Amazon UK are still breaking the law

This is Karin Mont, a homeopath who lives in Sussex.

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Karin isn't the kind of homeopath who restricts their practise to treating nebulous "symptoms".

In actual fact, she's the kind of homeopath who advocates homeopathy as a treatment for cancer.

"I have always enjoyed the writings of Catherine Coulter... In A Homeopathic Approach To Cancer... she concentrates on bringing together the case notes and clinical observations of the well-known Indian homeopath, Dr. Ramakrishnan [who] has treated literally thousands of cases of cancer..."

Wisely, these words don't appear anywhere in her advertising, but in a book review published in the April 2003 edition of Homeopathy in Practice.

How seriously does Karin believe should the "treatments" be considered? The words below, as well as the words above, are hers:

"In the second chapter, the main cancer remedies are identified, then sub-divided into three groups to facilitate referencing... 1. Nosodes, mainly Carcinosin and Scirrinum... 2. Remedies used in cancers of many types, such as Arsenicum, Conium and Thuja... 3. Organ-specific remedies, including Ceanothus (spleen, pancreas, liver), Terebinthina (bladder), Plumbum iodatum (brain), Hecla lava (bone, bone marrow), Sabal serrulata (prostate), and Hydrastis (stomach)..."

Wait a moment - we're getting to the best bit -

"There are a number of examples given of the successful treatment of cancer."

Promoting a cure for cancer would normally an offence under the Cancer Act 1939, but this is a book review, and an eight-year-old one at that. Perhaps Karin's enthusiasm was a one-off folly of youth?

To help you decide, here are some more of her writings:

"Homeopathy's success at treating the Spanish flu outbreak of 1918 is well documented, especially in the USA. The medical records of hospitals across the country consistently show a mortality rate of above 28% in sufferers treated conventionally, as opposed to a mortality rate of just over 1% of those treated with homeopathy."

It goes without saying that these ravings - which appear in an article by another author - are not in any way congruent with reality.

Karin is described as having a "thriving" practice, but I can find few details about it. Most of her energy seems to be spent on one of the few clubs willing to have her as a member - the comparably loony Alliance of Registered Homeopaths, of which she is a founder.

But - getting back to that dodgy cancer claim - in these days of heightened regulatory pressure, would anyone dare make such a claim now?

Here is one company who would. Perhaps you've heard of them. They're a little bookshop near Milton Keynes called 'Amazon', and this is the second time I've written about them.

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ASA complaint follows!

"I'm writing to complain about marketing claims made on the Amazon UK website, www.amazon.co.uk

A search for "cancer" on the site turns up hundreds of adverts for books which can be bought through the site, some from Amazon directly, some from independent booksellers.

I think that in a great many cases the adverts, as distinct from the contents of the books, are in breach of the CAP Code.

To avoid labouring a point, I've included here only the first five adverts I found.

1

URL:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cancer-curable-under-Homeopathic-treatment/dp/B003ZYXA14/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1299698108&sr=8-1
Mirrored at:
http://www.freezepage.com/1299699921JLZMEMRVBN

Book title:
"Cancer curable under Homeopathic treatment" by Dr P.S Kamthan

Product description:
Dr Kamthan was an eminant physician with a busy practice. He is the author of many small books on various Homeopathic subjects having gained his experience from many years of clinical practice. This interesting book gives Homeopathic remedies and their indications for many types of cancers including: - brain tumour, eye tumours and ulcers, malignant ulceration of the nose, throat, mouth, tongue, lips, larynx, lungs, breast, stomach, liver, female genitals, penis, scrotum, rectal and bladder cancers. He gives the name of the person who made the observation for each of the indications.

Complaint:
Does the CAP Code permit the advertising of this book? Does the product description exaggerate the validity of the book's contents?

2

URL:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Homoeopathic-Approach-Cancer-U-Ramakrishnan/dp/1576261557/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1299698108&sr=8-7
Mirrored at:
http://www.freezepage.com/1299699997BMGLEUDDBV

Book title:
"A homoeopathic Approach to Cancer" by A.U.Ramakrishnan, Catherine R Coulter

Complaint:
Does the CAP Code permit the advertising of this book?

3

URL: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Family-Guide-Homeopathy-Medicine-Future/dp/0241135729/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1299698108&sr=8-10
Mirrored at:
http://www.freezepage.com/1299700041ZEHZHMRPIM

Book title:
"The Family Guide to Homeopathy: The Safe Form of Medicine for the Future"

Product description:

"A comprehensive guide to homeopathic medicine. Practical and realistic advice on safe treatments for every condition from colds to cancer. It also provides nutritional and lifestyle advice and a section on prevention of disease and health maintenance."

Complaint:
Does the product description exaggerate the validity of the book's contents? Can the claim that there are homeopathic treatments for colds and cancer be substantiated?

4

URL:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tlacote-Water-30C-Homeopathic-Tablets/dp/B003YM9HGE/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1299698108&sr=8-11
Mirrored at:
http://www.freezepage.com/1299700151KNJHALSWBK

Product:
"Tlacote Water 30C Homeopathic Tablets x 125"

Product features:
"...Famous remedy made from healing water. Reputed to have a wide range of activity in curing disease...."

Complaint:
Does the advert contain therapeutic indications not found on the product's label?

5.

URL:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Natural-Herbal-Cures-Remedies-Discover/dp/B0046LV9FY/ref=sr_1_41?ie=UTF8&qid=1299699145&sr=8-41
Mirrored at:
http://www.freezepage.com/1299700202UNRCLAXCEJ

Book Title:
"Natural Herbal Cures & Remedies - Discover the Natural Herbal Cures and Remedies Used to Treat Illness and Disease for Hundreds of Years!"

Product Description:

Discover the Natural Herbal Cures and Remedies Used to Treat Illness and Disease for Hundreds of Years - STOP Using Unnecessary Drugs and Pills, and Learn the Natural Cures Doctors Never Informed You About!

"What the Drug and Pill Companies Don't Want You to Know About!"

Considering the mass amount of doctors and specialists in the medical industry, only a handful of specialists in various parts the world promote the use of natural remedies to treat disease. The fact is, there are alternative ways to cure and prevent disease - Also, erradicate them. There are also natural, non-drug and non-surgical ways to cure and prevent virtually every disease, but drug and food companies never promote these methods of treatment because pharmaceutical drugs and treatments are big money...and that's the truth.

Until now, the public has been deceived by a highly organized and extremely well financed advertising from the media. Fake claims have been passed off and we now believe that the only way to treat any symptoms of illness or disease to purchase off-the-counter drugs. This is simply not true!

"What's The Wisest Way to Cure Your Disease?"

Based on scientific evidence, it is clear that the safest and most effective treatment for various diseases are right in our households...A mixture of natural fruits, vegetables and herbs are some of things needed to prevent or cure disease. I'm not teaching you how to make a fruit salad - With the right combination of ingredients, a cure can be created in the privacy of your own home!

Complaint:
Can the claims in the product description be substantiated? Does the advert discourage consumers from seeking essential medical treatment?"