Barbara O'Neill
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Barbara O'Neill (born 28 July 1953) is an Australian alternative health care promoter who advertises unsupported health practices described as misinformation and a risk to health and safety by the New South Wales Health Care Complaints Commission. She does not have any recognised qualifications and did not finish
nursing Nursing is a health care profession that "integrates the art and science of caring and focuses on the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and human functioning; prevention of illness and injury; facilitation of healing; and alle ...
training. She has presented her claims at alternative medicine organisations, wellness retreats, and
Seventh-day Adventist Church The Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDA) is an Adventist Protestant Christian denomination which is distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the seventh day of the week in the Christian (Gregorian) and the Hebrew calendar, as the Sa ...
es. She is married to Michael O'Neill, the founder of the now-defunct
Informed Medical Options Party Health, Environment, Accountability, Rights, Transparency (HEART) is a minor Australian political party registered federally and in New South Wales. The party supports alternative medicine, COVID-19 scepticism, climate change scepticism, and ...
, an
anti-vaccination Anti-vaccine activism, which collectively constitutes the "anti-vax" movement, is a set of organized activities expressing opposition to vaccination, and these collaborating networks have often sought to increase vaccine hesitancy by dissem ...
and anti-
fluoride Fluoride (). According to this source, is a possible pronunciation in British English. is an Inorganic chemistry, inorganic, Monatomic ion, monatomic Ion#Anions and cations, anion of fluorine, with the chemical formula (also written ), whose ...
political group. In 2019, the Health Care Complaints Commission in
New South Wales New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...
ruled that she is prohibited from providing any health-related services following several complaints from the public and health professionals. An investigation found that she provided dangerous advice to vulnerable patients, such as telling those with cancer to forgo prescribed
chemotherapy Chemotherapy (often abbreviated chemo, sometimes CTX and CTx) is the type of cancer treatment that uses one or more anti-cancer drugs (list of chemotherapeutic agents, chemotherapeutic agents or alkylating agents) in a standard chemotherapy re ...
for bicarbonate of soda, and to give infants unpasteurised goat's milk. The investigation found that she also did not have any qualifications in a health-related field, and that she failed to meet the expected standards of unregistered health professionals.


Activities

O'Neill has promoted herself as a
naturopath Naturopathy, or naturopathic medicine, is a form of alternative medicine. A wide array of practices branded as "natural", "non-invasive", or promoting "self-healing" are employed by its practitioners, who are known as naturopaths. Difficult ...
,
nutritionist A nutritionist is a person who advises others on matters of food and Human nutrition, nutrition and their impacts on health. Some people specialize in particular areas, such as sports nutrition, public health, or animal nutrition, among other disci ...
, and
health educator Health education is a profession of educating people about health. Areas within this profession encompass environmental health, physical health, social health, emotional health, intellectual health, and spiritual health, as well as sexual and r ...
since at least 2004, despite lacking any relevant qualifications or training. She has rejected the claim that her claims are unsupported, but admitted to not being able to provide any evidence when asked by the Health Care Complaints Commission. She ran the Misty Mountain Health Retreat near Kempsey with her husband, charging clients as much as per person for a one-week stay for one person, to for two people for two weeks. She also provided paid telephone consultations. According to O'Neill's website, she provided
detox Detoxification or detoxication (detox for short) is the physiological or medicinal removal of toxic substances from a living organism, including the human body, which is mainly carried out by the liver. Additionally, it can refer to the period o ...
services claiming to aid recovery from
heart disease Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is any disease involving the heart or blood vessels. CVDs constitute a class of diseases that includes: coronary artery diseases (e.g. angina pectoris, angina, myocardial infarction, heart attack), heart failure, ...
,
diabetes Diabetes mellitus, commonly known as diabetes, is a group of common endocrine diseases characterized by sustained high blood sugar levels. Diabetes is due to either the pancreas not producing enough of the hormone insulin, or the cells of th ...
,
hormonal imbalance Endocrine diseases are disorders of the endocrine system. The branch of medicine associated with endocrine disorders is known as endocrinology. Types of disease Broadly speaking, endocrine disorders may be subdivided into three groups: # Endocri ...
,
chronic fatigue Fatigue is a state of tiredness (which is not sleepiness), exhaustion or loss of energy. It is a symptom of any of various diseases; it is not a disease in itself. Fatigue (in the medical sense) is sometimes associated with medical conditions ...
,
candida Candida, or Cándida (Spanish), may refer to: Biology and medicine * ''Candida'' (fungus), a genus of yeasts ** Candidiasis, an infection by ''Candida'' organisms * Malvasia Candida, a variety of grape Places * Candida, Campania, a ''comu ...
/fungus,
drug addiction Addiction is a neuropsychological disorder characterized by a persistent and intense urge to use a drug or engage in a behavior that produces natural reward, despite substantial harm and other negative consequences. Repetitive drug use can ...
, cancer,
heartburn Heartburn is a burning sensation felt behind the breastbone. It is a symptom that is commonly linked to acid reflux and is often triggered by food, particularly fatty, sugary, spicy, chocolate, citrus, onion-based and tomato-based products. Ly ...
, and
obesity Obesity is a medical condition, considered by multiple organizations to be a disease, in which excess Adipose tissue, body fat has accumulated to such an extent that it can potentially have negative effects on health. People are classifi ...
. Videos of her presentations have been viewed more than 700,000 times. As a member of the
Seventh-day Adventist Church The Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDA) is an Adventist Protestant Christian denomination which is distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the seventh day of the week in the Christian (Gregorian) and the Hebrew calendar, as the Sa ...
, she has also spoken at churches. She previously worked at health retreats in
Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...
before she was barred from doing so by the HCCC, but continues to conduct them in
New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...
and the
United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
. She has also published several books on health and nutrition which include dangerous claims and advice. O'Neill continues to deliver programs aimed at cancer patients in the United States as of July 2023 at a cost of almost per person. O'Neill also delivers services in the
Cook Islands The Cook Islands is an island country in Polynesia, part of Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean. It consists of 15 islands whose total land area is approximately . The Cook Islands' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) covers of ocean. Avarua is its ...
.


Unsubstantiated claims


Cancer

According to the HCCC investigation, O'Neill falsely claimed to be able to cure
cancer Cancer is a group of diseases involving Cell growth#Disorders, abnormal cell growth with the potential to Invasion (cancer), invade or Metastasis, spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Po ...
and urged clients not to use
chemotherapy Chemotherapy (often abbreviated chemo, sometimes CTX and CTx) is the type of cancer treatment that uses one or more anti-cancer drugs (list of chemotherapeutic agents, chemotherapeutic agents or alkylating agents) in a standard chemotherapy re ...
. O'Neill promoted the discredited claim that cancer is a
fungus A fungus (: fungi , , , or ; or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and mold (fungus), molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as one ...
that can be treated with
baking soda Sodium bicarbonate (IUPAC name: sodium hydrogencarbonate), commonly known as baking soda or bicarbonate of soda (or simply “bicarb” especially in the UK) is a chemical compound with the formula NaHCO3. It is a salt (chemistry), salt compose ...
, falsely claiming that a doctor had shown "a 90% success rate curing cancer with sodium bicarbonate injections". She also encouraged her clients to cure cancer by eating a
low carbohydrate diet Low-carbohydrate diets restrict carbohydrate consumption relative to the average diet. Foods high in carbohydrates (e.g., sugar, bread, pasta) are limited, and replaced with foods containing a higher percentage of fat and protein (e.g., meat, ...
for six weeks. In late 2019, it was revealed that a Cook Islands man with stage four cancer had died after following O'Neill's advice, having declined medical intervention and attempting to treat his disease with bicarbonate soda, lemon juice, and boiled water. Supporters of O'Neill claim that he had been in remission for two years before his death.


Anti-vaccination

O'Neill discouraged immunisation, claiming that all
vaccine A vaccine is a biological Dosage form, preparation that provides active acquired immunity to a particular infectious disease, infectious or cancer, malignant disease. The safety and effectiveness of vaccines has been widely studied and verifi ...
s are harmful and the cause of a range of conditions. In one of her YouTube videos, she stated that "children can be naturally vaccinated against
tetanus Tetanus (), also known as lockjaw, is a bacterial infection caused by ''Clostridium tetani'' and characterized by muscle spasms. In the most common type, the spasms begin in the jaw and then progress to the rest of the body. Each spasm usually l ...
by drinking plenty of water, going to bed early, not eating
junk food "Junk food" is a term used to describe food that is high in calorie#Nutrition, calories from macronutrients such as sugar and fat, and often also high in sodium, making it hyperpalatable, and low in dietary fiber, Protein (nutrient), protein, or m ...
and running around the hills". O'Neill has campaigned against the No Jab, No Pay initiative where most parental tax benefits are contingent on up-to-date vaccinations. She is also associated with the Informed Medical Options Party, a known alternative medicine and anti-vaccination political group who has drawn significant criticism from medical associations and health professionals.


Antibiotics

In several of her YouTube videos, O'Neill discourages the use of
antibiotics An antibiotic is a type of antimicrobial substance active against bacteria. It is the most important type of antibacterial agent for fighting pathogenic bacteria, bacterial infections, and antibiotic medications are widely used in the therapy ...
, promoting the disproven claim that they cause cancer. She has told pregnant women it is unnecessary to take antibiotics for Strep B because "no baby has ever died from Strep B catching out of birth". The
Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the establishment of high standards of practice in obstetrics and gynaecology and women’s health. The Col ...
' statistics show that 14% of newborns who contract early-onset Strep B die, and that antibiotics can reduce this risk dramatically.


Infant nutrition

O'Neill has recommended that parents who are unable to
breastfeed Breastfeeding, also known as nursing, is the process where breast milk is fed to a child. Infants may suck the milk directly from the breast, or milk may be extracted with a pump and then fed to the infant. The World Health Organization (WHO ...
their infant use substitutes besides formula. These have included unpasteurised goat milk and a mix of
almond milk Almond milk is a plant-based milk substitute with a watery texture and nutty flavor manufactured from almonds, although some types or brands are flavored in imitation of cow's milk. It does not contain cholesterol or lactose and is low in saturat ...
and dates or bananas. Co-author of the
National Health and Medical Research Council The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) is the main statutory authority of the Australian Government responsible for medical research. It was the eighth largest research funding body in the world in 2016, and NHMRC-funded res ...
(NHMRC) infant feeding guidelines, Professor Jane Scott, has stated this advice is "definitely not safe," and that "there is a real danger here for infants as these will not support healthy growth and development". When provided with the NHMRC infant feeding guidelines for health practitioners, which provides evidence-based recommendations, O'Neill said that she had never read them and that she would refuse to.


Criminal investigations


Health Care Complaints Commission

Between October 2018 and January 2019, the New South Wales Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC) received several complaints from health practitioners and the general public about O'Neill's health advice. These included a complaint that the advice she provided regarding infant nutrition could cause death if followed, where she disclosed her directives were not based on any guidelines or evidence. The Commission found that some of her recommendations were based on ideas espoused by
Tullio Simoncini Tullio Simoncini (1951 – May 20, 2024) is a former Italian physician known for alternative medicine advocacy. He is known for the claim that cancer is caused by the fungus ''Candida albicans'', and has argued that cancer is a form of candida ove ...
, a disgraced Italian former oncologist and
alternative medicine Alternative medicine refers to practices that aim to achieve the healing effects of conventional medicine, but that typically lack biological plausibility, testability, repeatability, or supporting evidence of effectiveness. Such practices are ...
advocate incarcerated for fraud and manslaughter following the death of one of his patients. Some of her guidance was based on the views of doctors who were sued by patients for not providing appropriate treatment. When the HCCC noted these facts to O'Neill, she stated that she still intended to use their advice. The HCCC also found that O'Neill could not recognise and provide health advice within the limits of her training and experience, and had failed to maintain records of the health advice she provided as required by law. While O'Neill has claimed to have received diplomas in naturopathy, nutrition, and dietetics from two now defunct organisations, the HCCC found that she did not have any health-related qualifications. O'Neill claimed that she was merely providing clients with information rather than health advice, and that she never claimed to be able to cure cancer.


Prohibition Order

The HCCC ultimately found that O'Neill's actions had breached five clauses of the ''Code of Conduct for Unregistered Health Practitioners'' and that she poses a risk to the health and safety of the general public. On September 24, 2019, the HCCC indefinitely banned O'Neill from providing health services or education in any capacity, regardless of whether or not she accepted payment for doing so. This precludes her from giving lectures, public speaking or seeing clients. A HCCC spokesperson said that O'Neill's activities were being monitored closely and the prohibition order applies across New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia. He also stated, "In general, if the material is accessible in
hose jurisdictions A hose is a flexible hollow tube or pipe designed to carry fluids from one location to another, often from a faucet or hydrant. Early hoses were made of leather, although modern hoses are typically made of rubber, canvas, and helically wound wi ...
online, then it is considered to be delivering a health service", and that "Presenting health education in any form or delivering health services, would be a breach of her prohibition order." Following the decision, O'Neill launched an online petition calling for the HCCC to reverse its decision. Accompanying the petition, O'Neill comments that, “It looks a bit dark now, but the Great God of the Universe will not let His wonderful health truth to be eliminated, regardless of how men and women may try.” She has also claimed to the press that she is a victim of a Nazi-style propaganda campaign.


Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission

In late 2019, O’Neill and her husband's Misty Mountain Health Retreat came under investigation by the
Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) is the regulatory authority for charities and not-for-profit organisations within Australia. The Commission was established in December 2012 as part of the ''Australian Charitie ...
for alleged breaches of Australian charity law. Under its health promotion charity status, the Retreat had received government grants and various tax concessions. In defending its status, the Retreat had claimed it had provided diet, exercise and health advice to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and people with chronic and terminal illnesses, and that it had previously been branded as "The Aboriginal Healing Centre". Although the HCCC ruling prevented her from providing or promoting her services, O'Neill continued to advertise through her website and that of the Misty Mountain Health Retreat.


Investigations in the Cook Islands

In October 2019,
Cook Islands The Cook Islands is an island country in Polynesia, part of Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean. It consists of 15 islands whose total land area is approximately . The Cook Islands' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) covers of ocean. Avarua is its ...
health secretary Josephine Herman expressed concern after learning O’Neill had been running health workshops in
Rarotonga Rarotonga is the largest and most populous of the Cook Islands. The island is volcanic, with an area of , and is home to almost 75% of the country's population, with 10,898 of a total population of 15,040. The Parliament of the Cook Islands, Coo ...
, and referred the matter to the chief medical officer for investigation. Herman raised concerns regarding O'Neill's suitability to be delivering health services, including the legal requirement of an annual practising certificate amongst other documentation.


References


External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:ONeill, Barbara Alternative cancer treatment advocates Alternative detoxification promoters Alternative medicine Australian anti-vaccination activists Australian fraudsters Australian Seventh-day Adventists Living people Medical controversies in Australia Pseudoscientific diet advocates Place of birth missing (living people) 1953 births