Cancer: A Controversial Subject
Does CCRG Engage in Public Debates with the Detractors of
Complementary Medicine?
CCRG adamantly defends the right of all patients to medical privacy.
In our experience, much of the media’s negative portrayal of complementary medicine relies upon the personal accounts of just a few people whose stories are never accurately communicated. We
have made many efforts to provide media with detailed information on
research, positive patient outcomes and the current positioning of our
clinical approach. However, most of the complementary medicine
detractors have their own unsubstantiated and unbalanced agenda and the
positive aspects of complementary medicine are seldom, if ever,
conveyed.
Because of patient confidentiality laws under Ontario’s Freedom of
Information and Protection of Privacy Act,
and the new
Health Information Protection Act,
CCRG is not able to publicly
disclose specific patient records or information. Any individual
discussing such cases publicly, without the proper patient releases, is
breaking the law. Many of CCRG’s patients are captains of industry and
government and other high profile citizens. CCRG protects their
personal right to medical privacy. Regardless of whether or not consent to
release for any given issue or patient may exist, CCRG’s general policy
is to release information only to the patient. It is the patient’s, or
their authorised representative’s privilege for disposition of that information.
We have been very specific about our patient privacy
policy to the media. CCRG policy when being interviewed is that NO
private patient information will be discussed without patient consent to
CCRG. In spite of this, web detractors and tabloid journalism often
tries to circumvent proper privacy protection. Media often aggressively
and negligently push for private information. It is a very old media trick….
elicit a “no comment” statement from the interviewee and make that
individual appear uncooperative.
CCRG is very sympathetic to the families of patients who have lost
loved-ones.Throughout it's history, CCRG has demonstrated the ability
to compassionately and effectively work with families and individuals in
the most difficult of circumstances.
Our view of many of the matters publicly raised by a few family members
is that these individuals who are grieving have been exploited by the detractors of complementary medicine for
the detractors own benefit (financial and ego). There is always much
more to the individual patient stories that has not been told and in
today’s world cannot be publicly told without proper releases.
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