Drug Bill No Bar To Unorthodox Treatment

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31985, 12 May 1969, Page 14

Drug Bill No Bar To Unorthodox Treatment

The Food and Drug Bill now before Parliament would not prevent unorthodox methods of medical treatment, the Minister of Health (Mr McKay) says in reply to a correspondent, Maxine Jenkin, who wrote:

“It seems rather remarkable that so little is known about the Food and Drug Bill (130) at present before Parliament. If it goes through in its present form it will be an offence, punishable with up to three months gaol even to speak to a friend recommending a form of treatment. I suggest that it is up to the public to petition for the continuation of their rights to choose their own method of treatment and medicine. The provisions of the bill will deny us the liberty of paying for the kind of treatment we desire to receive.” The bill was being considered by the Statutes Revision Committee and would be further considered during the forthcoming session of Parliament, Mr McKay said. “However, no doubt by now

you will have seen my statements published in the newspapers recently that this bill would not prohibit unorthodox methods of medical treatment or restrict the traditional right of the individual to be treated by unorthodox means if he so desires,” he said.

The bill would, however, continue a number of existing restraint? on medical advertisements, such as claims to cure cancer, venereal disease, tuberculosis and diabetes. For this purpose a schedule of ailments included in the Medical Advertisements Regulations, 1943, had been revised.

"Unorthodox healers would not be prevented from advertising the general nature of their services, but they are no more entitled than anyone else to advertise certain prohibited or misleading claims —to the public—concerning particular ailments. The restrictions on advertising do not apply to private speech or other communications not falling within the legal definition of publish,” said Mr McKay.