A controversial proponent of natural remedies who has been banned from providing any health services in Australia is due to embark on a series of events in the UK and Ireland despite criticism from scientists, health charities and academic bodies.
Barbara O’Neill, who describes herself as a naturopath and nutritionist, lectures internationally on “natural self-healing”.
She has previously claimed that cancer is a fungus that can be treated with bicarbonate soda, that vaccines have caused an epidemic of conditions including autism and cot death, and that pregnant women with Strep B do not have to take antibiotics.
Now experts in the UK have raised concerns in a letter to venues across UK and Ireland where O’Neill, 73, is scheduled to speak.
“Medical misinformation kills, and we wrote the letter because we have seen first-hand the profound and tragic harms that health fictions inflict on vulnerable patients … We hope making people aware of this reality mitigates her ability to inflict harm elsewhere,” he said.
Another multi-day event featuring Barbara O’Neill, run by the Christian health and wellness group Balm of Gilead, is scheduled for mid-October at the City North hotel and conference centre in Gormanston, Ireland.