A contentious advocate for alternative health practices who has been prohibited from offering health services in Australia is set to commence a tour of events in the UK and Ireland, despite facing backlash from scientists, health organizations, and academic institutions.
Barbara O’Neill, who identifies as a naturopath and nutritionist, conducts international lectures focused on “natural self-healing.” Her previous assertions include claims that cancer is a type of fungus treatable with bicarbonate soda, that vaccines are responsible for a surge in conditions like autism and sudden infant death syndrome, and that pregnant women with Group B Streptococcus can forgo antibiotics.
Concerns have been raised by experts in the UK through a letter sent to various venues where O’Neill, aged 73, is scheduled to present. This letter, organized by Dr. David Robert Grimes, a science communicator and biostatistics expert at Trinity College Dublin, labels O’Neill as “a leading vector of medical misinformation.” It further criticizes her for making “misguided medical assertions,” providing “unqualified advice,” and promoting a “complete demonization of conventional medical treatments.”
The correspondence highlights that O’Neill charges substantial fees for retreats and consultations, expressing alarm over the upcoming events. “At the event, she will disseminate dangerous health falsehoods to a vulnerable audience, exploiting the perceived credibility of your esteemed establishment,” the letter states.
Among the signatories are notable figures such as Orla Dolan, CEO of Breakthrough Cancer Research; Professor Colin Doherty, head of the School of Medicine at Trinity College Dublin; Professor David Colquhoun, a Royal Society fellow from University College London; and Professor Sander van der Linden from the University of Cambridge.
Grimes, who has written a book addressing medical misinformation, commented to the Guardian that O’Neill presents herself as a well-meaning figure sharing natural wisdom. “Medical misinformation can be lethal, and we authored the letter because we have witnessed the deep and tragic consequences that such health fiction can impose on vulnerable patients. We hope to raise awareness about this issue to reduce her potential to cause harm elsewhere,” he stated.
Recent research from the UK’s Academy of Medical Sciences indicates that 67% of adults in the UK view health misinformation as a serious issue, with 89% believing it poses a risk to lives.
O’Neill has a history of controversy; in 2019, the New South Wales Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC) in Australia concluded an investigation into her professional conduct. The findings indicated that she fails to acknowledge that she misleads vulnerable individuals, including mothers and cancer patients, by presenting selective information. The report warned that her misinformation could have harmful effects on individuals’ health, as she also dissuades patients from seeking conventional cancer treatments, antibiotics, and vaccinations.
As a result of the investigation, O’Neill was permanently barred from providing any health services, whether voluntary or paid. The HCCC confirmed that its prohibition orders are enforceable throughout Australia.
Despite this ruling, O’Neill and her husband, Michael, continue to hold events in other countries, including the UK, where she has conducted seminars at venues like the luxury golf resort Trump Turnberry.
The upcoming series of engagements includes a five-day retreat at the Cranage Estate in Cheshire scheduled for early October. Titled “A Taste of Misty Mountain,” the event features lectures by O’Neill on topics such as “What Really Causes Disease,” “The Science of Breath,” and “The Immune System,” along with talks by Michael O’Neill, one of which is titled “Barbara Under Attack.” Tickets for the event, which includes a dinner dance, are priced at £700.
Another multi-day event featuring Barbara O’Neill is organized by the Christian health and wellness group Balm of Gilead and is set for mid-October at the City North hotel and conference center in Gormanston, Ireland. Additionally, the couple is scheduled to appear at the Founders and Future festival at Glasgow University Union, where they will be “headlining the main stage,” according to the event’s website.
In response to the letter from concerned experts, the De Vere Cranage Estate stated that it is a venue that hosts a variety of events for private clients and does not typically involve itself in the content or opinions expressed during these privately organized events.
Cameron MacKenzie, president of Glasgow University Union, clarified to the Guardian that events held in the venue by outside organizers are not affiliated with or endorsed by the GUU board of management. “The organizers of the Founders and Future festival have a booking contract with us and are permitted to use our spaces as long as their activities comply with our booking terms and conditions, internal policies, and UK law. To our knowledge, nothing currently outlined by the organizers appears to violate these terms,” he stated.
Michael O’Neill expressed to the Guardian that the HCCC’s ban contains “serious legal flaws” currently under investigation, claiming that there are political efforts underway to scrutinize the HCCC for its bias against natural wellness practitioners. He also asserted that “Barbara has never received a single complaint of harm from a patient, as the complaints were ideologically driven, based on assumptions rather than facts. The HCCC is largely funded by pharmaceutical interests and is a deeply conflicted organization.”
Professor David Elliman, a consultant at Great Ormond Street Hospital and a clinical advisor to the UK National Screening Committee and Newborn Blood Spot Screening Programme, stated that the scientific evidence does not support O’Neill’s claims.
