webofevil | Spiritual Workers Association

Hot on the heels of the enticing prospect of the Advertising Standards Authority having to rule on the possibility of God’s existence comes the likelihood of Trading Standards overseeing the regulation of healers and mediums:

The Spiritual Workers Association is an international umbrella group, bringing spiritual organisations and independents together across the world, to promote excellence and improve standards in the field of spiritual work.

The Law and You

As soon as money or gifts change hands it becomes a contract between you and the person who has paid the money or goods. You then come under the new Consumer Protection Regulations. This means that you have to deliver exactly what you say. Individual Trading Standards Offices will also be able to interpret the guidance how they see fit. This means, in the event of a complaint, that the outcome may well depend on the views of the person investigating the complaint... The following is an extract from one Trading Standards Office’s interpretation of the new legislation:

By using the words “heal” or “healer” you are suggesting that you can cure. This is not an acceptable term within the new legislation unless you can give proof of such claims. Anecdotal evidence on your abilities is now not enough, you will need to be able to justify any claim you are making.

Disclaimers could protect you in the event of legal action being taken against you. However, the use of disclaimers has not yet been proven to be a legally effective defence and it would seem that until someone is taken to court we will not know how effective a defence this will be. But if you would feel more comfortable using disclaimers then there are a selection of disclaimers on the members’ side that are free for members to download and use if they so wish.