wfn.org | Adventists Speak Out Against "Quack Medicine"

["Christian B. Schäffler" <APD_Info_Schweiz@compuserve.com>]

June 13, 1999
Adventist Press Service(APD)
Christian B. Schäffler, Editor-in-chief
Fax +41-61-261 61 18
APD@stanet.ch
http://www.stanet.ch/APD
CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland 
 

Adventists Speak Out Against "Quack Medicine"

Silver Spring, Maryland, USA.     "We are opposed to those 
who would try to exploit our membership through 'quack 
medicine,' using products and concepts which are at best 
non-proven," said Dr. DeWitt Williams, health ministries 
director for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North 
America.

In an interview on May 24, Williams explained that the 
Church needed to take action "to prevent the exploitation of 
members by unscrupulous practitioners of unproven 
techniques that claimed medical benefits."

He explained that church members had the right to expect 
that presentations and programs held on church properties 
had been sanctioned by the relevant church administration.

"Pastors and members need to be assured that those coming 
to present programs relative to health benefits are rightly 
representing church perspectives on health," said Williams. 
"Whatever 'quack medicine' may be popular at the moment 
should not be presented in our churches or endorsed by 
them."

A number of Adventist Church organizations will be 
addressing the situation and making recommendations, 
which may include credentialing of speakers, Williams 
reported.