"Alternative" consultations
(Investigator 209, 2023 March)
It is often
claimed that practitioners of alternative medicine are more caring and
spend more time with their patients than general medical practitioners.
However, the following article, originally published in the Skeptic
(Vol. 18, No. 2. 1998, demonstrates that this is not always the case.
Harry Edwards and Karen Stollznow
If you were
given a health check up by four different qualified medical
practitioners, it would be reasonable to expect that there would be a
consensus of opinion, both in respect of your healthiness, or any
conditions perceived by the examiners during their consultations. If
the second, third and fourth opinions confirmed the first, then a
misdiagnosis would be very unlikely. Can the same confidence be placed
in alternative health care practitioners?
My current
undertaking is a handy reference book on alternative health care claims
for use by Australian Skeptics. As the final chapter took shape, I was
approached by Karen Stollznow, a 21 year-old tertiary journalism
student, seeking work experience. It seemed that this afforded an ideal
opportunity to put to the test some of the alternative methods I had
written about. Karen agreed enthusiastically, and we embarked on
Project Alternative Consultations. She was reimbursed for her travel
expenses and the fees charged by the practitioners, but she was not
paid for her time.
Karen proved to
be an excellent choice. Although she had heard about alternative
medicine, she had no preconceived ideas, and proved to be very
perceptive. In addition, she was accompanied to each consultation by
her father, who has a background in the pharmacological and medical
industries. His observations also proved to be invaluable, and he
confirmed Karen's descriptions in every respect.
Prior to Karen's
visits to the alternative practitioners, Dr Richard Gordon, a general
practitioner, and president of Australian Skeptics Inc, gave her a
thorough checkup, to ensure that we were starting out with a healthy
specimen. He gave her a clean bill of health. Karen also consulted an
ophthalmologist. Dr Paul Tandy inspected her eyes with the aid of
illuminated goggles, through magnified lenses, then inserted drops into
her eyes to dilate the pupils to their full capacity, to enable a
thorough inspection of the internal functions of the eyes. He then
checked Karen's eyes for signs of disease states; cataracts, retinal
damage due to disease or trauma, astigmatism and glaucoma. With the aid
of a tonometer machine he measured the intraocular pressure of both
eyes.
Having
established that Karen's eyes were disease-free, Dr Tandy then
proceeded to test for myopia/long-sightedness and her possible need for
glasses. Using a range of testing facilities and charts, he determined
that she was slightly long-sighted.
Satisfied that
Karen was in good health, with no perceptible disabilities or ailments,
we decided to present our patient to various alternative practitioners
for a general consultation. Her story was that she was about to embark
on a journey overseas, and wished to ensure that she was fit to
undertake such a trip.
The
practitioners were selected from the Sydney Yellow Pages and included
an iridologist, a naturopath a homoeopath, an aura reader/spiritual
healer and confirmation from another homoeopath.
The following sections describe the consultations with the alternative practitioners.
The Consultations
Ted Hall, Iridologist
Mr Hall has a prominent listing in the Sydney Yellow Pages, and his advertisement also includes a Perth telephone number.
The Macquarie
Dictionary defines iridology as the "diagnosis of the iris to detect
pathological changes in the body", whereas Mr Hall rather
simplistically and non-specifically, described it in a conversation
with Karen as "a study of the eyes". Iridologists claim that the iris
represents the state of one's health, its colours, tissues, fibre
structures and patterns corresponding to specific organs in the body.
They believe that analysis of the appearance of the iris can indicate
apparent conditions so that appropriate treatment can be taken to
'prevent' major ailments in later life.
Karen reported as follows:
In Mr Hall's
waiting room I did just that for over half an hour before he emerged
and bade me sit down before a table upon which lay camera equipment. He
then proceeded to photograph both my right and left eyes, then led me
to his small and unassuming office, meanwhile delivering a rapidly made
diagnosis.
It would appear
that a dark and very obvious spot located in the outer section of my
right eye was indicative of a disorder and/or possible future
difficulties with my liver, lymph glands and gall bladder
.
Apparently I was
(or could be in the future) suffering from poor liver function and
lymphatic congestion — a malfunction in the drainage of the lymphatic
fluids. He requested that I feel the rear of my tongue with the tip of
my finger where I would find 'liver lumps' that signified liver disease.
The offending
spot in my right eye was not only an indication of the aforementioned
disorders, but also held psychological implications that spoke of
resentment towards a family member.
Mr Hall referred
to the spot as a 'Resentment Jewel', and its existence in my right eye
(Ying) conveyed hostility towards a male member of my family.
Markings in the left eye (Yang) would indicate hostility towards a female relative.
He then reached for an iridology manual and showed me appropriate information attesting to his diagnosis.
On my inquiring
as to whether or not the spot would disappear after successful
treatment and eradication of the problems, Mr Hall replied that the
spot would remain, regardless. I wondered whether this would pose a
problem if I were to consult another lridologist in the future, after
having rectified the condition — there would be no evidence of
improvement and 1 would therefore be misdiagnosed.
My left eye
featured a similar spot that allegedly revealed spinal problems,
possible scoliosis (curvature of the spine). Mr Hall did not even
attempt to personally check my back but suggested a friend do this for
me. (Dr Richard Gordon had previously correctly assumed that this may
be a focal point for iridologists, and had assured me of the correct
alignment of my spine).
Mr Hall opined
that the spots in my eyes were psychological and in conjunction with
the disorders, and that my very thinking was causing the ailments. A
person should act on “how they feel not what they think” and I should
stimulate the right side of my brain by taking up creative pursuits,
and by sleeping on the left side of my body.
Calcium rich
foods should be avoided. When I objected to this advice, Mr Hall
replied that my constitution did not require calcium, and that the
entire concept of including calcium in the diet to avoid osteoporosis
was unwarranted, in fact it was a fallacy. I could stimulate my lymph
performance by indulging in curries and other spicy foods, and by
wearing bright clothes.
Sessions of
lymphatic drainage would help as would vertical jumping on a
trampoline, and running a hairbrush over my limbs, to increase sluggish
Jymph performance, free up the glands, and promote circulation. He said
my water intake should be increased — though not hot water because I am
a 'hot person', suited to hot climates.
Telling someone
to drink more water seemed sound enough, I cannot agree that I am a
'hot person' suited to hot climates, warm coloured clothes and hot
foods. (I have considered migrating to England more than once, because
a hot climate is anathema to me.) Mr Hall finally suggested a liver
tonic, made by himself, that would cure me “immediately” but was
unpleasant and bitter tasting.
It is
interesting to note that Mr Hall never once questioned my medical
history, nor asked if I had any specific complaints. His diagnosis was
the most serious that I've ever received, yet it was delivered within
five minutes of my appointment on the pretext of spots on my iris.
The photographs
that were taken were not developed, but would be by my 'next
appointment'. Surely he could not give me an accurate consultation
without examining the photographs, but he charged me for them as part
of the cost of my initial consultation.
Throughout the
consultation Mr Hall's hand hovered over a writing pad as he held a
pen, poised to write, which he only once employed to draw an amusingly
large sketch of a tongue with a lump signifying liver problems. At the
conclusion of my consultation he stapled this sketch to my empty file.
Peter Berryman — Homoeopath
Homoeopathy is a
branch of wholistic medicine where the only diagnostic tool is the
interview between patient and practitioner. Apparently the function of
the homoeopath is not to diagnose a disease state, nor to observe any
signs that may indicate present or impending illnesses. Homoeopaths
believe that a patient's mental, physical and spiritual state must be
addressed, before their overall health can be determined and suitable
remedies, often inconsistent with traditional medicine, can be created
specifically for the individual. Homoeopathic medicine is based on the
principle that symptoms of illness are not the result of disease but
caused by the body's attempts to fight the illness.
Karen reports:
The address of
this practitioner appears to be a private home, but there is no
indication that it also serves as his Homoeopathic clinic. The brass
nameplate announcing his name and qualifications reposes on a flower
bed by the front door. Mr Berryman led me upstairs to his office and
ushered me to a chair.
I relayed the
tale that had been devised for me by Harry Edwards — I would be
travelling to Europe, via Asia, at an unspecified time in 1998, and was
seeking (if deserved) a general clean bill of health to ease my mind.
(I offered this lead to every alternative therapist I visited, but Mr
Berryman was the only one to take advantage of it.) This became the
focus for the entire consultation.
I should
immediately embark on a quest for “optimum health", for this state
would naturally immunise me from infection and disease. He discussed
the preventative options open to myself, and then offered me both
motherly advice and pure common sense.
I assured him of
my intentions of being vaccinated against the diseases prevalent in the
countries I would be visiting, which effectively struck a nerve: Mr
Berryman does not advocate the use of vaccinations as they supposedly
'do more harm than good'. Doctors 'market vaccinations like sales
people' and are 'proud of their high sales'. If I achieve 'optimum
health and am unlucky enough to contract malaria or suffer from a bout
of cholera I will get over it quicker if in possession of that state.
Vaccinations merely 'assault the immune system and disturb the delicate
constitution of a person'.
Did Mr Berryman
believe in the immunisation of children against childhood diseases? No.
Why? Only recently he cured a hospitalised child of whooping cough by
administering a dose of Ipecacuanha which brought about recovery within
three days. (An extract from the ipecac plant. It contains two
alkaloids emetine and cephaeline that have an irritant action on the
gastrointestinal tract and is therefore a powerful emetic. Used
principally to clear the stomach of poisons also used in small doses as
an expectorant in nonproprietary mixtures and proprietary tinctures and
syrups).
Mr Berryman's
other advice included a programme of 'overseas prophylactic health
care' — the taking of preventative homoeopathic preparations. My final
option was to take out overseas insurance: which belies Mr Berryman's
'confidence in one's ability to attain' optimum health and utilise this
state to avoid or greatly lessen the effects of disease.
It may be worth
pointing out that a person following Mr Berryman's advice might refrain
from taking antimalarials. Some types of malaria can kill within 24
hours.
Judith Collins — aura reader/spiritual healer
Judith Collins'
practice is located at the Earthkeepers Natural Healing Centre at
Thirlmere, NSW. Her glossy flyer informs us that:
People from all over
Australia flock to consult with Judith Collins about their illness.
Whether an affliction is physical, emotional or mental, she works with
a divine source of spiritual healing to encourage relief or cure.
She is a
spiritual healer extraordinary. Healing a brain tumour in just one
session and thyroid cancer in three sessions. She has been called a
miracle worker, filmed by ABC Television, received the prestigious
Advance Australia award for service to the community, and named during
the bicentennial celebrations as one of Australia's unsung heroines,
and her life's work is documented.
Another brochure
extols Ms Collins' virtues as an aura reader — "Judith is recognised as
Australia's foremost authority on the human Aura..." This claim,
endorsed by a testimonial from Mr Norm Way of Queensland which says,
“By simply
looking at my aura Judith was able to diagnose every illness in my body
from a thirty year old knee injury, to more recent chest and asthma
problems related to toxic poisons, which are still in my body from
being gassed with methyl bromide.”
Extraordinary
abilities, to say the least, and modest too. As a bonus for the thyroid
patient during the treatment, an abscess on the patient's tooth also
miraculously disappeared! It pays well too. During Karen's consultation
Ms Collins volunteered the information that she treats 4000 patients a
year @ $55 each. She also sells books ($22.45 ea), plus aura drawings
and analyses ($120 ea).
Karen's
consultation was particularly enlightening as this practitioner seems
to epitomise the ease with which individuals untrained in science-based
medicine can fool the gullible, and even receive public recognition for
doing so. Judith Collins motto is “Where there is hope there is joy”
but surely hope is inherent or can be learnt, rather than bought for
$55 an hour
Judith Collins
diagnoses her patients' ailments by calling upon her abilities of Aura
Analysis, subsequently 'curing' them by using Spiritual Healing
techniques from the comfort of the Earthkeepers Healing Sanctuary in
Thirlmere, NSW. Local residents and taxi drivers refer to her as the
“Earth Doctor”. According to Ms Collins' literature, the Human Aura is
a living field of energy which surrounds the mind, body and spirit.
This art-form is apparently "recognised by scientists and physicians
alike”. Spiritual healing is a connection between the healer and “the
power of the Divine Source (God/Holy Spirit) that allows Divine healing
energy to flow through the healer to the patient and bring about
recovery from illness."
Karen reported:
While awaiting
my consultation I was amazed at how much the field of pseudoscience had
progressed as I noticed a poster offering:
SKIN CANCER SELF-CURE
EFFECTIVE AND PAINLESS
(ask at desk)
Ms Collins led
me to her office where she purports to have cured patients suffering
everything from ear aches to cancer. Ms Collins failed the first test —
in my understanding, aura readers are supposedly capable of detecting
positive and/or negative energy, but she was oblivious to my inner
scepticism. As I relayed my reasons for the consultation — a European
trip via Asia, the woman bellowed a hearty laugh. Why? Out of the 4000
people she has treated in the past year, more than half required her
services because they had returned from Asia and needed 'Spiritual
Realignment'. I quipped that my intentions were to nip possible
diseases in the bud had brought me to her, and this was received with a
wise nod.
Ms Collins asked
me to stand and she then placed both of her hands around my neck,
slowly moving them down over my chest and stomach, stopping at my
thighs. Her hands were scorchingly hot! — proof of the effectiveness of
the treatment and of her powers some might say, but then it was a very
hot day and so too were my hands.
The whole
process had taken less than a minute and now provided Ms Collins with
her diagnosis. My liver (that naughty organ again!) had a build up of
toxins, my thymus was not fully functional and there was congestion in
the lymph glands. As she spoke Ms Collins doodled on a photocopied
chart in front of her that featured sketches of both the male and
female body. She proceeded to colour in the affected sections of the
relevant form on this body chart, which slowly began to resemble a
leopard.
Ms Collins gave
me a referral to visit a Mr Man C. Jones, homoeopath, who could supply
me with numerous concoctions to ease my ailments and provide me with
immunity to any diseases I may be subjected to in Asia. I was then
swiftly ushered out of the office, “It was nice to meet you's" were
proffered all around and then it was all over — to be generous — within
fifteen minutes.
The banality of
my consultation with Ms Collins was reflected in her promotional
brochures. Had I read these leaflets before my consultation I would
have been sorely disappointed with its outcome, for she never revealed
to me the extent of her considerable talents. Ms Collins can draw
likenesses of a patient's spirit guides, and can even teach the layman
to see and read auras. Ms Collins healed Mrs Shawna McCoy's thyroid
cancer, but could not cure my toxin congested liver. She detected Mr
Norm Way's thirty-year-old knee injury, but did not detect my
ten-year-old arm injury. Ms Coffins healed one patient's brain tumour
in 'just one session', but did not relieve me of a dull headache that I
arrived and left with. In a strange contradiction, Ms Coffins purports
to be able to heal the chronically ill, but also offers courses in
preparation for the dying. Surely if 'Spiritual Healing has no limits'
and can 'treat all ailments' there is no need for death.
With regard to
Ms Collins' alleged cures of “a brain tumour in just one session, and
thyroid cancer in three” it should be noted that to treat these
conditions in New South Wales, persons are required to be registered
medical practitioners under the Medical Practice Act 1992 No 94.
Part 4. (1) of the Act states that:
a person is
entitled to be registered as a medical practitioner if the person has
recognised medical qualifications and has successfully completed a
period of internship or supervised training as required by the Board.
Part 4. (2) of the Act states:
a person has
'recognised medical qualifications' if the person is a graduate of a
medical school ... accredited by the Australian Medical Council or has
successfully completed examinations held by that Council for the
purposes of registration as a medical practitioner.
Furthermore, Part 7, Division 2, 105 (3) states:
A person who is
not a registered medical practitioner must not advertise or hold
himself or herself out to be entitled, qualified, able or willing to
practise medicine or surgery in any of its branches, or to give or
perform any medical or surgical advice, service, attendance or
operation.
To our
knowledge, Ms Collins does not claim to have had any medical training
and is not a registered medical practitioner. The treatment of a brain
tumour and thyroid cancer by her, therefore, would have constituted a
breach of the Medical Practice Act at the time.
Shirley Mason — Homoeopath
Shirley Mason was selected so that a comparison could be made between her approach and that of another homoeopath, Mr Berryman.
Karen reported:
I could quite
easily summarise my consultation with Ms Mason as being uninformative
and tediously similar in content to my first homoeopathic encounter
with Peter Berryman.
Each
practitioner utilised the patient/therapist interview as the sole
diagnostic tool, although two factors differentiate Ms Mason from her
occupational colleague.
Firstly, Ms
Mason attempted a pat diagnosis, despite the lack of complaints from
myself and with merely superficial guesswork to substantiate her claims.
Secondly, Ms Mason recommended a herbal concoction to remedy my ills, without ever actually establishing a condition.
This
consultation proved to be the lengthiest and least expensive — with
good reason — I was not treated to a display of unearthly 'abilities',
nor impressed with marvellous diagnostic equipment and devised
terminology. Ms Mason exhaustively queried my medical history, that of
my parents and even friends, whose physical and emotional states may
influence my own.
My entire
psychological and physical past was exhumed, and I was told to envision
several scenarios put to me, and asked to describe how I might react
under certain circumstances. I never voiced any minor health problems I
may suffer from and believe that I presented myself as being
emotionally balanced.
Ms Mason
concluded the consultation by declaring the possibility of my suffering
from anaemia. I can only assume that this theory was based upon her
astute observation of my naturally pale complexion, and was not derived
by logical deduction, as I gave no cause for her to suspect that I was
ill at all. Iron tablets were recommended and the standards preached —
a healthy diet, combined with exercise and, of course — monthly
homoeopathic visits until my 'Asian/European' sojourn.
There were no
passionate denunciations of vaccinations — in fact she assumed that I
would undergo the gamut of advised preventative injections.
I was then sent
off with the promise of an individually prepared homoeopathic tonic to
generally boost my constitution and 'iron out the problem areas', which
were never pinpointed nor addressed.
Being a
sensitive and considerate New Age Skeptic, I followed up as a matter of
courtesy, giving the alternative practitioners the right of reply.
Accordingly, each was sent a copy of the following letter, with the
part of the article appropriate to that practitioner.
A representative of the above association recently attended your rooms for a consultation.
In our opinion,
confirmed by examinations by a general practitioner, an ophthalmologist
and a pathologist, incorrect diagnoses and questionable recommendations
were made during that consultation.
We propose
publishing our representative's report in the next issue of our
journal, the Skeptic , but first offer you the opportunity to comment.
A copy of the report is attached.
The first
response came from Mr Gary Nead on behalf of Judith Collins. He advised
that Ms Collins was going to be in Victoria and New Zealand for a few
weeks and would like to know what was the deadline for her reply. I
gave her six weeks.
A reminder was sent to Ms Collins a week prior to the expiration of that time but nothing further has been heard.
Perhaps she was
too busy in Adelaide in April; where she was in a broadcasting studio,
reading callers auras over the telephone.
The letter to Mr Berryman, the homoeopath, was returned unopened. A note on the envelope read, “No longer at this address”.
Iridologist, Mr
Ted Hall, (in a letter replete with the personal pronoun), replied that
he found the article “amusing and inaccurate” and indeed, in parts
“misleading and defamatory”. He did not intend to respond in detail,
and even had he wished to, was unable to do so as I had not named the
person with whom he allegedly consulted.
I wonder if Mr
Hall's patients would find it amusing to know that they are being
misdiagnosed and recommended unnecessary remedies.
Not to be put
off quite so easily, I sent Mr Hall the name of the client with an
invitation to reconsider. There has been no further communication.
There was no reply from homoeopath Shirley Mason.
A review of the consultations reveal little if anything to recommend them.
Ted Hall — Iridologist
* consultation — 15 minutes, fee $45;
* relied on visual inspection and interview;
* not interested in patient's past history;
* diagnosed four problem areas — liver/ lymph/ gall/ spine;
* recommended avoiding calcium;
* recommended hot foods and bright clothes;
* recommended trampolining and flagellation with a hairbrush.
Peter Berryman — homoeopath
* consultation —15 minutes, fee $45;
* no examination;
* no questioning of past history;
* no diagnosis;
* vigorously opposed vaccination;
* recommended optimum health for natural immunity
* recommended "preventative homoeopathic preparations" to achieve this;
* recommended travel insurance.
Judith Collins — aura reader /spiritual healer
*consultation, less than 15 minutes, fee $55;
* brief running of hands down front of body, neck to thighs;
* diagnosed liver! thymus/lymph problems;
* no aura reading nor spiritual healing offered
* recommended a visit to a homoeopath.
Shirley Mason - Homoeopath
* consultation 1 hr. 15 mins. Fee $45 (student), normally $55;
* relied on visual inspection and interview;
* very interested in patient's past medical and psychological history;
* diagnosed lymph/gall bladder problems, “possible” anaemia;
* recommended herbal concoctions and iron tablets;
* recommended healthy diet and exercise;
* recommended monthly homoeopathic visits.
Medical Follow-up
There was no
consensus among the differing diagnoses of the alternative
practitioners, apart from some vague references to the liver and
lymphatic system. Karen was, according to an aggregate of opinions,
suffering from a dysfunctional liver, anaemia, lymphatic congestion and
scoliosis, had a zinc deficiency and an excess of calcium, plus a
psychological problem.
To check these
diagnoses Dr Richard Gordon referred Karen for a Liver Function Test
and a range of others — Full Blood Examination, Electrolytes Urea and
Creatinine, Calcium, Albumin, Phosphate and Zinc.
The pathology
report gave Karen a clean bill of health, not just in respect of the
liver, but in everything else. Biochemistry results indicated units all
within the acceptable range, and the liver function test showed no
abnormalities whatsoever. This despite two of the alternative
practitioners singling out liver problems as matters of concern. On the
basis of this science-based report, some of the alternative
practitioners gave incorrect or conflicting diagnoses, and recommended
unnecessary medications. Some of their claims and methods were dubious,
and their advice to those who patronise them is questionable. Because
they are diagnosing medical problems, and recommending treatment, they
may very well be practising medicine in contravention of the Medical
Practise Act 1992.
Conclusion
This test may
help to dispel the claim that practitioners of alternative medicine are
more caring and spend more time with their patients. It is hard to
understand why in some of these cases, the authorities allow such
practises to continue without any controls, regulations or safeguards.
Already noted is
that a pathology report indicated no abnormality in Karen's liver using
normal scientific testing. Rather than a calcium excess (diagnosed by
Mr Hall), Karen's calcium and corrected calcium readings were both 2.16
(at the low end of the range of 2.10 -2.65.)
The object of
the exercise was to compare alternative diagnostic techniques with
those of a general practitioner. The conclusions in Karen's report were
based on her observations, and the conversations with each of the
alternative practitioners. Her reports have been attested to as true
and accurate by her father who accompanied her on each occasion.
For those who
may be concerned about Karen's state of health. Considering she is
supposed to be suffering from congestion in the lymph glands, toxins in
her liver, a dysfunctional thymus, gall bladder problems, anaemia,
liver dysfunction, possible scoliosis, 'a psychological resentment',
calcium excess and iron and zinc deficiency she is coping remarkably
well.
Notes
the Skeptic
proclaims on its front cover that it is "a journal of fact and
opinion". Karen's reports, rightly or wrongly express opinions based on
her impressions. If the subjects of the report had taken umbrage or
were dissatisfied with what has been said, then they were entitled to
redress. We extended the courtesy of a reply to all the practitioners
and were (and are) prepared to publish their replies. Few responses
were received, and these were not particularly relevant to our
complaints.
We would like to
thank barrister, Martin Hadley and Dr. Richard Gordon, for their
invaluable legal and medical advice arid reassurance. The next issue of
the Skeptic (Vol 18, No 3), continued the theme with articles from
retired biochemist J.T Wearne, osteopath Philip Latey, the convener of
Qakatak, John Foley, a member of Victoria Skeptics, Bob Nixon, and NSW
Skeptics committee member Karen Stollznow.
Bob Nixon in
conjunction with a crew from A Current Affair, set out to test the
skills of three naturopaths on his medically diagnosed diabetes.
To their credit,
all three naturopaths arrived at the correct conclusion. Clearly they
had some knowledge of medicine, but then any practitioner, alternative
or orthodox who was told that the patient was on medication for
diabetes couldn't go far wrong in diagnosing the disease. Less to their
credit, all three ignored the fact and proceeded with lengthy
consultations and reached incorrect conclusions.
All three used
iridology for their diagnoses and found problems with Nixon's lymphatic
system (of which he has experienced no symptoms). Diet and exercise was
the general recommendation. Having read the original article on
alternative consultations, the producer of Channel Nine's A Current
Affair contacted Karen Stollznow and asked if she would cooperate in a
repeat of that investigation.
Much the same
procedure was adopted. Three naturopaths were selected at random from
the Yellow Pages, but this time Karen was accompanied by a "brother" to
record the consultations with a video camera concealed in a bag.
The consensus
opinion of all three practitioners was that Karen was a walking cot
case. Naturopath/Iridologist Dr Nishant Mohan opined that "All ailments
are a mere manifestation of the disequilibrium in one's trinity factor.
In other words a diseased condition of the body is a result of
disharmony between Body, Mind and Spirit".
An inclusion in small print on Dr Mohan's business card, "Not a Medical Practitioner".
Dr Richard
Cordon was also featured on the programme and was subsequently asked to
write an article on alternative medicine for Doctor magazine. Interest
was such that the article resulted in thirty doctors taking out
subscriptions to the Skeptic.
John Foley,
suffering from Chicken Pox, reported in the Skeptic (Vol 18 No 2) that
he paid a visit to four alternative therapists not one of whom
recognised the symptoms. All however, recommended homoeopathic remedies
for ailments from which he was not suffering.
One item of
worthy of interest that could have been included in the chapter on
Gismos Gadgets Pills and Potions was the Thermal Visualiser. This was
used by Dr Glen Worthington-Eyre to check John's rash. Probes were put
either side of John's vertebra and clicked, recording the result on a
laptop computer screen. A hard copy was then printed out.
Dr
Worthington-Eyre on examining the print out declared that John's back
was in good shape but that he suffered from low self-esteem, that he
did not feel worthy of a female partner and that he feels that he is
worthless. (From my experience of John Foley I would say the this was
the antithesis of John's character). All this, according to Dr
Worthington-Eyre stemmed from being sexually abused as a child.
Although John admits to a minor incident of sexual abuse as a child
forty years ago, he has never been distressed then or now. The thoracic
scoliosis which does cause him permanent discomfort however, was not
detected by the machine.
It now appears
that efforts to have alternative practices subjected to the same level
of scientific, legal, professional scrutiny and regulation may be
bearing fruit. Some of the recent articles on Unregistered Health
Practitioners were sent to Dr Arthur Chesterfield Evans, Democrat
member of the NSW upper house and chairman of the Health Care
Complaints Commission. I was later informed that "Arthur enjoyed
reading the hard copy this morning before the Health Care Complaints
Committee hearing." Subsequently, on October 10, 1998, Australian
Skeptics Inc. put their full submission to the committee. In essence,
it sought accountability by requiring "alternative" practitioners to be
subject to the same controls as medical practitioners and accountable
under the Trade Practices Act and the Fair Trading Act.