Member Services
- Text Decrease
- Text Increase
- Print Page
ACCC warns alternative healer following AMA Victoria complaints
23 November 2009.
The ACCC has put alternative therapies company Indu Alternative Healing on notice after AMA Victoria raised concerns about the company’s misleading claims it could provide protection from all flu viruses using vibration therapy.
At a cost of $400 per session, Indu Alternative Healing co-owner Paul Wizard says the "virus buster" technique delivers protection by placing a hologram in one’s psyche. He offers a half-price discount for pensioners.
AMA Victoria backed Health Services Commissioner Beth Wilson’s calls this week for negative licensing to protect patients from shonky alternative healers.
Dr Harry Hemley, President of AMA Victoria, says governments should be able to crack down on dodgy health providers. "As in all consumer protection law, you can’t make claims that are likely to deceive people, especially vulnerable people," he says.
"We’ve got people calling themselves health practitioners, providing what they call health services, and encouraging Victorians to pay premium prices for therapies that have no evidentiary basis.
"Some alternative therapies have proved beneficial effects; many of these are used by doctors. Other alternate therapies have no science behind them. Some have been proved to do harm, particularly when they tell patients not to take the advice of their doctor."
Read more alternative therapy complaints in the Sunday Age: http://www.theage.com.au/national/shonky-shamans-taint-aura-of-all-healers-20091121-is81.html
Victorian Medical Directory
Quick Reference Links
Networks
Preferred Providers
Next
Prev