Furious UK debate on comp med continues

A leading, Imperial College oncologist, Professor Jonathan Waxman has initiated a plea to reclassify food supplements as drugs. He claims that the natural products industry is overun by “snake oil salesmen”. The stampeding oncologist seems equally opposed to organic food – does he really think that cancer patients can be helped by pesticide contaminated food? On what basis, dear professor?

Waxman’s words have stimulated a furious debate in the electronic pages of the British Medical Journal (BMJ), where Prof Waxman has found some supporters from within his profession, but also strong opposition. Heading this opposition is the measured and decisive tones from two leading figures in the complementary medicine field, Dr Damien Downing and Dr Robert Verkerk, from the campaign organisation, the Alliance for Natural Health.

Waxman quotes: