Top cancer doctor blasts Charles
2004-07-09 13:32:39
Prince Charles has come under attack by a top cancer expert over alternative therapies.
Professor Michael Baum has said Prince Charles is wrong to say non-conventional treatments such as coffee enemas or the Gerson diet are suitable for cancer patients.
In a letter to a leading medical journal, Professor Baum said he has authority only because of an accident of birth - and accuses him of being surrounded by sycophants who reinforce his views.
A spokesman for Prince Charles said he has never said people should have alternative remedies instead of orthodox treatment.
Professor Baum's broadside is in the form of an open letter to the British Medical Journal, headlined 'With respect, your highness, you've got it wrong'.
He writes: "Your power and authority rest on an accident of birth. I don't begrudge you that authority and we probably share many opinions about art and architecture, but I do beg you to exercise your power with extreme caution when advising patients with life threatening diseases to embrace unproven therapies."
He adds: "There is no equivalent of the GMC for the monarchy, so it is left either to sensational journalism or, more rarely, to the quiet voice of loyal subjects such as myself to warn you that you may have overstepped the mark.
"It is in the nature of your world to be surrounded by sycophants (including members of the medical establishment hungry for their mention in the Queen's birthday honours list) who constantly reinforce what they assume are your prejudices.
"Sir, they patronise you! Allow me this chastisement."
