Yes Harm Done by Quackery can cause Psychological Harm Part 2

Secret Truths of Nutrition Quackery 107


Yes! Harm Done by Quackery can cause Psychological Harm! Part 2

This will be a four part series on Harm done by Quackery that will include: indirect harm by omission, psychological harm, economic harm, social harm, and direct harm by commission. This four part series will discuss how the harm caused by quackery fits into these categories.

Indirect Harm

Quackery can seriously harm or kill people by persuading them to abandon, delay, or fail to seek effective medical treatment for grave medical conditions (Barrett and Jarvis, ADA 2008). This is considered indirect harm by omission (Calif. Medical Association). While the number of people lured away from effective treatment into disability or death cannot be ascertained, it is apparently not large enough or obvious enough to provoke a public outcry (Barrett and Jarvis).

Direct Harm

Direct harm is considered harm by commission such as poisoning, maiming, malnutrition, or injury (Barrett and Jarvis). This category includes dangers posed by herbs, herb and drug interactions, contaminated and adulterated supplements, excess vitamins and minerals, and the macrobiotic diet. The L- trytophan tragedy will be discussed first since it is good example of the harm that can occur when dietary supplements are sold without proof of safety, efficacy, potency, or purity (Foster and Tyler).

Now adding to the list we will continue this discussion with the topic of Psychological Harm which is perfect for today's times.


Psychological Harm

Quackery also causes tremendous mental anguish by arousing irrational fears -convincing people to wrongly believe they have serious illnesses such as cancer.(Calif. Medical Association).

Creating false hope in for the seriously ill, however, is quackery's most heartless kind of psychological harm. Even when death is unavoidable , false hope can do great harm. The person's elation over an expected cure is followed by deep despair when the treatment fails. The removal of hope crushes the human spirit (Herbert,1993).

Authorities who study the dying process note that, although the initial reaction is shock and grief, most terminally ill will adjust well, provided they don't feel deserted. Those who except the reality of impending death can put their affairs in order and die psychologically prepared. Unfortunately, those individuals who buy false hope from quacks can get stuck in an attitude of denial. They waste their time, money, and what little they have left to just enjoy the rest of their life.

This article was not written to scare you or make you afraid of everything out on the market, because I see no point in being scared of everything that is no fun and not my position at all. I do want you educated, and informed on what you put into your body. You also must get as credible as possible sources of information to what you truly need. These are scary times we are living in and all kinds of things are coming out of the wood works so please be advised.

Have a healthy and happy day!!

To yours in Health, Fitness, and serious Nutrition talk,

Natalie Pyles

References: Nutrition Dimension, Ellen Coleman, (Barrett and Herbert), (Foster and Tyler).

NSA Speaker, Author, Medical Exercise and Post Rehab Conditioning Specialist, Licensed Nutritionist, Health, Fitness, and Holistic Nutrition and Nursing Educator