KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Broadcasting Commission says it is querying the legality of claims presented in the advertisement of astrological and palm reading services.

The commission said that based on a number of complaints about these advertisements on local television, it has written to the General Legal Council, Medical Council of Jamaica and the Financial Services Commission to obtain their opinion on whether these advertisements violate the laws that govern the medical and legal professions and financial services.

Executive Director of the Broadcasting Commission, Cordel Green, said the main concern was that some of the advertisements claimed or implied that they could solve financial, legal, health and other problems.

“People do have the right to believe in what they want and that includes astrology, palm-reading or other psychic services,” he said.

However, Green argued that someone who is not a qualified doctor, lawyer or financial advisor should not claim or imply that they are competent in the respective matters, as distinct from spirituality.

He said the commission is also concerned that some people who may be suffering or desperate as a result of serious medical, legal or financial problems may be led to believe, as a result of these advertisements, that they can get the help that they need from these astrologers, palm-readers and psychics, even though there is no evidence that these spiritual advisors are qualified in those areas.