Alternative health practitioners are being urged to lobby their associations to stop recognising the judgements of the Advertising Standards Association (ASA), which has consistently ruled against practitioners’ advertisements and websites.
Some practitioners have retired or gone out of business following an ASA ruling, believing it to be a government body, because they have been unable to state that their therapy has helped specific conditions.
Lobby group Freedom4Health says the ASA is a limited company with no government sanctions or legal powers.
“Unfortunately it’s being given validity by some practitioners’ associations and bodies who are recognising the rulings and are telling members to abide by them-although others support their members in challenging ASA decisions,” said director Martin Weightman.
Freedom4Health is now urging therapists to lobby their associations so that the truth about the ASA can be passed on to their practitioner members.
“Nobody wants to see dangerous or misleading advertising, but the ASA is ill-equipped to properly assess claims of efficacy of alternative and complementary therapies, and so finds against them each and every time,” said Mr Weightman.
To avoid distress and even the closure of businesses, Mr Weightman wants the associations to explain to members that ASA rulings have no legal sanction and aren’t backed by the government.
To find out more, visit: www.freedom4health.com
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