- Title: Close To Home - A Very Dangerous Practice
- Date: 18th February 1993
- Summary: A VERY DANGEROUS PRACTICE INVESTIGATES THE UNREGULATED USE OF TRADITIONAL ASIAN MEDICINE IN THIS COUNTRY. TRADITIONAL HEALERS, KNOWN AS VEDS OR HAKIMS ADVERTISE IN THE ASIAN PRESS OFFERING TO CURE ANYTHING FROM INDIGESTION TO CANCE R. FOLLOWING UP THESE CLAIMS, BY RECORDING PHONE CALLS AND SECRETLY FILMING CONSULTATIONS REVEALS THAT THE MEDICINES THEY PRESCRIBE CONTAIN ARSENIC AND DANGEROUS HEAVEY METALS SUCH AS LEAD, MERCURY AND CADMIUM. IMPORTED MEDICINES WHICH ARE FREELY AVAILABLE IN GROCERY SHOPS, ARE ALSO SENT FOR LABORATORY ANALYSIS AND THOSE TOO ARE FOUND TO CONTAIN METALS AND POISONS. INTERVIEWS WITH THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN VICTIM TO HAKIMS' CLAIMS AND SUFFERED MERCURY POISONING AND LEAD POISONING SHOW HOW VULNERABLE THE COMMUNITY IS WHILE THERE ARE NO EFFECTIVE SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE.
- Description:INVESTIGATION INTO WHY THE ASIAN COMMUNITY TURNS FROM NHS TO TRADITIONAL MEDICINE DISPENSED BY HAKIMS AND THE DANGERS POSED BY IT.
- Broadcaster:Channel 4
- Collection: Channel 4
- Genre:Documentary and Factual
- Producer:ENDBOARD PRODUCTIONS LTD
- Programme Episode:Episode 1
- Transmission Date:18/02/1993
- Rights:On Request
- Decade: 1990s