules for making claims in advertising. It has taken the ASA many years to get to this position after trying to work with homeopaths and their trade bodies to ensure they cleaned up their act. The Nightingale Collaboration has been campaigning hard and [read more…]

Ten Things You Should Know About Waldorf/Steiner Schools

9th November, 2016 117

Waldorf Schools (or Steiner Schools as they are sometimes called) are portrayed as progressive, humanistic and child-centred. Parents are attracted to this form of education as such schools suggest they are an alternative to the ‘robotic exam factories’ of mainstream schools that do not take into account the unique needs of each child. However, before you plunge into putting your child into such a school it is worth understanding things [read more…]

Do Not Allow Corporate Chiropractic ‘Spinal Assessments’ in Your Workplace

26th October, 2016 8

Corporate HR departments are obviously keen to promote the health of their employees as this will help productivity, reduce sick days and is seen as a perk by the employees. This is often done by such means as subsidised gym membership, cycle-to-work schemes and private health insurance benefits. However, the more murky side of this laudable aim is the introduction of so-called ‘wellness consultants’ who will peddle various forms of [read more…]

The False Hope of the Hufeland Klinik

11th September, 2016 33

Wales Online reports the tragic story of a two-year old girl with stage-four neuroblastoma. I cannot imagine the emotions the parents must be going through. I am sure if my children were ever in this position, I would consider anything to save them. Such desperation though provides rich pickings for those offering miracle cures and dubious treatments. As a society, we do a very poor job of protecting children and parents from [read more…]

What Effect Would Leaving the EU Have on Alternative Medicine in the UK?

21st June, 2016 18

Now, I expect you have already made your mind up and I do not have any expectation that issues around quackery will sway your vote on the EU. However, I thought it would be interesting to look at what consequences might unfold if the UK were to leave the EU for alternative medicines. What would happen to the prevalence, regulation and availability of CAM? What would it mean for the [read more…]

The MP, the ASA and the Case of Alyssa Burns-Hill

27th May, 2016 22

Dr Alyssa Burns-Hill has advertised her medical services as “Harley Street Hormone Health”. With the Harley Street address and the title ‘Dr’ you might be forgiven for thinking that Alyssa Burns-Hill is a medically trained doctor. She is not. But she describes herself as a ‘practitioner of health in its broadest sense’, although not so broad as to be an actual qualified medical doctor. Using the title ‘Dr’ is not protected in [read more…]

Frome Steiner Free School in Financial Trouble

6th May, 2016 128

The first Free School approved in the UK run under the occult teachings of Rudolf Steiner has been issued with a ‘Financial Notice to Improve’. Frome Steiner Academy was set up in 2012 with the support of Michael Gove after applications from local Steiner supporters including Emma Cragie, former trustee of Bruton Steiner School, and her sister Annunziatta Rees Mogg (whose brother is local MP Jacob Rees Mogg). A letter that has [read more…]

The Saatchi Bill: When Only the Fig Leaf Remains

23rd March, 2016 4

The Quackometer has been raising concerns for nearly two years that Lord Saatchi has been wanting to make a “Quack’s Charter” law in the UK. The Bill’s aims were to remove a patient’s current rights to sue their doctor if they had been negligent. Instead, a doctor would have been required to perform some perfunctory box ticking that was supposed to show the doctor was taking due care. This change [read more…]

Ten Things You Need To Know About Acupuncture

10th March, 2016 28

This week is Acupuncture Awareness Week. This is probably a good thing as, of all the alternative medicines, acupuncture carries perhaps the most myths. These myths need to be addressed. Acupuncture has achieved an accepted status perhaps even more than chiropractic and osteopathy as being now an accepted part of mainstream medicine. Why is this? Let’s look at some of these myths. 1. Acupuncture is Thousands of Years Old. This is [read more…]