Cancer Council takes out Australia’s top gong for shonky science
The WA arm of the charity has been named the winner for its ‘disappointing’ endorsement of unproven complementary therapies
Cancer Council WA has won the not-so-coveted annual Bent Spoon award from Australian Skeptics for offering oncology patients free ‘energy-balancing’ reiki sessions.
It beat off at least 10 other nominations to win the gong for endorsing unscientific practices, like reiki and reflexology, by providing them free to cancer patients.
Tim Mendham, executive officer of Australian Skeptics, said it was painful to award the Spoon to an organisation like Cancer Council WA but that the decision was taken seriously by Skeptics voters.
“We do not wish in any way to criticise cancer sufferers … and we also do not want to impugn the motivations of the Cancer Council WA,” Mr Mendham said.
