News and articles

FSM is involved in campaigns that raise many issues in the public arena. We will endeavor to keep a good record and to respond appropriately to the relevant parties.

Here in 'News', we will keep our Friends informed of what is going on in the general and professional media, including articles, interviews and events related to activities of the FSM or that mention our activities. many of the articles referred, appear in journals for which access may be limited to subscribers or to university students and personnel. We would appreciate your alerting us to events we might not be aware of.

The items of this page will be subsequently placed in 'archives'. 'News' items of this page will be progressively be placed in the 'archives'.

The following articles have appeared in the media this week:

14.05.13

Alternative diagnostic techniques like bogus bomb detectors: Naturopaths, acupuncturists, iridologists, spiritual healers, massage therapists, reflexologists, applied kinesiologists, homeopaths, chiropractors, osteopaths and many other types of alternative practitioners all have their very own ways of diagnosing what might be wrong with their patients. This article challenges the reliability of these techniques.

Govt wants vaccination documentation before kids start school: Parents could be forced to show schools documentation of their children’s vaccination history, as Health Minister Tanya Plibersek calls for a nationally consistent policy on immunisation.

13.05.13

NSW midwives misled by textbook direction to anti-vaccination website, AVN: A Core nursing textbook used in NSW universities (with editors that included three Australian midwifery Professors) directs midwifery students to the controversial anti-vaccination website, the AVN, as a legitimate source of information.

Related articles:

• Midwifery text book cites AVN.
  

12.05.13

Macquarie University declares end to quack degrees: Sydney-based Macquarie University says it wants to offload its chiropractic courses and move towards more "science-based" alternatives.

Related article:

• Uni to cut chiropractic degree;
• University set to expel chiro courses; and
  
• Proposed changes to chiropractic at Macquarie.

Immunisation debate spits communities: The Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph in NSW are running a campaign to lobby kindergartens and preschools to ban children who are not immunised.

Related articles:

• A pox on those who oppose vaccinations: Vaccination rates are dropping for the first time in decades thanks to groups like the Australian Vaccination Network who masquerade as a reputable body giving parents biased information.
  
• No jab, no play campaign launched to ban unvaccinated kids from childcare centres and preschools: CHILDCARE centres should have the right to ban unvaccinated kids from childcare centres and preschools under a proposed "no jab, no play" policy;
• Prove vaccinations or no enrolment;
• No vaccine, no school, insists doctors' chief: Unvaccinated children should be barred from attending school, says the Australian Medical Association federal president, who also wants groups spreading anti-vaccination messages to be punished; and
  
• No Jab, No play: Dr Steve Hambleton on Channel 9, Today show.

11.05.13

Complementary complexities: While most GPs had recommended vitamins, minerals, fish oil and glucosamine, more than 80% agreed CMs needed more scientific testing before being used in conventional medicine and only 38% felt they were confident discussing CMs with patients. Poor labeling continues to be a problem. The Monash Centre for the Study of Ethics in Medicine and Society and colleagues have set up a broad-based collaboration to foster the quality use of these products which will include an opt-in system, funded by an additional fee paid by the sponsor, which will independently of the TGA provide information on what is known about the efficacy, safety and quality of specific CM products.

10.05.13

Anti-vax group to feel effects of law change: An amendment to legislation has been passed in the NSW Parliament that will allow the state's Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC) to initiate its own inquiries into potentially dangerous health activities. This closes a legal loophole that has allowed the anti-vaccination group, the Australian Vaccination Network to defy the HCCC who sought to stop them spreading "misleading and dangerous" information about vaccinations.

Related articles:

• HCCC power boosted after anti-vax feud: The NSW Health Care Complaints Commission’s (HCCC) bitter feud with anti-vaccine lobbyists has propelled the state government to dramatically increase the body’s powers, enabling it to launch practitioner investigations without a patient complaint;
• Massaging the wrong vaccination message: Many chiropractors are openly against immunisation and are paid-up professional members of anti-vaccination group the Australian Vaccination Network (AVN) - currently under fire from Fair Trading for its misleading name. Merly Dorey from the AVN said chiropractors and other professional members were the AVN's "lifeblood" and "distribute our information". The Australian Medical Association has called on the Chiropractic Board of Australia to act against chiropractors who are anti-vaccination;
  
• Anti-vax families on the rise: New figures show that the number of children recorded with a conscientious objection to vaccination has increased in the past year to almost 1.5% of all eligible children; and
• Australian Medical Association angered over claims by president of the Australian Vaccination Network.

Chiros run up big bill for X-ray referrals: Chiropractors’ referrals for X-rays have cost Medicare $156 million over the past five years, figures reveal. Concerns have been raised that the public is paying for some chiropractors to order scans based on dogma, not evidence, and exposing patients to unnecessary radiation. Medicare has already raided one business with links to chiropractors for alleged misuse of the agency’s funds, as part of an apparent crackdown on the industry.

Opt out call for complementary medicine: FSM has called for private health insurers to offer an “opt-out” clause enabling people to avoid the cost of cover for complementary medicines based on “pseudoscience”.

06.05.13

ABC show defamed me, Swisse patriarch claims: When challenged about the efficacy of products, some manufacturers prefer to sue rather than citing independent research. The father of Swisse chief executive Radek Sali, claims that The Checkout defamed him by saying he ‘‘manipulated’’ clinical tests of a Swisse appetite suppressant (which has now been cancelled from the ARTG) to benefit the company. The family has filed a writ with the Victorian Supreme Court.

Related Articles:

• ABC keeps Swisse segment online despite legal action; and
• Swisse 'not involved' in ABC case.

Jane McCredie: A drop of credibility: An excellent article on the fear of homeopaths that the federal government’s review of the private health insurance rebate for natural therapies represents an attack on their profession. Not so says Jane McCredie "If homeopathy can demonstrate its safety, efficacy and cost-effectiveness, it should have nothing to fear from this process."

30.04.13

Adverts pulled from TV after public backlash: A pharmaceutical company has withdrawn adverts linking children's dietary supplements and NAPLAN test results after just two days following a public backlash.

29.04.13

Jane McCredie: Forgotten tolls: A reminder of the scourge of Measles in the third world because of difficulty in vaccinating children and now in the West because of irrational fears.

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