What alternative health

practitioners might not tell you

 

ebm-first.com

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A chiropractor disciplined for luring patients in with discounted initial consultations then selling them expensive long-term plans is now advertising an even cheaper deal. A 2008 Chiropractic and Osteopathy Board of South Australia inquiry into Dr Robert Marin was sparked by 10 "disturbingly similar" patient complaints. "The common thread seems to have been that patients felt Dr Marin provided them with an exaggerated diagnosis of the severity of their condition, with a view to persuading them to enter into a long-term treatment plan (of questionable benefit) at some expense." The inquiry found Dr Marin, who advertised an initial consultation for $27 or $37, then pressured patients to commit to a long-term plan that cost thousands, used testimonials purporting to be from his own patients - which were not….Australian Medical Association state president Dr Andrew Lavender said the practice of "loss leading" - where customers are drawn in by advertisements for unrealistically cheap deals - was concerning when it came to health. "The whole purpose is to sign people up for long and expensive courses of treatment with no scientific proven value," he said. "When someone promotes this to the general public, you know that they're doing it without any scientific basis and they're going to try to pander to the greatest fears of people. "There's very little evidence anywhere about any benefit of chiropractic treatment." Adelaide Now (22nd January 2010)