Post by julia on Apr 11, 2009 15:39:56 GMT
From Ben Goldman's Bad Science Forum:
I couldn't have put it better myself, andysnat and phayes!
Can CAM practitioners claim to treat cancer?
by Lemonade Lily » Sat Apr 04, 2009 3:38 pm
Advice please?
'Hypothetical' lecture slide on a CAM course says
'It is illegal to treat cancer
But that is not a problem
'Cos we treat people NOT diseases'
I know the Cancer Act 1939 and the 2008 Consumer Regulations but still I am confused. What really is the legal and the ethical position on this? If a patient comes to an individual CAM practitioner and says for example 'Can you treat my cancer?' What does CAM practitioner do? What is position of CAM practitioner if they offer ANY treatment which is aiming to treat the cancer? (I am not talking about just treatments to relax a patient or treat anxiety - I am talking about treatments that are specifically 'anti-cancer')
Personally I would not offer any treatment that was in any way aiming to treat the cancer (as no evidence of efficacy and legality) - but is this a potentially unethical position (as I have been told it is by other CAM practitioners)?
Lily
by andysnat » Sat Apr 04, 2009 8:13 pm
I get the feeling that you practise CAM.
I am a cancer victim, a cancer without a cure btw, but with a long term.
As far as I can see, CAM with an aim to cure anything is simply a waste of time, and possibly (my) money. CAM for inducing some relaxation, perhaps improving well-being might possible help some people.
The reason I ask is that I take the sensible view that if it works on something, then it is medicine, and if it doesn't work, then it isn't.
CAM practitioners cannot treat cancer, and should not claim to treat it, on pain of pain.
Andy
by phayes » Sat Apr 04, 2009 8:19 pm
What really is the legal and the ethical position on this?
Legal position? Dunno.
Ethical position? Simple: if you've got evidence for the efficacy of your 'treatment' , it's your goddamn duty to advertise it. If you've got no evidence, you're a f****** scumbag if you do advertise it.
badscience.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=8516#p166027
by Lemonade Lily » Sat Apr 04, 2009 3:38 pm
Advice please?
'Hypothetical' lecture slide on a CAM course says
'It is illegal to treat cancer
But that is not a problem
'Cos we treat people NOT diseases'
I know the Cancer Act 1939 and the 2008 Consumer Regulations but still I am confused. What really is the legal and the ethical position on this? If a patient comes to an individual CAM practitioner and says for example 'Can you treat my cancer?' What does CAM practitioner do? What is position of CAM practitioner if they offer ANY treatment which is aiming to treat the cancer? (I am not talking about just treatments to relax a patient or treat anxiety - I am talking about treatments that are specifically 'anti-cancer')
Personally I would not offer any treatment that was in any way aiming to treat the cancer (as no evidence of efficacy and legality) - but is this a potentially unethical position (as I have been told it is by other CAM practitioners)?
Lily
by andysnat » Sat Apr 04, 2009 8:13 pm
I get the feeling that you practise CAM.
I am a cancer victim, a cancer without a cure btw, but with a long term.
As far as I can see, CAM with an aim to cure anything is simply a waste of time, and possibly (my) money. CAM for inducing some relaxation, perhaps improving well-being might possible help some people.
The reason I ask is that I take the sensible view that if it works on something, then it is medicine, and if it doesn't work, then it isn't.
CAM practitioners cannot treat cancer, and should not claim to treat it, on pain of pain.
Andy
by phayes » Sat Apr 04, 2009 8:19 pm
What really is the legal and the ethical position on this?
Legal position? Dunno.
Ethical position? Simple: if you've got evidence for the efficacy of your 'treatment' , it's your goddamn duty to advertise it. If you've got no evidence, you're a f****** scumbag if you do advertise it.
badscience.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=8516#p166027
I couldn't have put it better myself, andysnat and phayes!