Cancer Act 1939

Last updated

Cancer Act 1939
Act of Parliament
Coat of arms of the United Kingdom (1901-1952).svg
Long title An Act to make further provision for the treatment of cancer, to authorise the Minister of Health to lend money to the National Radium Trust, to prohibit certain advertisements relating to cancer, and for purposes connected with the matters aforesaid.
Citation 2 & 3 Geo. 6. c. 13
Territorial extent England & Wales, Scotland
Dates
Royal assent 29 March 1939
Other legislation
Amended by National Health Service Act 1946
Status: Amended
Text of statute as originally enacted
Text of the Cancer Act 1939 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.

The Cancer Act 1939 (2 & 3 Geo. 6. c. 13) is an Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom passed in 1939 to:

Contents

As of December 2014, the sole remaining provision is in respect of advertising to treat or cure cancer, all other provisions having been repealed or subsumed into other legislation. The Act does not apply in Northern Ireland.

Advertising

The Act's most notable provision is a clause prohibiting taking any part in publication, except under specified conditions, of advertisements that "offer to treat any person for cancer, or to prescribe any remedy therefor, or to give any advice in connection with the treatment thereof". Prosecutions do take place, but are rare. [1]

The expression "advertisement" includes any notice, circular, label, wrapper or other document, and any announcement made orally or by any means of producing or transmitting sounds.

The Act provides for exceptions in making material available to registered medical and nursing personnel and pharmacists, and for material produced by hospitals and local authorities.

Prosecutions under the Act

According to an answer given in the House of Commons on 12 June 2014 [2] [3] there were 21 convictions under the Act between 1984 and 2013, and from then until 12 June 2014 there have been another four.

Convictions that have been reported in the press include:

References

  1. "Harley Street practitioner claimed he could cure cancer and HIV with lifestyle changes and herbs, court hears". The Daily Telegraph. London. 11 December 2013.
  2. "Cancer: Justice". They Work For You. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  3. 1 2 Fulbrook, Julian (2019). "Harmless, Healing or Lethal: Herbal Medicine on Trial" (PDF). Journal of Personal Injury Law (4): 218–230.
  4. "Man who says he cures people through crystals and star magic facing jail". Metro. 20 September 2017. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
  5. "Man is fined after selling "cancer cure" which he made at home". Chelmsford Weekly News. 15 September 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  6. Coston, Rob (2014). "The acid test". Trading Standards Today. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  7. "Trading Standards: cancer cure claims prosecuted". City of Westminster. 23 July 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  8. "Harley Street practitioner claimed he could cure cancer and HIV with lifestyle changes and herbs, court hears". The Daily Telegraph. London. 11 December 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  9. Sweetman, Elizabeth (12 March 2010). "Cancer "healer" to pay thousands - court". Worcester News. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  10. "Dursley woman pleads guilty over 'magick' cancer remedy". Stroud News & Journal. 3 August 2009. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  11. "Breaston firm fined for illegal cancer claims". Nottingham Post. 9 March 2009. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  12. "Pill salesman convicted over £500 'cancer cure'". Metro. 10 September 2008. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  13. Gibbons, Duncan; Summers, Kathryn (7 November 2000). "Cancer claims land import firm in court". Coventry Evening Telegraph (Leamington Edition). p. 3. ProQuest   331639074.
  14. "'Cancer cure' tea man fined". Loughborough Echo. 3 September 1999. p. 15 via Newspapers.com.
  15. "Ex-Pc fined over tea cancer 'cure'". The Citizen (Gloucester). 30 August 1999. p. 7 via Newspapers.com.
  16. Dyer, Owen (1994). "British Company Fined For Falling Foul Of Cancer Act" . BMJ: British Medical Journal. 308 (6922): 158. doi:10.1136/bmj.308.6922.158. ISSN   0959-8138. JSTOR   29722246.
  17. 1 2 3 According to the National Archives Currency Converter
  18. "Cancer and cataract - Pamphlet Advertisement Prosecution". The Surrey Advertiser and County Times. 28 October 1944. p. 2 via Newspapers.com.
  19. "In the courts: Herbalist to pay costs". Leicester Mercury. 23 January 1943. p. 3 via Newspapers.com.
  20. "Leicester herbalist to pay costs". Leicester Mercury. 19 January 1943. p. 6 via Newspapers.com.
  21. "Leicester Herbalist Find £120—Cancer Act Cases". Leicester Mercury. 18 July 1944. p. 6 via Newspapers.com.
  22. "Recorder reduces fines on Leicester herbalist". Leicester Mercury. 4 October 1944. p. 3 via Newspapers.com.