Sylvie Hamilton - qualifed head-scratcher

[Cassus]

tl;dr Cranial osteopath thinks she can cure colic. Real doctor respectfully disagrees.

The Luton and Dunstable Herald and Post newspaper runs a weekly column, "Question Time", in which its readers can get up close and personal with local personalities.

October was the turn of Sylvie Hamilton, who is apparently a "cranial osteopath".

"Sylvie Hamilton has recently joined the well-established team at Glenn Lobo's Osteopathic & Acupuncture Practice in Stopsley, Luton.

Sylvie brings several therapies to the practice to help enhance your health. Having originally studied massage, she went on to learn Japanese facial massage, hot stone therapy, Indian head massage, aromatherapy and sports massage.

After completing her osteopathy training she then went on to do a cranial osteopathy course.

This type of treatment is very gentle and excellent for treating babies and small children with problems like colic, sleeplessness, feeding and restlessness. Cranial osteopathy can be especially helpful if the baby has had a difficult birth. Sylvie is available on Tuesdays and Fridays and can be contacted on 01582 721531 or www.thecaringosteopath.com"

The Herald and Post were good enough to print my response, entitled "No evidence this treatment can work". I'm especially proud of the second sentence.

"In your October 8 issue you made some odd claims about cranial osteopathy. Your readers deserve the opportunity to hear from someone actually qualified in evidence-based medicine.

Dr Steve Bateman writing for the Complementary Medical Association, notes 'there is little evidence...that osteopathy is helpful for the treatment of any medical condition.'

Cranial osteopathy, he adds, is based on a 'scientifically unconfirmed belief' in 'cranial lesions' and 'cranial rhythms', about which researchers 'have serious doubts (they) even exist'.

Apart from two antispasmodic drugs with dangerous side effects, there remains no known treatment for colic, osteopathic or otherwise."

[Mr. Jon Donnis]

I'd never even heard of cranial osteopathy

[Cassus]

It's the same thing as craniosacral therapy. Maybe you've heard of that.

It appears to suit osteopaths for whom osteopathy isn't woo enough.

[Cassus]

Sylvie is back!

img40.imageshack.us/img40/2136/hamilton3i.jpg

ASA complaint is in!


I write to complain about an advert published in the Luton "Herald and Post" newspaper on February 4th, 2010.

The advert, for Glenn Lobo and Associates, is entitled "Is your baby giving you sleepless nights? Or restless days?"

I have submitted a scan of the advert. I can provide original copy of the advert by post, if required.

I believe the advert is in breach of several sections of the British Code of Advertising, Sales Promotion and Direct Marketing (CAP) code.

1. The Luton "Herald and Post" is a weekly free newspaper distributed in the south of Bedfordshire.

2. In the February 4th issue, on page 37, an advert appeared for Glenn Lobo and Associates, a local medical practice specialising in osteopathy and acupuncture.

3. The practice also offers a treatment called "cranial osteopathy". (The treatment is sometimes known as "craniosacral therapy" or "cranial therapy".)

4. Cranial osteopathy is a treatment which purports to manipulate the plates of the skull, and should not be confused with "mainstream" osteopathy, which focuses on gentle manipulation of the body's musculoskeletal system.

5. Dr Steve Bratman, writing for the Complementary Medical Association[1], has summarised the current scientific understanding for the treatment, which I will risk quoting in full:

"Craniosacral therapy is a very specialised technique based on the scientifically unconfirmed belief that the tissues surrouding the brain and spinal cord undergo a rhythmic pulsation. This 'cranial rhythm' is supposed to cause subtle movements of the bones of the skull. A practicioner of craniosacral therapy gently manipulates these bones in time with the rhythm (as determined by the practicioner's awareness), in order to repair 'cranial lesions'. This therapy is said to be helpful for numerous conditions ranging from headaches and sinus allergies to multiple sclerosis and asthma. However, many researchers have serious doubts that the cranial rhythm even exists."

6. The CAP Code, Section 2.1, states "All marketing communications should be legal, decent, honest and truthful."

7. The CAP Code, Section 3.1, states "Before distributing or submitting a marketing communication for publication, marketers must hold documentary evidence to prove all claims, whether direct or implied, that are capable of objective substantiation."

8. The CAP Code, Section 6.1, states "Marketers should not exploit the credulity, lack of knowledge or inexperience of consumers."

9. The CAP Code, Section 7.1, states "No marketing communication should mislead, or be likely to mislead, by inaccuracy, ambiguity, exaggeration, omission or otherwise."

10. The CAP Code, Section 50.1, states "Medical and scientific claims made about beauty and health-related products should be backed by evidence, where appropriate consisting of trials conducted on people..."

11. I challenge whether any of the following claims are "truthful"; whether Glenn Lobo & Associates "hold documentary evidence to prove" them; whether they exploit the "credulity, lack of knowledge or inexperience of customers"; whether they "mislead, or be likely to mislead, by inaccuracy..."; and whether they are "backed by evidence, where appropriate consisting of trials conducted on people":

(i) The claim that when babies "cry, get colic, don't sleep and don't feed properly" Glenn Lobo & Associates "can... reduce [the baby's] discomfort" using the only treatment the advert mentions, cranial osteopathy,

(ii) cranial osteopathy "encourages the release of tensions and stresses",

(iii) cranial osteopathy "gently ease the bodies [sic] ailments",

(iv) cranial therapy can assist in reducing the stress of a difficult birth, for either mother or baby,

(v) cranial therapy can reduce colic,

(vi) cranial therapy can reduce sleeplessness,

(vii) cranial therapy can reduce feeding problems,

(viii) cranial therapy can reduce restlessness,

(ix) cranial osteopathy has fantastic results on pain associated with arthritis,

(x) cranial osteopathy (not "mainstream" osteopathy) has fantastic results on back pain,

(xi) cranial osteopathy has fantastic results on pain associated with headaches,

(xii) cranial osteopathy has fantastic results on pain associated with migraines.

12. I confirm that I have no connections with the advertiser, with the Herald and Post newspaper, or with the publishing industry or the complimentary medicine industry in general. I confirm that I am not involved in legal proceedings with the advertiser or the newspaper.

13. I confirm that I am happy to be identified as the complainant.

Footnotes:

[1] "Complementary and Alternative Health: The Scientific Verdict on What Really Works", Collins 2007 (p682)

[bobdezon]

Dangerous practise.

[Cassus]

Just to follow up, the ASA replied "we feel the [advert contains] clear breaches of the CAP code" and today's advert in the local paper has been substantially reworded!

Advert: img687.imageshack.us/img687/1663/img0002tr.jpg

[Ma'amJo]

Well done, Cassus!

[The Legendary Barb]

Once again Cassus a result, keep up the good work.

[marwood]

Thank you for this post, I have just shown it to my normally rational cousin, who unfortnately has just had a very sick baby. At this time, there is no definative diagnosis, but she informed me that the cranial osteopath has told her that he can help her and because the baby slept well after the 'consultation', (something she never does) she is now convinced that it is a wonder therapy and is keen to go back.
I showed her this and fingers crossed it will bring her back to earth and let her deal with this sad situation with her very supportive family and doctors who know what they are doing.
Thanks

[Ma'amJo]

Let's hope so, marwood. There's no way I'd let any old crank near a sick baby, and you were right to bring it to your cousin's attention.

Sadly they know that someone will turn to them in desperation and that's how they're able to gain their trust, especially when by some fluke their 'treatment' seems to have done the trick.

Let's hope your cousin realises that she'd be better off trusting the medical professionals.

[marwood]

Thanks Jo, fingers crossed eh!