Tánaiste warns people to use traditional medicine first

The Tánaiste and Health Minister Mary Harney is planning to issue advertisements reminding people to consult a traditional medical doctor before trying alternative therapies.

New alternative medicines is giving many people added hope and relief in their time of illness, but the lack of regulation in the area is worrying the Government and the medical profession.

There have been a series of recent deaths among patients being treated with certain forms of alternative medicine.

A report on how to deal with irresponsible practitioners is being drawn-up at present, but Mary Harney is pre-empting the move with a series of newspaper ads, encouraging people to go to a doctor first when feeling ill.