Mojo
29th October 2008, 04:49 AM
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv/obb/ocsc_adjud/dmdigital.pdf
The complainant objected to what he considered to be potentially dangerous medical claims made by Dr Jamil regarding the successful use of homeopathic medicines to treat and cure serious conditions including cancer, diabetes and hepatitis. His concern was that the programme was broadcast in Urdu and the TV channel would be viewed by people living in the UK of Pakistani origin amongst some of whom, he said, levels of medical awareness are low. He believed that some viewers could easily be exploited and might come to grave harm. He was also concerned that the programme appeared to be used as a platform for promoting Dr Jamil’s medical practice.
...
Ofcom considered that the programme allowed Dr Jamil, an alternative health practitioner, to make unsubstantiated and potentially dangerous medical claims regarding the ability of his homeopathic treatments to cure serious illnesses. This could have resulted in viewers with treatable cancers and other significant medical problems to dispense with orthodox medical treatment in favour of Dr Jamil’s treatments. Ofcom, therefore, considered that this failure to apply generally accepted standards resulted in inadequate protection being provided to viewers against this material which had a clear potential to cause vulnerable members of the audience very serious (and possibly life-threatening) harm. The programme was, therefore, in breach Rule 2.1 of the Code.
Ofcom also found breaches of their code in relation to programme sponsorship. The station was fined £15,000.
Oh, and just in case Zep reads this: The Licensee argued, that DM Digital is “completely different” to previous cases for various reasons. First, that Dr Jamil is regulated by and is a member of a professional body, ie the Government of Pakistan’s National Council for Homeopathy...
Didn't seem to cut any ice with Ofcom.
The complainant objected to what he considered to be potentially dangerous medical claims made by Dr Jamil regarding the successful use of homeopathic medicines to treat and cure serious conditions including cancer, diabetes and hepatitis. His concern was that the programme was broadcast in Urdu and the TV channel would be viewed by people living in the UK of Pakistani origin amongst some of whom, he said, levels of medical awareness are low. He believed that some viewers could easily be exploited and might come to grave harm. He was also concerned that the programme appeared to be used as a platform for promoting Dr Jamil’s medical practice.
...
Ofcom considered that the programme allowed Dr Jamil, an alternative health practitioner, to make unsubstantiated and potentially dangerous medical claims regarding the ability of his homeopathic treatments to cure serious illnesses. This could have resulted in viewers with treatable cancers and other significant medical problems to dispense with orthodox medical treatment in favour of Dr Jamil’s treatments. Ofcom, therefore, considered that this failure to apply generally accepted standards resulted in inadequate protection being provided to viewers against this material which had a clear potential to cause vulnerable members of the audience very serious (and possibly life-threatening) harm. The programme was, therefore, in breach Rule 2.1 of the Code.
Ofcom also found breaches of their code in relation to programme sponsorship. The station was fined £15,000.
Oh, and just in case Zep reads this: The Licensee argued, that DM Digital is “completely different” to previous cases for various reasons. First, that Dr Jamil is regulated by and is a member of a professional body, ie the Government of Pakistan’s National Council for Homeopathy...
Didn't seem to cut any ice with Ofcom.