The Netherlands is considering tougher laws on practitioners of complementary medicine after government health inspectors who were investigating the death from breast cancer in 2001 of the actress and comedienne Sylvia Millecam severely criticised her treatment.

The investigators found that alternative practitioners contradicted the diagnosis of breast cancer made by her doctors and offered her instead the prospect of a cure with “unfounded methods of treatment.”

The report concluded that “various individual carers” had “offered such irresponsible care” that disciplinary action or criminal proceedings are likely. Their role prevented a cure or an extension of Ms Millecam's life, …