The Charity Commission has issued a warning to quack medical charities because it has banned groups claiming to treat cancer with juice drinks.
Registered as a charity since 1997, the Gerson Support Group has promoted its own “nutrition therapy” for patients with life-threatening illnesses. This included organic vegetarian diets, dietary supplements, and enemas. Freshly made juice was also advocated as part of a program to support “health recovery”.
However, its philanthropic status is now being revoked after the philanthropic committee has stated that it must provide “objective scientific evidence” to support its medical claims.
This decision is made after regulatory agencies have tightened the rules of charities that provide complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies.
In 2018, a charity review concluded that in order to meet the’public interest’requirements and qualify as a charity, it is necessary to provide evidence that the treatments offered can provide the alleged benefits. I attached it.
Warning to other CAM charities
This is the first time a CAM charity has been removed from registration after a review.
The Charity Commission said it was investigating many other similar cases and warned CAM charities “to consider public interest requirements and ensure that their own activities provide clear public interest.” Did.
Helen Earner, Director of Regulatory Services, said:
“Charity status is a special status with clear expectations and responsibilities. The law makes it clear that all organizations that want to retain their status must show the public interest.
“It is correct that the organization was removed from the charity registration following the Commission’s intervention.”
Royal reference to banned charities
Prince of Wales mentioned the Gerson Support Group in his 2004 speech on complementary and cancer treatments.
He states: Fortunately, seven years later, she is alive and well. Therefore, it is important to further investigate the beneficial properties of these treatments, rather than dismissing such experiences. “
The Prince of Wales representative declined to comment.
Strict new standards
The Charity Commission began an investigation of the Gerson Support Group in September 2019, asking councilors and considering a nutritional therapy program.
The organization has agreed that claims for the treatment of cancer and its symptoms do not meet the stricter new registration criteria of regulatory agencies.
A charity spokesperson did not disclose the number of CAM charities being investigated.
Some cases under investigation said the organization could be resolved through dialogue with its trustees rather than losing its charity status.
Organizations promoting treatments that provide comfort and peace of mind, rather than treatments for illness, “rely on more subjective evidence, including the voice of the patient, to demonstrate specific public interests. It may be possible. “
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