South Australia's health and community services watchdog has lifted restrictions on an Adelaide therapist that were imposed because of a statement made on her Facebook page about the effectiveness of 'rapid eye therapy'.
A month ago, the Acting Health and Community Services Complaints Commissioner issued the interim prohibition order against Pauline Masters, banning her from making the claim that rapid eye therapy can cure post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression.
At the time, Ms Masters — whose website describes her as a "certified rapid eye technician" — told the ABC she "did not write" the social media post referencing rapid eye therapy as a "cure" for such mental health conditions.
She said the material had instead been posted by a client, who had been helping her manage her social media accounts.
After investigating the matter, Health and Community Services Complaints Commissioner (HCSCC) Associate Professor Grant Davies agreed that Ms Masters — who has since deactivated the page — had not authored the post, and revoked the interim prohibition order (IPO).
"While Ms Masters, as a sole trader, is ultimately responsible for statements appearing on her business' Facebook page and in advertising materials, the statement that led the HCSCC to issue the IPO was made by another person operating the page and was inadvertently overlooked by her," Dr Davies said in a statement.
"I am satisfied Ms Masters has taken steps to ensure her business' Facebook page and advertising materials do not contain any claims about the efficacy of treatment she provides [that] cannot be substantiated."
Ms Masters said she felt "very relieved" at the outcome, and stood by rapid eye therapy as an "alternative therapy that has been of benefit to many of my clients".
However, she was critical of the communication process, saying she had found out about the commissioner's decision to lift the IPO via the media, and described the investigation as an "unnecessary ordeal".
"Given that this matter has caused me such great distress after an unblemished career spanning 24 years, I am disappointed that the HCSCC could not have informed me directly, as a matter of priority," she said.
In response, the commissioner's office said "Ms Masters was written to on Monday".
