An episode of the BBC’s Dragons’ Den has been retrospectively edited following complaints from campaigners for the illness myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME). The issue arose over claims on the show that ear seeds could help alleviate the condition. Businesswoman Giselle Boxer had said she incorporated the product into her recovery from ME, and the episode originally aired on 18 January. Advocates of ear seeds claim that they stimulate pressure points in the ears. ME, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome, has no known cure, though the NHS offers treatment options.
In a statement, the BBC stated that “a clarification has been added to the program on iPlayer to address the concerns raised”. On the show now, a text disclaimer appears onscreen during Boxer’s pitch, stating that “Acu Seeds are not intended as a cure for any medical condition and advice should always be sought from a qualified healthcare provider about any health concerns”. The company’s own website has a similar disclaimer, stating that the product is not a diagnostic tool nor is it intended to cure or prevent illness.
Action for ME, a campaign group, wrote an open letter to the chairs of two parliamentary select committees concerning Boxer’s claims on the show. They feared that her statements could lead viewers to consider the product as an “effective treatment” for the condition.
ME is a long-term condition affecting sufferers with persistent exhaustion, problems sleeping and concentrating. A spokesman for Action for ME said that avenues for treating the condition are limited and that any advice concerning medical treatment should be obtained from healthcare professionals qualified in that area. Finally, the group also stated their belief that broadcasters have an obligation to maintain accurate, non-misleading content and information that is not potentially harmful
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