BMJ  2004;329:858-859 (9 October), doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7470.858-b

Letter

The prince and the professor

With respect, professor, the Prince of Wales is not so wrong

EDITOR—Baum's open letter criticised the unproved alternative therapies that Prince Charles was endorsing.¹

Why is food seen as alternative? Although 13 glasses of carrot juice and coffee enemas may be yet scientifically unproved, food as a remedy for chronic disease is not. My father is working on a product that involves fruit on the basis of his own theories of carcinogenesis. But of course he can't claim that it kills cancer cells because it is a food supplement and therefore not regarded as medicinal.

Baum thinks that high profile figures making sweeping statements on matters they are not qualified in is not helpful, but people are dying, so isn't the sharing of thoughts beneficial, however unfounded? Baum himself has criticised orthodox medicine, so maybe he would agree that the so called alternative therapies working in conjunction with so called orthodox treatments should be given a chance? The body is evolved to metabolise natural compounds not synthesised drugs, so shouldn't nature have a turn, at the very least to work in a complementary manner?

I believe the Prince of Wales wants to help. He is the president of the Foundation for Integrated Health and a campaigner for remedies. He is looking ahead and embraces change and chances in the hope of saving lives.

Patients with cancer hang on to Baum's every statement—he should respect the work of others who can prove their findings.

Asda Hulme, South Manchester M15 ldyxrkp{at}nottingham.ac.uk

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Competing interests: BKP's father is Professor Gerry Potter, a cancer expert at Leicester De Monfort University.

References

1. Baum M. An open letter to the Prince of Wales: with respect, your highness, you've got it wrong. BMJ 2004;329: 118. (10 July.)[Free Full Text]

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