The Friends of Science in Medicine was founded in Australia. Since that time, it has advocated for improved consumer protection and more awareness of the nonsense that makes up alternative medicine. This post gives a brief history of our organization and some of our key activities.
Before FSM...
I am Dr. John Dwyer.
I cared for many patients with AIDS in the early 80's, for which there was no cure. I was angry that so many were promised expensive cures.
I was interested in health care fraud. The New South Wales Health Minister asked me to chair a committee. The committee of practitioners of non-evidenced based care ran for more than a year. It was impossible to agree in this most scientific of ages.
Jelly bean whisperer, Loretta Marron.
Occasionally, individuals might make noise for a short time, but it wouldn't change anything. One exception was a former computer professional. She set about exposing fraud after a health scare. Her stunts proved to be effective. She became the Jelly Bean Lady after testing the magnets on the mattress. She had participants use a magnetism- detecting meter after substituting jelly beans in one of the underlays. They couldn't tell which one had the magnets.
A doctor and skeptic.
Some senior academics became concerned that some Australian universities were giving credibility to non-evidenced-based practices. She introduced me to Professor Rob Morrison, who is a highly effective science communicator. Professor Costa is a member of the Australian Academy of Science. Costa was educating the public about neuroscience and acupuncture.
Australian Skeptics are concerned about universities teaching pseudoscience. The energy healing was promoted by RMIT. The staff teaching Traditional Chinese Medicine gave participants an earring which they claimed could prevent and treat depression.
The Chair of Science at Southern Cross University was a healing touch consultant. The theory that running up and down our spine is an invisible energy that was essential for health was promoted by other universities. This energy can be corrected by manipulating the spine. The 'Webster technique', which could safely turn breech babies, was being offered by many. This isn't evidence based.
We learned in 2011 that the university was considering a degree inChiropractic. We wrote to the university's leadership urging them to abandon the lucrative initiative because of our concerns about giving credibility to pseudo-sciences. We were ignored.
The birth of FSM.
We recognised that a formal organisation with medical and scientific leaders collectively promoting the importance of credible scientific evidence underpinning the provision of health care in Australia might be more effective. We launched Friends of Science in Medicine in 2011 with the goal of attracting 1,000 members within a few months.
Ten years later, FSM is respected by many who feel threatened and respected by others who do not.
We approached the two major government agencies to protect consumers from health care fraud after we realized that they were not doing enough.
AhPRA.
The health care provision is regulated by 15 standard-setting Boards. The National Law allows Boards to decide what their registrants can advertise, but not what they do.
We found that members of the Chiropractic Board included some advertising and pseudoscience at a meeting with executives from the AHPRA. This flaw, where Board members flaunt the standards required by the National Law, also pertains to the TCM Boards.
The CEO developed a plan. We made false claims on the websites of the AHPRA and the Board. overburdening the few staff Over the next few years, we provided hundreds of examples of fraudulent advertising.
We achieved a major reform when the deluge led to the appointment of a senior executive. registrants were required to respond to complaints about advertising within six weeks. It couldn't change what a person might do.
Chiropractor
The Board of the Chiropractor told them that they were not allowed to claim to be specialists in any area of health care, and that they were not allowed to offer pregnant care. Some States have banned them from manipulating young childrens' necks. Most of the time, a majority of the time, a majority of the time, a majority of the time, a majority of the time, a majority of the time, a majority of the time, a majority of the time, a majority of the time, a majority of the time
A therapy.
Costa is a puncturer of acupuncture.
FSM was soon interested in the scam. The neuroscience expertise of Marcello Costa was very valuable. A number of doctors and therapists offer it. The WHO had listed some 160 diseases that had been proven to respond. The underpinning theory is nonsense. There are no studies that prove that acupuncture can change pathology. It has been called the perfect theatrical placebo.
The list of benefits supplied by Chinese doctors had been accepted. After FSM approached the WHO, they removed the recommendations and replaced them with plans for further study of the evidence before a new list was provided. The chair and members of the board were in attendance. The Board refused to challenge their members, but their explanation was that research was continuing.
Osteopathy.
In America, osteopaths are just physicians, receiving the same training as an MD, while outside of America the profession is as unscientific as a doctor's office.
We tackled the board. Osteopathy of the cranial field andVisceral manipulation are objectionable techniques. pulsations of the brain's fluid can be felt through the skull bones. They are told to treat the disease by manipulating the skull bones. The skull bones of an adult cannot be moved because the fluid does not pulsate.
The idea of osteopaths palpate the abdominal organs and send healing vibrations in different directions is ridiculous.
The Chairman's website advertised OCF when we met her. She promised that the Board would advise practitioners not to use this technique. No action was taken. She still offers OCF on her website.
There are two types of nursing and midwifery.
FSM welcomed an experienced nurse to the Board. She was worried about the anti-vax movement and the role of nurses in advocating evidence-based care. We complained to the Midwifery Board after they said that midwives could get points for studying reflexology.
We objected to the claim that the midwives could turn a breech baby by placing crystals around a patient's bed because we didn't like it.
The TGA is a book.
The Therapeutic Goods Agency was not a natural partner in our mission. Ensuring the safety of medicines, supplements, and equipment used for therapeutic purposes is their responsibility. The very companies whose products the TGA regulates fund it. The agency has a conflict of interest.
The claims for products must be supported by credible science. They don't have to provide proof in order to register a product. The required evidence is absent in 70%- 80% of the cases that we discovered.
The TGA had an independent committee to review advertising when FSM first engaged with them about fraudulent advertising of medicines. We could see benefits despite the problems we found. The committee has been removed by the TGA after industry pressure.
We were not happy with the products that offered bioresonance. The use of these products should have been banned after ten minutes of study. It took a long time until our CEO badgered the companies to remove the products from the market.
Where is FSM now?
We learned a lot from Professor Ken Harvey, an outstanding public health advocate. He is an effective critic of the deficiencies. He resigned from LaTrobe University after they accepted millions of dollars to prove that their products worked. When he agreed to succeed me as President of FSM, the mutual respect developed.
FSM is well respected by sister organisation in the US, UK, and Canada as we reach our ten-year anniversary. Australian media often consults us. The only other organisation in Australia that promotes evidence-based medicine and exposes health care fraud is the Australian Medical Association.
The legislative landscape needs to be changed. The powerful, very profitable alternative industry influences political parties and governments' decisions. There is no effective protection against the many health professionals who offer dangerous and unscientific advice. The nation's pharmacists have let profits from the sale of non-evidence-based products diminish their professionalism.
I am proud of what our organisation has accomplished. The current committed and talented executives will continue to work with our membership to tackle many of the continuing issues which deny so many Australians the benefit of the best that scientific medicine has to offer.
If you have read the story, I encourage you to support the struggle and join at no cost.
FSM 2021.
Ken Harvey is the president of the school of public health and prevention.
Prof Paul Rolan is the Director of the Health and Medical Sciences Faculty Office at the University.
The Chief Executive Officer and Secretary is a woman.
The public officer is Prof Hubertus Jersmann MD, PhD, Discipline of Medicine.
The Centre for Research in Evidence-Based Practice is headed by Dr. Paulina Stehlik.
Dr Ian Musgrave is a senior lecturer at the University of Adelaide.
MEng Biomedical is the degree that Kurt van Ryswyk is studying.
Consultants.
Prof John Dwyer was a professor.
Prof. MacLennan AO
Prof. Costa AO.
Prof Rob Morrison is a professor.
Dr. Pallave Dasari.
Sue Ieraci is a doctor.
Work groups are run by a work group co-ordinator.
Peter Arnold OAM is the Chief Editor.
Ian Gibbins has a website.
Kurt Van Ryswyk is on social media.
Ian Carr is a pharmacy.
Regulatory Compliance and Consumer Protection: Bruce Arnold and Mal Vickers.
Bruce Campbell and Mark Belkin were involved in a laboratory investigation.
