Today – the 7th of February is the deadline for submissions on an inquiry in NSW into the promotion of false or misleading health information. Well that sounds all good and well. But on closer scrutiny the terms of reference of the Health Care Complaints Commission will focus on individuals, or organisations that are not recognised health service providers. Then the kicker: The Committee will have particular regard to:
(a) The publication and/or dissemination of false or misleading health-related information that may cause general community mistrust of, or anxiety toward, accepted medical practice;
Causing anxiety – Let me state categorically that taking prescription drugs is a dangerous and risky business – and the populace be best be anxious when taking powerful prescription drugs that can cause kidney failure, heart attacks – or increased risk of suicide. But this is accepted practice – and this is not what the commission is targeting. They are targeting alternative health options that are attempting to provide another way of healing and looking at well being.
The commission will also be investigating the capacity, appropriateness, and effectiveness of taking enforcement and action against such organisations or individuals – i.e: to shut down Big Pharma’s competition (enforcing action) – and keep the population trapped in a cycle of fixing the symptom and not the cause – because that’s great ‘business’. And if successful, it would be one step away from democracy and one step back to 1984.