Women misled by breast test
Cancer experts say a Federal Court ruling that a second WA business misled women by promoting unproved breast cancer tests has helped to stamp out what was set to become a growing industry.
Cancer Council of WA director of education and research Terry Slevin said this week's finding against Safe Breast Imaging and its director Jo Firth was timely because the business had been on the brink of expanding.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission had complained about the imaging service, which used electrical frequency devices that were promoted as an alternative to mammograms, the conventional breast X-rays used by BreastScreen.
This month, another Perth clinic, Breast Check, and its director Alexandra Boyd, were also found to have breached trade practices and consumer laws in claims about alternative tests.
"We applaud the efforts of the ACCC in prosecuting this second case and believe the effect of their action has been to largely stamp out this industry which we were concerned was on the verge of becoming much more widespread," Mr Slevin.
"At the time we approached the ACCC, we were aware of plans for SBI to offer their services in Queensland, NSW, Victoria, South Australia and the ACT, as well as expand their locations in WA."
He said its product offered no benefit and potentially caused harm.
