What alternative health practitioners might not tell you

The College of Medicine

According to it’s home page this college, which was launched on 29th October 2010, is “A force that brings patients, doctors, nurses and other health professionals together, instead of separating them into tribes. A force that combines scientific knowledge, clinical expertise and the patient’s own perspective. A force that will re-define what good medicine means...”

British Monarchy Court Circular 26th January 2012

CLARENCE HOUSE: The Prince of Wales, President, The Prince's Trust, this afternoon gave a Tea at Clarence House…The Prince of Wales later held a Dinner at Clarence House for the College of Medicine, preceded by a Reception which The Duchess of Cornwall attended.  [Google's cache of The British Monarch on FaceBook. A snapshot of the page as it appeared on 28 Jan 2012 02:41:50 GMT.]

College of Medicine is a lobby group promoting unproven treatments

“Clarence House insists that Charles has nothing to do with it. Yet the stated aims are strikingly similar to those of the Foundation for Integrated Health and in May 2011 Charles also attended a dinner at St James' Palace for the College…” Professor Edzard Ernst, The Guardian (10th January 2012)

The Prince of CAM

“Prince Charles is a big supporter of “natural” medicine, which in practice means unscientific and ineffective medicine. He has no particular expertise in this area, and there is absolutely no legitimate reason why he should have any influence over the practice of medicine in the UK. But he is the Prince of Wales, and he has chosen to use that celebrity to promote CAM…I would argue that being in an influential position, like the Prince of Wales, and actually using that influence to advocate for a certain position, comes with it the responsibility for due diligence – to make sure that the position you are supporting is valid...The Prince is not just an advocate for CAM in the UK, he appears to actively and effectively lobby for its promotion, or at least removal of science-based standards that would stand in the way of abject quackery.” Steven Novella, Science Based Medicine (23rd November 2011)

Prince of Wales 'ideologically fixated' about alternative medicine, says Simon Singh

“The heir to the throne will not accept that treatments such as homeopathy, acupuncture and chiropractic therapy do not work in the vast majority of cases…Singh said that hundreds of scientific studies had concluded that alternative medicine is ineffective. Yet despite this, the Prince of Wales continues to believe the therapies can help patients because of his ideological commitment to the natural world, Singh said. ‘He only wants scientific evidence if it backs up his view of the natural treatment of health conditions,’ he said…Singh blames the growing alternative medicine industry partially on celebrity endorsements, including the Prince…Singh is campaigning for alternative medicines to be more fully labelled so that patients can be properly informed about their limited benefits…Last year Singh won a court battle with the British Chiropractic Association, who sued him after he accused them of misleading patients over the range of conditions they could treat. He is now campaigning for a reform of the libel laws and warned yesterday that free debate on scientific issues is being stifled by the fear of legal action.” The Telegraph (19th November 2011)

Edzard Ernst: the prince and me

“It is dogma in the face of evidence that riles him [Ernst], and that is one of the key motivators for his recent snipe at Prince Charles… Arguably, it is a parting shot in revenge for what Ernst believes to be the prince’s contribution to Ernst losing his job…Ernst is vague on the details — he is in the process of writing a book about that episode — but says his resignation was a precondition for [his] unit continuing to exist.” David Cohen, freelance journalist, BMJ 2011;343:d4937 doi: 10.1136/bmj.d4937 (August 2011) [FULL TEXT - pdf]

Edzard Ernst: The professor at war with the prince

“…it was a complaint from Prince Charles's principal private secretary five years ago that nearly cost Ernst his job [see further down this page]. The letter, sent by Sir Michael Peat in his capacity as chair of the Prince's Foundation for Integrated Health, accused Ernst of violating a confidentiality agreement in relation to the publication of a report. Prince Charles denies having anything to do with the letter personally, and Ernst was cleared by a subsequent inquiry. But Ernst believes the power of the royal family has distorted public policy in relation to complementary medicine, and does not plan to let the subject drop.…When in 2005 he was asked to comment on a report on the economic benefits of complementary medicine – commissioned by Prince Charles's complementary health foundation, written by economist Christopher Smallwood and due to be delivered to government ministers – Ernst let rip [see further down this page]. Sir Michael Peat's letter of complaint was the result, and the investigation of his conduct which dragged on for 13 months…But his feud with Prince Charles goes on. He believes there is a "conflict of interest" for Prince Charles in using his public and charitable activities to promote complementary medicine, and making money from the "Duchy Herbals" range of remedies (Ernst calls them "Dodgy Originals")  The Foundation for Integrated Health was shut last year and its finance director jailed for theft. "I think it's an abuse of power. It's not his job to do that. He's not a politician. He's the king to be, and that is a very defined role, and it's not to mingle in health, politics or anything else…Ernst points to a recent select committee report – to which he gave evidence – that concluded homeopathy is a placebo and shouldn't be funded on the NHS, and suggests that the Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine (which changed its name from the Royal London Homeopathic Hospital in 2007) enjoys "strong protection" from the royal family.” The Guardian (30th July 2011)

Prince Charles branded a 'snake oil salesman' by scientist

“Edzard Ernst, who was Britain's first professor of complementary medicine, said the prince's support for homeopathy and other alternative medicines earns him the title. In a briefing with reporters at the Science Media Centre in London, Ernst warned that "snake oil salesmen are ubiquitous and dangerous", and named the prince as "one of the most outspoken proponents of homeopathy". He later told the Guardian: "There are no official criteria for a snake oil salesman, but if they existed, I think Charles would fulfil them."…In a briefing that coincided with his stepping down, Ernst blamed earlier confrontations with Clarence House for the threatened closure of his department and his early exit as head of the unit…Clarence House said it would not respond to Ernst's latest comments, and added that the prince was unaware of Sir Michael's complaint in 2005.” The Guardian (25th July 2011)
NB. The complaint was written on Clarence House notepaper by Sir Michael Peat, partly in his capacity as the Prince of Wales’ Principal Private Secretary and can be viewed from 4:52 to 5:46 mins in this video link.

Quack Aid – The Sunflower Jam

“As I described recently, The College of Medicine appears to have perfected the art of ‘bait and switch’. Despite its up front aims to ‘redefine good medicine’ and ‘renew the traditional values of service, commitment and compassion and creating a more holistic, patient-centred, preventative approach to healthcare’ it appears to be doing nothing but promote disproven and superstitious treatments… Despite a recent denial on the pages of the BMJ web site from the colleges prime sponsors that the College is not promoting quackery but “is calling for a more compassionate NHS, where practice based on good evidence”, the bankrolling by the Sunflower Trust would appear to contradict that view. The Sunflower Trust, the organisation behind Superjam, are quite explicit in their aims to see spiritual healers within the NHS…Another worry about the real nature of the College of Medicine is that they have been keen to distance themselves from the Prince of Wales, a notorious supporter of quackery. But, according to a tweet from the Superjam, Charles will be attending a reception for the musicians and guests before the main show. The College, with many of the same staff and supporters, can be little more than a resurrection of Prince Charles’ discredited charity, the Foundation of Integrated Health, that closed last year after arrests were made for corruption and fraud.” Quackometer blogspot (8th July 2011)

Lobby Watch: The College of Medicine

Replies to Jane Cassidy’s 15th June 2011 observations in the British Medical Journal. (Replies published on 22nd June 2011.)

Professor Edzard Ernst, Peninsula Medical School:  “Jane Cassidy mentions that the new 'College of Medicine' singles out projects for praise. I had a closer look at the initiatives which were listed on the College's website. The information indicates that these projects offer a wide range of treatments, including homeopathy, qigong, reflexology and aromatherapy which, according to an evidence-based assessment, must be categorized as unproven or even disproven. In one case, a therapeutic claim was made (homeopathy is useful for asthma and eczema) which is clearly not supported by evidence. Quackery can be defined as the promotion of unproven or fraudulent medical practices. Based on this definition, there can be little doubt, I think, that the new College is a college of quackery. “

Michael Baum, Professor emeritus of Surgery, University College London:  “The new College of Medicine promotes itself by claiming that modern medicine has lost its way and only they retain sufficient supply of the milk of human kindness to sustain the born again doctor of the future. Well if what Professor Ernst says is correct then the College of Medicine is in fact leading the way backwards to the dark ages of Galenic dogma and the new age doctor will be practising "new age" mumbo jumbo. A great leap forward into the past.”

James May, General Practitioner, London:  “Is it possible that the new college is being deliberately ambiguous about the term integrative health? I would be interested to meet any doctor who would not support the underlying 'philosophy of taking into account patients' beliefs and personal circumstances and helping patients look after their own health.' Of course this fundamental principle of good medicine needs nurturing and encouraging at every opportunity. The college, however, seems to interpret this 'philosophy' to mean the promotion of unproven complementary therapies. These are very different agendas and should not be confused. All good doctors should support the first and reject the second. If this college appears to be an attempt to smuggle in the second under the guise of the first then good doctors should be very wary indeed.”

The royal college of quackery

“…the College of Medicine, launched in October in a blaze of pomp and circumstance, is neither a college, nor a place particularly associated with the practice of medicine (as we understand it). Rather it seems to simply be the same alternative medicine lobbying organisation that brought such disrepute to Prince Charles earlier this year, except this time, his name isn’t quite so prominently attached to it…where is the Prince in all this? Charles’ support for alternative medicine is widely documented. In the recent past the Prince has dirtied his hands personally lobbying the relevant ministers and writing secret letters to the MHRA. But the Prince has clearly learned caution after the fall of his Foundation. When asked about the College by alternative medicine campaigner Prof. David Colquhoun, the Office of Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall declined to make any comment referring him only to College director Dr. Michael Dixon. However, there are reasons to suspect the Prince is heavily involved…” Craig Aaen Stockdale , Republic (18th January 2011)

The New Age Medicine of Prince Charles

"Our future head of state wants alternative medical diagnostic techniques, using tongues, irises and the pulse to become more prominent on the NHS". Article by Andy Lewis, The Quackometer, (19th December 2010)

Don’t be deceived: The new “College of Medicine” is a fraud and delusion

“The Prince of Wales’ Foundation for Integrated Health shut down amidst scandal in April 2010. In July, we heard that a new “College of Medicine” was to arise from its ashes. It seemed clear from the people involved that the name “College of Medicine” would be deceptive.  Now the College of Medicine has materialised, and it is clear that one’s worst fears were well justified…It hides an agenda that could do much harm. It is, quite simply, the Prince of Wales by stealth."  Professor David Colquhoun, DC Science (29th October 2010)

Prince Charles's letters to ministers stay secret as appeal is adjourned

A Freedom of Information appeal hearing seeking the release of Prince Charles's correspondence with ministers so that the extent of his behind-the-scenes lobbying may be publicly assessed has been adjourned until next year for reasons the panel cannot 'go into'. Guardian (16th September 2010)

Buckinghamgate: the new “College of Medicine” arising from the ashes of the Prince’s Foundation for Integrated Health

“The stated object of the College is "to advance health for the public benefit". Sounds good, but what does it mean? It doesn’t take long to find out. It is laid out in the document from Companies House.
To further its objects the Charity may:

7.1 engage with and develop communities of health professionals, health care providers and patients;
7.2 set standards and promote excellence in the fields of health and care;
7.3 lead, represent, train and support stakeholders so that they are better equipped to serve the public in improving the health ofthe public;
7.4 establish an evidence base for integrated health and for individual complementary modalities;
7.5 promote, foster and advance an integrated approach to health and care;
7.6 raise public, professional and political awareness and cultivate a sentiment in favour of an integrated approach to health and care by publishing and distributing books, pamphlets, reports, leaflets, journals, films, tapes and instructional matter on any media;

and so on, for 36 paragraphs. Already in paragraph 4 to 6 we see their interest is to promote “integrated health” and “complementary modalities. These of course are just what most of the rest of the world calls quackery. The objects don’t differ greatly from the Prince’s Foundation from which this outfit sprang.”   Professor David Colquhoun, DC Science (25th July 2010)

The College of Medicine

19 Buckingham Street, London WC2N 6EF

"The College of Medicine is about bringing back the traditional values of service, commitment and compassion to healthcare. It’s about developing knowledge and evidence that helps the patient instead of expecting the patient to fit the science. Above all, it’s about putting the patient at the centre of everything health professionals do – making sure the art of healing is not lost in our target-driven, technologically sophisticated but sometimes callous world.” Includes a list of who’s who on the 25-member strong governing council. [Summer 2010 – pdf]

“We have now moved to 19 Buckingham Gate”

Item in the Prince’s Foundation for Integrated Health’s newsletter in March 2010.

The Prince's Foundation for Integrated Health (ARCHIVE LINK)

(Formerly known as the Prince of Wales's Foundation for Integrated Health) The Foundation was an independent charity that supported the integration of alternative and complementary medicines into the NHS. Its President was HRH Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales.  On 30th April 2010, having decided that The Foundation had "achieved its objective of promoting the use of integrated health", it was closed by its Trustees.

Three years jail for accountant at Charles charity who stole £253,000

London Evening Standard (20th August 2010)

The Curious Last Quack of the Prince’s Foundation for Integrated Health

“Last April, I predicted that Prince Charles quackery promoting charity, the Foundation for Integrated Health faced imminent closure due to non submission of accounts to the Charity Commission. Ten days later, the Foundation announced its intention to close amid arrests for fraud and money laundering. In a statement, the charity claimed that it had always intended to close as its aims had been met. This claim was met with derision: a “ludicrous bit of make-believe”, said David Colquhoun. Well, finally the accounts for 2008 have been submitted. The Charity commission usually publishes the accounts of charities, but for some reason they are not available online. So, I asked for a copy and quickly received them. What do they reveal?” Le Canard Noir, The Quackometer (30th July 2010)

Case exposes secret strategies used by 'meddling prince' to intervene in public affairs

“In the controversial area of complementary medicine, the now defunct Prince's Foundation for Integrated Health became involved in trying to change government policy. The charity was paid £1.1m by the Department of Health to advise on the regulation of massage, aromatherapy, reflexology and other complementary therapies as Prince Charles personally lobbied health ministers to embrace such treatments across the NHS. It engaged in a public row with the professor of complementary medicine at Exeter University, Edzard Ernst, after Ernst attacked its draft guide to complementary medicines as "outrageous and deeply flawed". The Charity Commission was asked to launch an investigation into allegations it may have breached charity regulations by pursuing a "vendetta" against Ernst before a separate police investigation saw the former finance director, George Gray, arrested and subsequently charged with theft, fraud and money laundering. The trustees have now closed the charity down, a sign perhaps that the strategy of devolving the Prince's campaigns to charities carries real risk to his reputation.” Robert Booth, The Guardian (25th June 2010)

Why alternative medicine wins from the foundation's demise

“The Foundation for Integrated Health is closing. Should we be sad? I don't think so…The FIH has repeatedly been economical with the truth. For instance when it published a DoH-sponsored patient guide that was devoid of evidence, they claimed evidence was never meant to be included. But I had seen a draft where it was and friends have seen the contract with the DoH where "evidence" was an important element. I hope that, after the demise of FIH, the discussion about alternative medicine in the UK can once more become rational.” Professor Edzard Ernst, The Independent (1st May 2010)

The ex-aide held over ‘£300,000 fraud’ that shut Charles charity

“A man has been arrested over an alleged £300,000 fraud and money-laundering operation which led to the closure of a charity founded by Prince Charles. Accountant George Gray and his wife Gillian were arrested.” Daily Mail (1st May 2010)

Prince's Foundation for Integrated Health Closes

“As predicted last week, Prince Charles Charity has closed amid claims of fraud, money laundering and misuse of charity status….It is laughable that they claim their “key objective of promoting the use of integrated health” has succeeded. Their initiatives to create new regulatory bodies for quackery, University courses in nonsense and increased use of magic medicine in the NHS have all failed…The fact that the charity were planning a big conference in July would suggest that this has not indeed been planned for ‘many months’. Recent arrests and the inability for the charity to submit accounts to the Charity Commissioner would suggest a more forced closure. It is inconceivable that Prince Charles would abandon his support for homeopathy if his hand was not being forced.” The Quackometer (30th April 2010)

Prince of Wales Charity Faces Imminent Closure

“The Foundation for Integrated Health risks closure within days amid claims of fraud and misuse of charity status…..This closure will be a humiliation and bitter blow for the Prince of Wales. His involvement in quackery has brought much criticism as he appears to directly wish to influence the political direction of the NHS by including nonsensical and disproven quack treatments into public healthcare. The closure of the charity will also be a great blow for all alternative therapists in the UK as it has been one of the most powerful voices for the promotion of quackery. It has had the ear of the Department of Health. Its demise will hopefully allow more rational voices to be heard.” The Quackometer (20th April 2010)

Financial irregularities at the FIH

“As well as appointing a Chief Executive who wrote for an AIDS denialist magazine, the Prince’s Foundation for Integrated Health (FIH) have also come under scrutiny for alleged financial irregularities and channeling money from a disgraced politician, Dame Shirley Porter, to fund a commissioned report, the Smallwood Report. Motivated by this I have examined the accounts for the FIH and some of the various bodies that have funded them, including the Porter Foundation- Dame Porter’s charitable organisation. This has revealed some unusual transactions.” Gimpyblog (20th April 2010)

The FIH have appointed a (former?) supporter of AIDS denialism as Chief Executive

"The Prince’s Foundation for Integrated Health (FIH) have been in the news recently for all the wrong reasons. £300,000 has apparently gone missing from their accounts, the police are now investigating, and it is claimed their 2006 Smallwood report was funded by shamed politician, Dame Shirley Porter. They have now appointed a former writer for an AIDS denialist publication as their new Chief Executive…Ms [Boo] Armstrong used to write articles extolling the virtues of alternative approaches to health in Continuum, a magazine with an editorial position denying the link between HIV and AIDS as described by science. The FIH have been aware of these articles since at least the summer of 2009.
Ms Armstrong’s appointment is reflective of how wider society has treated alternative medicine in the past, with minimal scrutiny and an assumption of benefit. She has been awarded money from UnLtd, the Foundation for Social Entrepreneurs, for pushing alternative medicine and has long been funded by the FIH before she was officially placed on their payroll. She has also had a position on the National Clinical Audit Advisory Group (NCAAG) for some time, where her profile lauds her charity work. She was also behind a market research, rather than scientific, project measuring the impact of alternative health in Northern Ireland. This was instigated by former Northern Ireland Secretary, Peter Hain, who believes that homeopathy and a restrictive diet* cured his son’s eczema and felt that this justified spending £200,000 of taxpayers money on a weak report. At not point did any of the above investigate her articles for Continuum or even her personal views on various forms of quackery, for example she thinks that osteopaths should be considered equivalent to doctors.
However, more recently, Ms Armstrong and the FIH are becoming unstuck, quite apart from any police investigation. Thanks to the tenacious David Colquhoun, the recent attempts by an FIH backed organisation to set up an Integrated Medicine course with the University of Buckingham has failed. In particular Ms Armstrong was rejected as a teacher because she was “not qualified to do so academically”. The FIH have also been reported to the Charities Commission by Republic, a pro-republican pressure group, due to alleged political interference by the Charity and Prince Charles in the appointment of Professor Ernst."

Gimpy’s Blog (9th April 2010)
 

Dame Shirley Porter Funded Prince Charles’ Political Report on NHS Alternative Medicine

“The most corrupt British public figure in living memory” used her cash to produce misleading quack report. The report [Smallwood Report] has proved to be very controversial because it was commissioned by Prince Charles and was sent directly to government ministers in an attempt to influence them to fund the provision of pseudo-medical treatments, such as homeopathy, within the NHS. Given, the unique constitutional position of the future monarch, direct lobbying over specific policy issues is seen as being in conflict with the democratic process.

Furthermore, when an academic, Edzard Ernst, criticised the report as being deeply flawed, the Prince’s private secretary, Sir Michael Peat, wrote to the University of Exeter to complain about the whistle-blowing of Ernst. Since then, The Prince’s charity, the Foundation for Integrated Health has stated that Peat wrote to Exeter on their behalf as Peat was their chairman. However, this was not true as the complaint clearly stated that Peat was writing both in his role of “Prince of Wales’ Principal Private Secretary and as Acting Chairman of His Royal Highness’ Foundation for Integrated Health”.

The origin of the report had a peculiar origin too. Originally commissioned by the Foundation for Integrated Health by asking the economist Christopher Smallwood and the research consultancy FreshMinds to take a “fresh and independent look at the role of complementary medicine” in the NHS, it suddenly switched to being directly commissioned by the Prince of Wales himself. And when the Prince took direct responsibility, the funding appeared to switch too. In a comment on my last blog post, Ernst makes it clear that the money was coming from Dame Shirley Porter and that Smallwood made it clear the Prince did not want it to be known who was behind the financing.” The Quackometer (6th April 2010)

Police investigate the Prince's Foundation for Integrated Health

“No matter what the result of the fraud investigation or what the Charity Commission decide, the Foundation for Integrated Health ought to be disbanded. It is not a trusted authority on alternative medicine as it is only interested in uncritical advocacy. But most importantly, the explicit guiding hand of the Prince of Wales creates the impossibility of objectiveness. The Prince has the power to bestow great privileges through honours and patronage. His direct involvement in the output of this body makes it highly likely that, consciously or not, people will not act in a manner contrary to his unscientific belief in magical medicine. As Ernst has said in the Guardian, “I have repeatedly been told he cannot tolerate advice which is not 100% in line with his opinion … I think his advisors are all sycophants.”” The Quackometer (4th April 2010)

Charles faces charity investigation as opposition to FOI ban grows

“As you may have heard, Republic has submitted a formal complaint to the Charity Commission regarding the Prince’s Foundation for Integrated Health. The complaint relates to the ongoing dispute between Charles and Professor Edzard Ernst at Exeter University. We believe there is strong evidence to suggest that the organisation is acting at the behest of Charles rather than in the public interest.” James Gray, Republic (23rd March 2010)

Prince Charles health charity accused of vendetta against critic

“Prince Charles's health charity, which campaigns for the wider use of homeopathic and herbal remedies, is facing possible investigation by the Charity Commission over claims that it may have breached charity regulations….The complaint states the trustees of the Prince's Foundation for Integrated Health (FIH) allowed the foundation's staff to pursue a public "vendetta" against a prominent critic of the prince's support for complementary medicines, Edzard Ernst, professor of complementary medicine at Exeter University. It also suggests the imminent closure of Ernst's department may be partly down to the charity's official complaint about him after he publicly attacked its draft guide to complementary medicines as "outrageous and deeply flawed".” The Guardian (19th March 2010)

NOTE:  Following a complaint from Sir Michael Peat (the Prince of Wales' Principal Private Secretary and Acting Chairman of his Foundation for Integrated Health) regarding an alleged breach of confidentiality over the draft Smallwood Report that was out for review, Professor Edzard Ernst explains here why he publicly criticised it:  “…I was contacted by a journalist who had seen the draft report (not through my leaking it!) asking my opinion on it. I was, of course, bound by confidentiality not to disclose its contents. However, as the journalist knew it already, there was no need to. I thus commented mainly on the flawed methodology of the document and this made the title page of The Times (24 August 2005). When the final version of the report was published in October 2005, the press was keen to have my opinion again. After I had managed to see a copy, I was disappointed to see that it was still far from sound. I gave several interviews…”  Further background details on the issue are available via this video clip.  Sir Michael Peat’s letter, written on Clarence House notepaper, can be viewed at 4:52 minutes in, and the letter from the University of Exeter in which it decided against issuing Professor Ernst with a formal disciplinary warning, can be viewed at 6:54 minutes in.

Full text of the complaint sent to the Charity Commission about The Prince's Foundation for Integrated Health

Includes criticism of the Chair of the Foundation of Integrated Health and Personal Private Secretary to the Prince of Wales, Sir Michael Peat, and Dr Michael Dixon, the Foundation of Integrated Health’s Medical Director and one of its Trustees. Republic (18th March 2010) [pdf]

Prince Charles 'backed homeopathy in secret talks with ministers'

“The Department of Health has admitted for the first time that homeopathy has been discussed at private meetings between ministers and the prince, a strong supporter of alternative therapies… Last year Prince Charles was accused of meddling in Government policy after it emerged he had written to eight Whitehall departments in three years. Now an MP has accused him of overstepping his constitutional role by having 'secret' meetings with ministers on what is a deeply political issue.” Mail Online (21st February 2010)

UK Foundation Moots For An Integrated System Of Healthcare

“The Indian system of medicine is increasingly attracting doctors from abroad, this time from the United Kingdom. The Prince’s Foundation for Integrated Health will soon collaborate with institutes practising and promoting alternative and integrated systems of medicine…Michael Dixon, the foundation’s medical director and adviser to Prince Charles: ”Due to fear of opposition from allopathy doctors, 50% of patients undergoing integrated treatment don’t reveal it and this is leading to problems. Realizing the need to educate and create better understanding, the foundation is setting up a college of integrated health by September.” Times of India (13th February 2010)

Meddling Princes, Medical Regulation, and Licenses to Kill

“Prince Charles, heir to the throne, is the modern day head of British alternative medicine. He has set up a campaign and lobbying organisation called the Foundation for Integrated Health, which promotes the wider acceptance of quackery in British life – he calls it ‘integration’. Charles prefers magic homeopathic sugar pills to magic coins. Both though are equally as ridiculous. He promotes his own elixirs, through another company of his, Duchy Originals. In order to do so, he lobbied the Department of Health as part of their enquiry into allowing more lax regulation for herbal medicine. He obtained one of the first licenses from the MHRA and launched his Duchy range of herbal tinctures. I complained to the Advertising Standards Authority about them and they found Duchy Originals to be making misleading and untruthful claims. Much more worrying than these ridiculous potions is that fact that Prince Charles is directly involved in trying to establish new double standards in the regulation of medicine in the UK. Just has his namesake did, he is attempting to create new backdoors to allow mountebank practitioners to practice medicine without any of the ethical demands placed on real doctors. His Foundation was given money by the Department of Health to establish the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (more commonly known as Ofquack). This body offers voluntary regulation to a range of quack practitioners. There is no need for these practices to have any evidence base – the CNHC will just certify they have been well trained in their nonsense and give them the Royal and governmental stamp of approval.” The Quackometer (10th December 2009)

Dr. Michael Dixon — 'A Pyromaniac In a Field of (Integrative) Straw Men'

"Dr. Michael Dixon, the medical director of the Prince's Foundation for Integrated Health, wrote an editorial for BBC news that is a densely packed rant of tiresome straw men often trotted out by the defenders of so-called "integrative" medicine… Dixon was writing right out of the playbook of "integrative" propaganda, so it is worthwhile to expose his numerous logical fallacies and mischaracterizations of fact (the Holism Gambit, the Argument from Final Consequences, etc.)…Even putting aside their extreme scientific implausibility, the evidence shows that most modalities promoted by Dixon as integrative and rejected by scientific medicine simply do not work." Article by Steven Novella MD, Science Based Medicine (8th April 2009)

Some Notes on Prince Charles's Duchy Originals Detox Tincture (50ml for £10)

"The pathophysiology of 'detox' is non-existent; as a therapeutic approach, detox is implausible, unproven, and dangerous; Prince Charles and his advisors seem to ignore science and prefer to rely on 'make believe' and superstition; detox promotions may contribute to ill health by suggesting we can all over-indulge, then take his tincture and be fine again. Under the banner of holistic and integrative healthcare he thus promotes a 'quick fix' and outright quackery." Follow up report by Edzard Ernst, MD PhD FRCP FRCPEd (Quackwatch, 30th March 2009)

Prince Charles only hears the science he wants to hear

"The heir to the throne pays attention to scientists when their findings match his own prejudices, otherwise he ignores them……on the issue of detox (and alternative medicine more generally), the Prince of Wales seems to ignore scientists." Article by Simon Singh, Guardian Science Blog (16th March 2009)

The Graceless Dr Michael Dixon OBE

"Dr Michael Dixon OBE is clearly a big fan of alternative medicine, although, of course, he prefers the PR friendly term *integrated medicine*. Dixon runs his own GP practice in Devon. By the look of it, it is quite a smart place. The Prince's Foundation for Integrated Health ran an article about it a few months ago: Integrated Health at Cullompton….. Dixon accuses his detractors of making him a "target of a campaign to force him out of his NHS Alliance role". I note, though, that in the FIH article, Dr Dixon rather surprisingly tells us that, 'I got into the integrated approach for purely selfish reasons." Now that is a charge I would not dare to make. But by promoting such nonsense to his patients, and by misleading people over the evidence for their effectiveness, and allowing the FIH to promote his practice without declaring an interest, I would think that, at the very least, we are dealing with someone, well, rather graceless." The Quackometer (25th February 2009)

Charles brings his herbal medicines to the high street

"…..the world's first professor of complementary medicine, Professor Edzard Ernst of Exeter University, attacked as "laughable" the latest effort of the Prince to support alternative cures, following his founding in 1993 of the Foundation for Integrated Healthcare (FIH)." Article by By Martin Hickman, The Independent (24th January 2009)

False assurances

"The Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council's claims to regulate alternative medicine are misleading and dangerous…. The history of the CNHC reads like that of a government body in a banana republic. Several years ago, the Prince's Foundation for Integrated Health (PFIH) was given £900,000 from the Department of Health and previously £1 million from the King's Fund for setting up a regulatory framework for UK alternative practitioners. This is a lot of money for little work — and, crucially, it was given to entirely the wrong organisation…..The MP Evan Harris was even less impressed with the new CNHC: "This register is an attempt to give legitimacy to a business model founded on deceiving the public with pseudo-scientific and misleading health claims"." Article by Edzard Ernst, The Guardian (21st January 2009)

CNHC Code of Conduct, Performance and Ethics

On the subject of evidence, the CNHC Code requires its registrants to only provide treatment or advice if they *believe* it is appropriate.

A Charm of Powerful Trouble'

"Today Prince Charles visited the Nelson's Homeopathic Pharmacy manufacturing laboratories….he praised them for their efforts in "leading the way to integrate natural and conventional healthcare". Again, it is difficult to see what Nelsons are doing to integrate with conventional healthcare. It is difficult to talk about a homeopathic pill manufacturer without calling it a fraud." The Quackometer (16th December 2008)

Note to Prince Charles: 'You're wrong'

"The Prince's Foundation for Integrated Health has published 'Complementary Health Care: A Guide for Patients', which makes numerous misleading claims. Inaccurate claims in medicine can be dangerous, so we want this publication to be corrected or withdrawn." Professor Edzard Ernst interviewed for Media Life magazine (21st April 2008) [UPDATE December 2008: The publication appears to have been withdrawn from the Prince's Foundation for Integrated Health website.]

Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC)

Link to the CNHC's website. It has been formed to offer voluntary self-regulation for complementary therapists.

Prince of Wales's guide to alternative medicine 'inaccurate'

The Prince of Wales is being challenged to withdraw two guides promoting alternative medicine, by scientists who say that they make misleading and inaccurate claims about its benefits. Report by Mark Henderson, Science Editor, The Times (17th April 2008)

A speech by HRH The Prince of Wales at the fifth annual Integrated Health Awards

"We all know I suspect of people who visit an acupuncturist, maybe adopt a regime involving changes of diet and the use of homeopathic remedies, seek out an osteopath; or find to the amazement of their rationalist selves that they benefit from herbal procedures. These "rationalist selves" would be enormously, relieved to see the effectiveness of these treatments proven through the "double-blind randomized controlled trial" — the gold-standard of medical research. However, we know that some complementary and alternative medicine disciplines (and indeed other forms of medical or surgical intervention) do not lend themselves to this research method…Ladies and Gentlemen, believe it or not I have been advocating the development of a truly integrated health system — one rooted in appropriate regulation and supported by rigorous scientific evidence — for the best part of twenty five years." (London, 20th March 2008)

Complementary therapists to be regulated by new Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council from April 2008

A new regulatory body called The Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC) is due to launch in April 2008. Complementary therapy professions themselves have developed the regulatory model, with support and facilitation from The Prince's Foundation for Integrated Health (FIH). The FIH has been working for several years with a range of complementary therapy professions to set up an 'umbrella' regulator covering these professions. The Department of Health awarded FIH a grant of £900,000 over the three-year period 2005 to 2008 to facilitate this process. (Foundation for Integrated Health website) [NOTE: The CNHC has completely avoided discussing whether the treatments it is to regulate actually work.]

Click here for criticism of the proposed Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council

The Prince of Wales's address to the World Health Organisation in Geneva

Full text of a speech on integrated healthcare which was made by Prince Charles at the World Health Organisation (WHO) Assembly, in Geneva, Switzerland, on 23rd May 2006. Interestingly, the Prince made no mention of homeopathy despite its promotion by his Foundation for Integrated Health and its inclusion in the Foundation for Integrated Health's publication 'Complementary healthcare: a guide for patients'. [A link to the guide can be found further down this page]

Awkward moment for prince at the chemist's

Addressing a group of GPs sympathetic to his holistic view of medicine, Prince Charles said that he did not promote complementary medicines "because of some self-indulgent pet projects, or because of some half-baked obsession with unsubstantiated quackery". He added that "I seem to have attracted a remarkable degree of controversy for something as apparently harmless as advocating a whole-person, holistic approach to health care". He is also reported as saying that complementary medicine was not about "quackery and witchery, hocus-pocus and snake oil" but about giving patients accurate information and letting them make informed choices. The Telegraph (13th October 2005) [See link immediately below]

Link to full speech

"I was talking to patients earlier this afternoon at the homeopathic hospital, and one lady said homeopathy had totally transformed her irritable bowel syndrome in a matter of 12 hours." HRH Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales, speaking at The Inaugural Conference of The Prince of Wales's Foundation for Integrated Health G.P. Associates, St. James's Palace, London, on 12th October 2005.

Welsh Secretary champions complementary medicine

On the day he addressed a conference of experts at the Prince of Wales's Foundation for Integrated Health, Peter Hain, Secretary of State for Wales said …"if you break your leg you will need surgery, but taking mineral supplements and homeopathic remedies as well can support the healing process and enhance the effectiveness of conventional treatment." News Wales (12th October 2005)

Prince backs alternative treatments on the NHS

The Times (7th October 2005)

The Smallwood Report

Entitled 'The role of complementary and alternative medicine in the NHS', the Smallwood Report was commissioned by HRH The Prince of Wales (Prince Charles) "with the objective of taking a fresh and independent look - within a reasonable timescale - at the contribution which complementary therapies can potentially make to the delivery of healthcare in the UK". The report was led by Christopher Smallwood (an economist) with the support of a consultancy team from FreshMinds.

NOTE: The report's principal recommendation is that NICE (the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) should carry out a full assessment of the cost effectiveness of complementary therapies.

[194-page PDF download] (Released 6th October 2005)

FreshMinds

FreshMinds is the market research agency in London which was involved in the Smallwood Report.

Charles gets seal of approval on unorthodox treatments

Regarding the new guide about Complementary and Alternative Medicine which was issued by The Prince of Wales's Foundation for Integrated Health, Michael Fox, chief executive of the foundation, conceded the guide was not an analysis of the evidence base for complementary approaches, but hoped it was 'easy-to read and useful'. Dr Michael Dixon, Chairman of the NHS Alliance and a Trustee of The Prince of Wales's Foundation for Integrated Health, claimed "Last year, there was one trial suggesting aromatherapy only worked if the patient thought it worked. The conventional scientists would say therefore it doesn't work but that is the wrong conclusion. The conclusion is a complementary therapy works for those who believe in it". The Guardian (15th February 2005) [NOTE: Kim Lavely was appointed Chief Executive of The Prince's Foundation for Integrated Health in September 2005]

Prince plots alternative treatments for the NHS

"The Prince of Wales [Prince Charles] has secretly commissioned a report into the benefits of complementary therapies in an attempt to persuade the Government to offer more of them on the NHS." (The questionable Smallwood Report on CAM is scheduled to be released in October 2005) Report by Mark Henderson, Science Correspondent, and Andrew Pierce, The Times (24th August 2005)

Charles's 'alternative GP' campaign stirs anger

"The Prince of Wales's Foundation for Integrated Health hopes to have signed up 150 GPs to the new and controversial scheme by October. Those who join will become "associates" of the foundation and are expected to offer a wide range of herbal and other alternative treatments to their patients." The Sunday Times (14th August 2005)

Complementary Health Care: A Guide for Patients

A 56-page patient guide to Complementary and Alternative Medicine issued by The Prince of Wales's Foundation for Integrated Health. It contains many claims which are not supported by reliable scientific evidence. (February 2005) [pdf]

Prince's group gets £1m to help regulate healers

"A foundation set up by Prince Charles was given nearly £1m by the government yesterday for the delicate task of sorting the experts from the amateurs in alternative medicine." The Guardian (23rd December 2004)

'Free' alternative medicine for Wales

"Patients will be treated with free complementary therapies to bring alternative medicine to NHS Wales on the advice of Prince Charles." icWales (13th October 2004)

Alternative medicine to be offered free on the NHS

"Booklets, funded by the Department of Health and produced by Prince of Wales's Foundation for Integrated Health, will be distributed to every GP surgery next month, describing a list of free therapies including osteopathy, acupuncture, aromatherapy and homoeopathy. Prince Charles, a long-term advocate of complementary and alternative medicines, was influential in persuading ministers of the benefits of such treatments…….The Department of Health confirmed that patients could now ask their GP to refer them, free of charge, to practitioners of any of the therapies." Telegraph Online (9th October 2004)

Baby son's allergy ordeal converted minister to alternative therapies

"Complementary therapies, like homoeopathy, get to the cause — rather than just treating the symptoms…I know from my own experience that they work….I've had a lot of discussions with Prince Charles about it and I think he's right…I'd like to see doctors prescribing homoeopathic treatment on the NHS….." Peter Hain, Leader of the Commons and Secretary of State for Wales, quoted in the Telegraph Online (9th October 2004)

Now Charles backs coffee cure for cancer

Article reporting Prince Charles's endorsement of Gerson Therapy… "But there is still an enormous lack of evidence, as Prince Charles pointed out, to show what works." The Observer (27th June 2004)

National Cancer Institute: Gerson Therapy information

Dr Max Gerson and His Fifty Cases — A Critique

We have become allergic to our western way of life

Mentions that, among other therapies, clinical trials of homeopathy have shown benefit in asthma treatment. Article by Prince Charles, The Guardian (28th February 2004)

Prince's alternative medicine call

"Prince Charles' Prince of Wales' Foundation for Integrated Health has launched a five-year plan which outlines how to improve access to therapies…The plan calls for everyone to have access to the treatment of their choice "safe in the knowledge that it is effective and well regulated"". BBC News (22nd May 2003)

Charles helps to build 'new age' hospital

Article by Zoe Brennan and Nicholas Hellen, The London Times (26th August 2001)

The best of both worlds

The personal views of HRH Prince Charles on the integration of complementary and alternative medicine into the UK healthcare system. British Medical Journal (20th January 2001)

Prince calls for alternative research

"Prince Charles said that if advantages were found, they should not be limited to those who could afford to pay for them. Instead they should be made more widely available on the NHS." BBC News (30th December 2000)

Prince Charles: Speeches and Articles

Speeches and articles, including those on complementary medicine, which have been made by Prince Charles since 1982. (The official internet website of HRH The Prince of Wales)