| This is a copy of a letter I sent to Rogers Community Cable 20 -
Kitchener - Waterloo - Brantford - Guelph on the subject of their repeat
broadcast of Yvonne Van DeWiele's Monday night show on alternative health.
I can't tell you how upset I was when Rogers 20 decided to re-run the
quackery show with Colin Elkin, Trudy Bricker, Shan Bricker, and Feng Lee.
The bottom line is that these people are practicing in a manner that
may be dangerous to the public's health. At no time did Yvonne Van dewiele
ask Trudy where she got her PhD, even though Trudy said that people should
always be concerned of where their nutritionist got their training.
Not one critical call came it. Their friends called, and their business
associates called. It sort of reminds me of the job that Yvonne did when
she had me and Caroline Parks on last year, when she actually had the nerve
to have a cigar store owner on the show during National stop smoking week.
Who is running your station?
Here are some of the big complaints that I have:
1. Trudy accepted and acknowledged a call from one of her own patients,
and identified her by name and the fact that she had "endometriosis"
as a twelve year old. If she was part of a regulated health care profession
she might possibly lose her license to practice.
2. Colin said he regularly treated stroke patients. No mention was made
that at least one out of every million visits to a
chiropractor causes a stroke, even in young people.
3. Manipulation of a newborn's spine, particularly of the "doctor's
own child" is against the code of practice of the chiropractic profession.
4. Colin claimed miraculous responses and incredible changes that he
used repeatedly during the hour. He cited testimonials, and the host Yvonne
tried to get him to talk about the case of the little girl with severe
neurologic damage and heavy drug use who had been helped by him.
5. Trudy said that she had terrific and encouraging results working
with ALS patients. She is not a doctor, she can't claim to treat diseases.
6. Shan Bricker, (no one thought to mention what his qualifications
were), commented about the homeopathic community, and the fact that it
works well, or was favourable. He implied that there was scientific research
that showed that it was successful. What are his qualifications as an RNC
to make those statements?
7. Trudy said that she was working with a medical doctor named, I think
Carolyn Dean in her office. Trudy said that research done by that doctor
demonstrated that just 1 teaspoon of sugar would impair immunity.
8. Colin took a call from someone from Brantford. (I am seriously thinking
now that almost every call that came in was from someone that they knew
or asked to call in). He was asked about the treatment of asthmatic children
with chiropractic manipulation. One study done in McMcaster a few years
ago he used as an example of its success, even though the results of that
study were never published. However, he failed to mention all the negative
studies. He used that opportunity to ask that parents "get them in",
or "get them adjusted". It was a direct appeal to recruit patients.
9. Trudy claims to have published letters to the editor to support her
claims for her position.
10. Dr. Feng Lee talked about the glory that "goes to God",
and the restriction of the vital nerve flow, and toxicity of the blood
stream, etc. It was sad that this man was allowed to create this improper
picture of pathophysiology.
11. Then there was the flyer of the Total
Health Expo at the Toronto Convention Centre that was held last March.
The largest collection of quacks in the world showed up for that one. If
you think that Downs syndrome can be cured by injections, that drinking
your urine will improve your health, or that Trudy Bricker and Colin Elkin
are the new Messiahs of health you would have gone.
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