Search

Found 16145 Result(s)

PDF File: early_ads.pdf
View or Download PDF >

Gallery of Chiropractic Ads and Other Promotional Materials

This gallery illustrates how chiropractors promoted themselves before the development of the Internet. I collected most of the newspaper ads from local papers, but some were mailed to me from other areas. Where many ads were placed by an individual chiropractor, I have grouped them into individual files. Before 1980, nearly all of the marketers promoted subluxation-based philosophy and suggested that chiropractic’s scope was unlimited. After that time, these ideas persisted but gradually became less prominent. A 13-city study published in a chiropractic journal found that of 5,456 chiropractors listed in the yellow pages during 1985 and 1986, 14.7% bought additional space in the regular listing section, 11.6% purchased large display advertisements, and 73.7% listed only their name and phone number. Of those who bought …

Continue Reading >

This gallery illustrates how chiropractors promoted themselves before the development of the Internet. I collected most of the newspaper ads from local papers, but some were mailed to me from other areas. Where many ads were placed by an individual chiropractor, I have grouped them into individual files. Before 1980, nearly all of the marketers promoted subluxation-based philosophy and suggested that chiropractic’s scope was unlimited. After that time, these ideas persisted but gradually became less prominent.

A 13-city study published in a chiropractic journal found that of 5,456 chiropractors listed in the yellow pages during 1985 and 1986, 14.7% bought additional space in the regular listing section, 11.6% purchased large display advertisements, and 73.7% listed only their name and phone number. Of those who bought additional space, 10.8% advertised techniques, 11.6% mentioned symptoms, 14.7% mentioned injuries, 3% mentioned professional affiliations, and 4% offered free services. Since the late 1970s, I have collected more than 1,100 yellow-page display ads but have not done a statistical analysis.

In 1987, the American Chiropractic Association noted that advertising claims had been “getting worse and worse” and urged chiropractors to “stop the garbage yellow page ads” that contained coupons, offered free spinal x-rays, promised that there would no out-of pocket expense, or made exaggerated and unprofessional claims.

Inclusion in this gallery should not be interpreted as an assertion that all of the items were misleading. Most were, but some were not. My intention in posting them is simply to illustrate what I happened to collect. To place the items in perspective, please see the commentary articles listed below and other Chirobase pages that discuss the types of promotional claims that were used.

Early Promotional Materials
Pennsylvania Ads and Fliers from the Late 1960s and Early 1970s
Pamphlets and other Handouts
Booklets
Newspaper Ads and Mailers from the Mid-1970s through the Mid-1990s
“Turn on health” bumper sticker from the 1980s
Yellow Page Ads
Product Catalogs
  • Chiro-Zyme (1995) (“enzyne products targeted to organs stressed by subluxations”))
Other Promotional Materials
American Chiropractic Association Public Relations Materials
Internet Claims
Other Noteworthy Ads
Advertising Regulation

Consumer Health Digest Archive (2024)

Consumer Health Digest is a free weekly e-mail newsletter edited by William M. London, Ed.D., M.P.H., with help from Stephen Barrett, M.D., It summarizes scientific reports; legislative developments; enforcement actions; other news items; Web site evaluations; recommended and nonrecommended books; research tips; and other information relevant to consumer protection and consumer decision-making. The Digest’s primary focus is on health, but occasionally it includes non-health scams and practical tips. Items posted to this archive may be updated when relevant information becomes available. To subscribe, click here. Issue #24-15, April 14, 2024 Lyme disease: Fact vs fiction NHS releases comprehensive review of gender identity care for youth Issue #24-14, April 7, 2024 Complaint filed against physician promoting “holistic” cancer treatments Tainted red yeast rice supplements linked to …

Continue Reading >

Consumer Health Digest is a free weekly e-mail newsletter edited by William M. London, Ed.D., M.P.H., with help from Stephen Barrett, M.D., It summarizes scientific reports; legislative developments; enforcement actions; other news items; Web site evaluations; recommended and nonrecommended books; research tips; and other information relevant to consumer protection and consumer decision-making. The Digest’s primary focus is on health, but occasionally it includes non-health scams and practical tips. Items posted to this archive may be updated when relevant information becomes available. To subscribe, click here.

Issue #24-15, April 14, 2024

  • Lyme disease: Fact vs fiction
  • NHS releases comprehensive review of gender identity care for youth

Issue #24-14, April 7, 2024

  • Complaint filed against physician promoting “holistic” cancer treatments
  • Tainted red yeast rice supplements linked to serious complications
  • Medical debt linked to worse population health in the U.S.
  • Food myths debunked

Issue #24-13, March 31, 2024

  • FDA warns about pain-relief products containing excessive drug doses
  • Researchers raise doubts about CBD products promoted for pain relief
  • FDA criticized  for settling lawsuit by ivermectin-misinformation promoters
  • Lawsuit alleges Women’s Cancer Fund is sham charity

Issue #24-12, March 24, 2024

  • Sham health insurance seller Benefytt Technologies must refund $100 million
  • Investigation spotlights misleading videos discouraging hormonal contraception
  • Doctor in Australia banned from offering naturopathic treatments

Issue #24-11, March 17, 2024

  • Shocking report highlights deficiencies of U.S. state medical boards
  • Marketer of Nature’s Bounty and Sundown supplements ordered to pay back consumers
  • Patanjali Ayurved advertising temporarily banned in India
  • Ice bathing offers evidence of harm but not benefit
  • JAMA offers concise patient guide to injectable weight-loss medications

Issue #24-10, March 10, 2024

  • Doctor who performed fatal Brazilian butt lift sued for misrepresenting his qualifications
  • Researchers highlight deaths of U.S. citizens undergoing cosmetic surgery in the Dominican Republic
  • AMA spotlights differences in training between physicians and naturopaths

Issue #24-09, March 3, 2024

  • Multilevel marketing companies commonly misrepresent distributor earnings
  • Dubious canine cancer-drug marketer receives 97-month prison sentence
  • Polish Health Ministry responds to advocates of dubious Lyme disease care
  • “Leaky gut syndrome” not medically recognized

Issue #24-08, February 25, 2024

  • Galantamine supplements found to be inaccurately labeled
  • NewsGuard identifies over 300 false vaccine-related internet narratives
  • Promoting COVID-19 misinformation found to be lucrative for four nonprofits

Issue #24-07, February 18, 2024

  • Sham insurance sellers face $195 million judgment and permanent marketing ban
  • Physician assistant convicted of amniotic-fluid fraud
  • COVID Resist marketers ordered to stop deceptive advertising
  • TINA.org questions Talkiatry’s advertised patient cost

Issue #24-06, February 11, 2024

  • Publisher retracts abortion pill studies
  • Naprapathy scrutinized
  • Obesity researcher discourages dietary supplementation for weight loss
  • Neptune’s Fix recalling tianeptine products

Issue #23-05, February 4, 2024

  • Leader of America’s Frontline Doctors reprimanded for Jan. 6 participation
  • Ontario Tribunal revokes misinformation-promoting physician’s registration
  • NZ radiologist will be penalized for peddling COVID-19 misinformation
  • GAO criticizes prenatal supplements
  • AP spotlights Medbed nonsense promoted to conspiracy believers

Issue #24-04, January 29, 2024

  • Early estimates of in-hospital deaths related to hydroxychloroquine treatment for COVID-19 now available.
  • Most direct-to-consumer medical tests advertised online found not useful
  • Funeral homes warned for failing to provide accurate pricing information
  • Mindfulness meditation appears to show little benefit
  • Online undergraduate health course promotes rational skepticism

Issue #24-03, January 22, 2024

  • Midwife faces unprecedented fine for substituting homeopathic pellets for children’s vaccines.
  • Retraction Watch highlights new tactics being used to publish fake scientific papers.
  • FDA authorizes Florida to initiate process for importing certain drugs from Canada.

Issue #24-02, January 14, 2024

  • Restrictions placed on medical license of egregious promoter of COVID-19 disinformation
  • Researchers warn of hazards of inadequately regulated dietary supplements
  • FDA warns about complications of unapproved fat-dissolving injections

Issue #24-01, January 7, 2024

  • Experts refute Florida Surgeon General’s COVID-19 mRNA vaccine alarmism
  • ‘Skeptical Inquirer scrutinizes evidence for brain-training interventions
  • FDA identifies toxic, misbranded tejocote-root supplements
  • FDA warns about tainted arthritis and pain products
  • Physiologist comments on health fads promoted during the holidays

2001 || 2002 || 2003 || 2004 || 2005 || 2006 || 2007
2008 || 2009 || 2010 || 2011 || 2012 || 2013 || 2014
2015 || 2016 || 2017 || 2018 || 2019 || 2020 || 2021
2022 || 2023


Consumer Health Digest, Issue #24-15

Lyme disease: Fact vs fiction. NHS releases comprehensive review of gender identity care for youth. Lyme disease: Fact vs fiction. Andrea Love, Ph.D. (immunology and biology), Executive Director of the American Lyme Disease Foundation, has launched an online “Inside Immunology” column at Skeptical Inquirer. Her first column, which  provides an overview of Lyme disease issues for consumers, discusses: the risk of infection with the bacteria that cause the disease factors influencing whether a tick bite will lead to infection symptoms of localized disease the small risk of disease spreading beyond the skin effective treatments diagnostic issues fraudulent tests and unproven, dangerous, and expensive long-term treatments ordered by self-proclaimed Lyme specialists including those who call themselves “Lyme literate” overdiagnosis promoted by celebrities aligned with prominent activist organizations that purport to …

Continue Reading >
  • Lyme disease: Fact vs fiction.
  • NHS releases comprehensive review of gender identity care for youth.

Lyme disease: Fact vs fiction. Andrea Love, Ph.D. (immunology and biology), Executive Director of the American Lyme Disease Foundation, has launched an online “Inside Immunology” column at Skeptical Inquirer. Her first column, which  provides an overview of Lyme disease issues for consumers, discusses:

She concludes:

Lyme pseudoscience causes immense harm to individuals who [undergo] harmful and unproven treatments based on false information. It also erodes public health and trust in science, and it can lead people to delay care for medical conditions that are falsely attributed to Lyme. We have a duty to combat this type of predatory pseudoscience, even if it has a loud voice.

[Love A. Why Is Lyme disease, an acute bacterial infection, plagued with misinformation? A convergence of misunderstanding, bad actors, media attention, and fear-based messaging. Skeptical Inquirer, April 11, 2024]

NHS releases comprehensive review of gender identity care for youth. England’s National Health Service (NHS) has released the final report of The Cass Review: Independent Review of Gender Identity Services for Children and Young People. The report’s purpose is to improve services for children and young people experiencing gender-identity-related distress. The report concludes:

  • There is no simple explanation for the increase in the numbers of predominantly young people and young adults who have a trans- or gender-diverse identity, but there is broad agreement it is a result of a complex interplay between biological, psychological, and social factors.
  • There are conflicting views about the clinical approach, with expectations of care at times being far from usual clinical practice.
  • While much research has been published in this field, systematic evidence reviews demonstrate the poor quality of the published studies, meaning there is not a reliable evidence base upon which to make clinical decisions, or for children and their families to make informed choices.
  • The strengths and weaknesses of the evidence base on the care of children and young people are often misrepresented and overstated, both in scientific publications and social debate.
  • The controversy surrounding the use of medical treatments has taken focus away from what the individualized care and treatment is intended to achieve for individuals seeking support from NHS gender services.
  • The rationale for early puberty suppression remains unclear, with weak evidence regarding the impact on gender dysphoria, mental, or psychosocial health. The effect on cognitive and psychosexual development remains unknown.
  • The use of masculinizing/feminizing hormones in those under the age of 18 also presents many unknowns, despite their longstanding use in the adult transgender population. The lack of long-term follow-up data on those commencing treatment at an earlier age means we have inadequate information about the range of outcomes for this group.
  • Clinicians are unable to determine with any certainty which children and young people will go on to have an enduring trans identity.
  • For most young people, a medical pathway will not be the best way to manage their gender-related distress. For those for whom a medical pathway is clinically indicated, it is not enough to provide this without also addressing wider mental health and/or psychosocially challenging problems.
  • Innovation is important if medicine is to move forward, but there must be a proportionate level of monitoring, oversight and regulation that does not stifle progress while preventing creep of unproven approaches into clinical practice. Innovation must draw from and contribute to the evidence base.

The report’s recommendations include:

  • Children/young people referred to NHS gender services must receive a holistic assessment of their needs to inform an individualized care plan. This should include screening for neurodevelopmental conditions, including autism spectrum disorder, and a mental health assessment.
  • Standard evidence-based psychological and psychopharmacological treatment approaches should be used to support the management of the associated distress from gender incongruence and co-occurring conditions, including support for parents/caregivers and siblings, as appropriate.
  • Services should establish a separate pathway for pre-pubertal children and their families, ensuring they are prioritized for early discussion about how parents can best support their child in a balanced and non-judgmental way. When decisions are made about social transition of pre-pubertal children, services should ensure they can be seen as early as possible by a clinical professional with relevant experience.
  • There needs to be provision for people who wish to stop or reverse their transition.
  • A full program of research should be established to look at the characteristics, interventions and outcomes of every young person presenting to the NHS gender services.
  • The option to provide masculinizing/feminizing hormones from age 16 is available, but the Review recommends extreme caution. There should be a clear clinical rationale for providing hormones at this stage rather than waiting until an individual reaches 18.
  • The puberty-blocker trial previously announced by NHS England should be part of a program of research that also evaluates outcomes of psychosocial interventions and masculinizing/feminizing hormones.

[The Cass Review. Independent review of gender identity services for children and young people: Final report, April 2024]


PDF File: opposition_to_motion_to_dismiss.pdf
View or Download PDF >

PDF File: nass_v_.maine_medical_baord.pdf
View or Download PDF >

PDF File: motion to dismiss.pdf
View or Download PDF >

PDF File: order_2023.pdf
View or Download PDF >

Disciplinary Action against Dr. Meryl J. Nass

Meryl Jae Nass, M.D., who practiced internal medicine in Ellsworth, Maine, has been disciplined  by the Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine. In January 2022, the board issued two orders, one directing her to undergo a neuropsychological examination [1] and the other suspending her license to practice for 30 days pending a full hearing [2]. Both orders indicate that the board had received complaints that she was spreading misinformation about COVID-19 and had inappropriately prescribed invermectin and/or hydroxychloroquine to patients she diagnosed with COVID-19.  A hearing notice dated September 30, 2022 indicates that the board was concerned with the quality of her care, the adequacy of her patient records, and her honesty as evidenced by her care of three patients. The notice also indicates that Nass did not cooperate with some of the …

Continue Reading >

Meryl Jae Nass, M.D., who practiced internal medicine in Ellsworth, Maine, has been disciplined  by the Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine. In January 2022, the board issued two orders, one directing her to undergo a neuropsychological examination [1] and the other suspending her license to practice for 30 days pending a full hearing [2]. Both orders indicate that the board had received complaints that she was spreading misinformation about COVID-19 and had inappropriately prescribed invermectin and/or hydroxychloroquine to patients she diagnosed with COVID-19. 

A hearing notice dated September 30, 2022 indicates that the board was concerned with the quality of her care, the adequacy of her patient records, and her honesty as evidenced by her care of three patients. The notice also indicates that Nass did not cooperate with some of the board’s investigative requests [3].

In December 2023, after several hearings, the board extended the suspension and placed Nass on probation for two years Bit it but said the suspension could be lifted if she fully complies with the probationary terms, which included the use of a practice monitor. The board also ordered her to pay $10,000—approximately half the cost of the board proceedings [4].

The December 2023 order provides detailed descriptions of her management of the three patients.The charges related to public misinformation have been dropped.

In October 2023, Nass filed suit in federal court against the Main Board of Licensure and its members. The suit alleged that the board was infringing on her freedom of speech and had unfairly conducted its case against her [5]. The board replied that it has followed proper procedures and that state and federal laws protected its individual board members from liability [6]. The court has not yet ruled on these motions.

References
  1. Order directing evaluation. In Re: Meryl J. Nass, M.D. Maine Board oif Licensure in Medicine, Jan 11, 2022.
  2. Order of immediate suspension. In Re: Meryl J. Nass, M.D. Maine Board oif Licensure in Medicine, Jan 12, 2022.
  3. Third amended notice of hearing. In Re: Meryl J. Nass, M.D. Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine, Sept 30, 2022.
  4. Decision and order. In Re: Meryl J. Nass, M.D. Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine. Dec 12, 2023.
  5. Complaint. Meryl J. Nass, M.D. v. Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine, U.S. District Court for the District of Maine.Case 1:23-cv-0032, filed Aug 16, 2023.
  6. Defendants’ motion to dismiss. Meryl J. Nass, M.D. v. Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine. U.S. District Court for the District of Maine.Case 1:23-cv-0032, filed Oct 18, 2023.
  7. Plaintiffs’ opposition to motion to dismiss. Meryl J. Nass, M.D. v. Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine. U.S. District Court for the District of Maine.Case 1:23-cv-0032, filed Nov 8, 2023.

Consumer Health Digest, Issue #24-14

Complaint filed against physician promoting “holistic” cancer treatments. Tainted red yeast rice supplements linked to serious complications. Medical debt linked to worse population health in the U.S. Food myths debunked. Complaint filed against physician promoting “holistic” cancer treatments. On May 11, 2023, the Indiana Attorney General’s office submitted a complaint to the Indiana Medical Licensing Board accusing Clifford W. Fetters, M.D., of false and misleading advertising, failing to inform patients of side effects of tests and treatments, and not providing a patient with a truthful account of her condition. The state reportedly started receiving complaints from patients’ families starting in 2017. [Kenney K. “I’d like to see him lose his license”: Widowed man hopeful as state files complaint against Carmel doctor. WRTV Indianapolis, March 7, …

Continue Reading >
  • Complaint filed against physician promoting “holistic” cancer treatments.
  • Tainted red yeast rice supplements linked to serious complications.
  • Medical debt linked to worse population health in the U.S.
  • Food myths debunked.

Complaint filed against physician promoting “holistic” cancer treatments. On May 11, 2023, the Indiana Attorney General’s office submitted a complaint to the Indiana Medical Licensing Board accusing Clifford W. Fetters, M.D., of false and misleading advertising, failing to inform patients of side effects of tests and treatments, and not providing a patient with a truthful account of her condition. The state reportedly started receiving complaints from patients’ families starting in 2017. [Kenney K. “I’d like to see him lose his license”: Widowed man hopeful as state files complaint against Carmel doctor. WRTV Indianapolis, March 7, 2024] The complaint stated:

  • Fetters started Health and Wellness of Carmel (“H&W”) in 2006, owns it, and practices medicine there.
  • H&W provides holistic medical care for children and adults, offering “Alternative Cancer Treatments,” IV Nutritional Therapy, Integrative Medical Services, Health and Wellness Management, and Aesthetic Services.
  • “Alternative cancer treatments” at H&W include holistic cancer treatments, personalized cancer testing, tests for circulating tumor cells, RGCC cancer sensitivity tests, far infrared heat sauna, immune support therapy, supportive oligonucleotide technique (“SOT”), PrimeSPOT, sono- and photo-dynamic therapy, and Vaxo-Q-Re.
  • In May 2022, H&W began advertising:
    • “through the use of holistic cancer treatment, [H&W] can effectively boost the immune system of [their] patients, as well as eliminate toxins in their body”
    • several options for IV therapy for cancer treatment that include vitamin C, vitamin K3, IV ozone therapy, and hyperthermia
    • ozone has “many therapeutic properties” and “[c]an be used as part of a therapeutic plan for almost every disease,” including cancer
    • vitamin C “may work in killing cancer (chemotherapeutic action)” by “increased production of hydrogen peroxide production (prooxidant), anti-angiogenesis (stop the blood supply that feeds cancer), immune system support (interferon, interleukin, etc.), and anti-inflammatory.”
  • According to the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21: (a) “Ozone is a toxic gas with no known useful medical application in specific, adjunctive, or preventive therapy,” and (b) “A number of devices currently on the market generate ozone by design or as a byproduct. Since exposure to ozone above a certain concentration can be injurious to health, any such device will be considered adulterated and/or misbranded.”
  • Fetters authored a blog on the H&W website claiming IV therapy helps treat cancer.
  • Fetters engaged in misconduct in the treatment of four patients with a variety of treatments. Two of the patients died.
  • Fetters advertised tests and treatments not supported by current professional theory or practice and not indicated for specific patients.
  • Fetters failed to inform a patient of side effects of treatment offered.
  • Fetters failed to give a patient a truthful and candid account of her condition.
  • On July 23, 2021, the Indiana Medical Review Panel determined that the evidence supported the conclusion that Fetters failed to meet the applicable standard of care.

Tainted red yeast rice supplements linked to serious complications. Kobayashi Pharmaceutical’s beni kōji red yeast rice supplements have been linked to at least five deaths, 188 hospitalizations, and 1,058 doctor visits. The sicknesses have included kidney failure. Eleven people in Taiwan have reported feeling ill after consuming the supplements. The company has received around 40,000 inquiries from consumers. The cause of the illnesses has not been confirmed, but it is likely a potentially harmful substance derived from blue mold that entered the supplements during the manufacturing process in a batch of products made at the company’s Osaka factory. [Inoue Y. Kobayashi Pharma’s wide supply chain complicates search for tainted products. The Japan Times, April 4, 2024] The first report of illness linked to the supplement came in mid-January but the company didn’t issue a voluntary recall until March 22. [Kageyama Y. Japanese officials inspect 2 factories making health supplements linked to 5 deaths. Associated Press, March 30, 2024] The supplements were promoted for lowering blood cholesterol levels. According to the Mayo Clinic, while red yeast rice can lower cholesterol as statin drug products do, there’s less assurance regarding quality and how much active ingredient is actually in the product.

Medical debt linked to worse population health in the U.S. American Cancer Society researchers have found “consistent associations between medical debt and worse population health across multiple measures, including self-reported unhealthy days, years of life lost due to premature death, and. . . mortality rates.” Their analysis was based on nationwide medical-debt data for U.S. counties from the Urban Institute Debt in America project and health surveillance data from the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps compiled by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. Data for a total of 2,943 counties—93% of all U.S. counties—were included in their analysis. The primary measure of medical debt for each county was the percentage of people with a credit bureau record who have any medical debt in collections. The secondary county measure was the median amount of medical debt among people with any medical debt in collections. [Han X, and others. Associations of medical debt with health status, premature death, and mortality in the US. JAMA Network Open 7(3):e2354766, March 4, 2024]

In a commentary about the study, physicians with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and the University of Washington, Seattle, concluded:

Surely, everyone can agree that a consequence of accessing health care should not be worse health. For those who incur medical debt, this unfortunately appears to be their reality. The authors’ findings suggest that investing resources into debt prevention and mitigation may ultimately conserve downstream medical costs by improving population-level health. This is a key implication of the study. Our collective action today to address unsustainable debt may pay off substantial dividends in the future with dollars and lives saved. [Su CT, Ramsey SD. Medical debt—An iatrogenic epidemic with mortal consequences. JAMA Network Open 7(3):e2354707, March 4, 2024]

Another recent article describes the struggles of people in the southwestern Denver neighborhood of Westwood. This area has some of the highest levels of medical debt in Colorado where more than 20% of adults have historically had unpaid medical bills on their credit reports. [Bichell RE, Toomer L. Medical debt affects much of America, but Colorado immigrants are hit especially hard. KFF Health News, April 3, 2024]

Food myths debunked. In Does Coffee Cause Cancer? And 8 More Myths about the Food We Eat (ECW Press, 2023), Dr. Christopher Labos, a health columnist, podcaster, Montreal resident, and cardiologist with a master’s degree in epidemiology, discusses how sloppy science perpetuates popular misconceptions about food. In his book, the author discusses, among other things, whether vitamin C prevents the common cold, whether hot dogs are as bad as cigarettes, and whether red wine is good for your heart. A recording of Dr. Labos’s Skeptical Inquirer Presents talk on April 4, 2024 is also available.

Consumer Health Digest is a free weekly e-mail newsletter edited by William M. London, Ed.D., M.P.H., with help from Stephen Barrett, M.D., It summarizes scientific reports; legislative developments; enforcement actions; other news items; Web site evaluations; recommended and nonrecommended books; research tips; and other information relevant to consumer protection and consumer decision-making. The Digest’s primary focus is on health, but occasionally it includes non-health scams and practical tips. Items posted to this archive may be updated when relevant information becomes available. To subscribe, click here.


PDF File: complaint_2023.pdf
View or Download PDF >

PDF File: charges_2023.pdf
View or Download PDF >

Consumer Health Digest, Issue #24-13

FDA warns about pain-relief products containing excessive drug doses. Researchers raise doubts about CBD products promoted for pain relief. FDA criticized for settling lawsuit by ivermectin-misinformation promoters. Lawsuit alleges Women’s Cancer Fund is sham charity. FDA warns about pain-relief products containing excessive drug doses. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers not to use certain over-the-counter analgesic (pain relief) products marketed for use on the skin to relieve pain before, during, or after cosmetic procedures such as microdermabrasion, laser hair removal, tattooing and piercing. [FDA warns consumers to avoid certain topical pain relief products due to potential for dangerous health effects. FDA news release, March 26, 2024] Some of these products are labeled to contain ingredients such as lidocaine at concentrations higher …

Continue Reading >
  • FDA warns about pain-relief products containing excessive drug doses.
  • Researchers raise doubts about CBD products promoted for pain relief.
  • FDA criticized for settling lawsuit by ivermectin-misinformation promoters.
  • Lawsuit alleges Women’s Cancer Fund is sham charity.

FDA warns about pain-relief products containing excessive drug doses. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers not to use certain over-the-counter analgesic (pain relief) products marketed for use on the skin to relieve pain before, during, or after cosmetic procedures such as microdermabrasion, laser hair removal, tattooing and piercing. [FDA warns consumers to avoid certain topical pain relief products due to potential for dangerous health effects. FDA news release, March 26, 2024] Some of these products are labeled to contain ingredients such as lidocaine at concentrations higher than what is permitted for over-the-counter, topical pain-relief products. The FDA is aware of reports of adverse events related to these products. When these products are applied in ways that could lead to increased absorption through the skin, they can result in serious injury such as irregular heartbeat, seizures, and breathing difficulties. These products may also interact with medications or dietary supplements a consumer is taking. The FDA has issued warning letters for marketing these products in violation of federal law to six companies:

The FDA has warned consumers about similar products over the past decade. It recommends against:

  • using over-the-counter (OTC) pain-relief products with more than 4% lidocaine on the skin
  • applying OTC pain-relief products heavily over large areas of skin or to irritated or broken skin
  • wrapping skin treated with OTC pain-relief products with plastic wrap or other dressings, which can increase the chance of serious side effects

Researchers raise doubts about CBD products promoted for pain relief. Based on their literature review of cannabidiol (CBD) products’ purity, harmful effects, and effectiveness, researchers from the U.K. and the University of Alberta have concluded: “For people living with pain, the evidence for CBD or hemp extract shows it is expensive, does not work, and is possibly harmful.” [Moore A, and others. Cannabidiol (CBD) products for pain: Ineffective, expensive, and with potential harms. The Journal of Pain, 25(4):833-842, 2024] Their key findings were:

  • CBD products have varying amounts of CBD, from none to much more than advertised.
  • CBD products may contain other chemicals that may be harmful.
  • Out of 16 randomized clinical trials for pain using pharmaceutical CBD in oral, buccal/sublingual, and topical forms, 15 found no greater pain-relieving effect for CBD than for placebo.
  • Meta-analyses link CBD to increased rates of serious adverse events and liver toxicity.

FDA criticized for settling lawsuit by ivermectin-misinformation promoters. Business columnist Michael Hiltzik has criticized the FDA for settling a lawsuit brought by three physicians in 2022 claiming the FDA’s advisories improperly discouraged the use of the anti-parasite drug ivermectin for treating or preventing COVID-19. [Hiltzik M. FDA shoots itself in the foot by settling a groundless lawsuit over its ivermectin warnings. Los Angeles Times, March 26, 2024] The agency settled the case by agreeing to delete three social media posts and a consumer advisory titled “Why You Should Not Use Ivermectin to Treat or Prevent COVID-19.” A federal judge in Texas had thrown out their case, but the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated it last year, returning it to the original judge for reconsideration. Hiltzik reported the FDA said it chose to resolve this lawsuit rather than continuing to litigate over statements that are between two and nearly four years old. Hiltzik called the settlement a blunder, however, because:

  • “It leaves on the books the 5th Circuit’s adverse ruling, in which a panel of three judges found that the FDA’s advisory crossed the line from informing consumers, which they said is all right, to recommending that consumers take some action, which they said is not all right.”
  • The 5th Circuit’s ruling was a misinterpretation of the law, which might be used to litigate against the FDA for:
    • current consumer advisories such as “Don’t believe the hype. . . Some unscrupulous providers offer stem cell products that are both unapproved and unproven. So, beware of potentially dangerous procedures.”
    • future advisories that discourage product misuse.
  • Unwary consumers may be misled by announcements from the plaintiffs’ camp, such as:

Lawsuit alleges Women’s Cancer Fund is sham charity. The Federal Trade Commission and 10 states are suing Cancer Recovery Foundation International (also known as Women’s Cancer Fund) and its operator, Gregory B. Anderson, for deceiving donors. The 10 states are California, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin. [FTC, 10 states take action against operator of sham cancer charity for deceiving donors. FTC press release, March 11, 2024] The government’s complaint, filed in federal court, alleges:

  • Between 2017 and 2022, Women’s Cancer Fund collected more than $18.25 million from donors, promising donors their gift would go to directly help cancer patients and their families who were in need and assist them with basic living expenses such as rent, utilities, and food for their children. Instead, however, the overwhelming majority of the donations benefited Anderson and the for-profit fundraisers he hired.
  • Only $194,809—roughly 1%— was spent directly on helping women with cancer, while Anderson paid himself over $775,139 and paid the for-profit fundraisers he worked with over $15.55 million (85% of the total raised). The remaining amount went to paying for defendants’ overhead expenses.

Consumer Health Digest is a free weekly e-mail newsletter edited by William M. London, Ed.D., M.P.H., with help from Stephen Barrett, M.D., It summarizes scientific reports; legislative developments; enforcement actions; other news items; Web site evaluations; recommended and nonrecommended books; research tips; and other information relevant to consumer protection and consumer decision-making. The Digest’s primary focus is on health, but occasionally it includes non-health scams and practical tips. Items posted to this archive may be updated when relevant information becomes available. To subscribe, click here.


Consumer Health Digest, Issue #24-12

Sham health insurance seller Benefytt Technologies must refund $100 million. Investigation spotlights misleading videos discouraging hormonal contraception. Doctor in Australia banned from offering naturopathic cancer treatments. Sham health insurance seller Benefytt Technologies must refund $100 million. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has announced that Benefytt Technologies has agreed to a settlement that: (a) requires the company to pay $100 million that will provide refunds to 463,629 consumers; and (b) prohibits the company from lying about its products or charging illegal junk fees. Separate orders permanently banned Benefytt’s former CEO (Gavin D. Southwell) and a former vice president of sales (Amy E. Brady) from selling or marketing any healthcare-related product. The former vice president was also banned from telemarketing. [FTC sends nearly $100 million in refunds …

Continue Reading >
  • Sham health insurance seller Benefytt Technologies must refund $100 million.
  • Investigation spotlights misleading videos discouraging hormonal contraception.
  • Doctor in Australia banned from offering naturopathic cancer treatments.

Sham health insurance seller Benefytt Technologies must refund $100 million. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has announced that Benefytt Technologies has agreed to a settlement that: (a) requires the company to pay $100 million that will provide refunds to 463,629 consumers; and (b) prohibits the company from lying about its products or charging illegal junk fees. Separate orders permanently banned Benefytt’s former CEO (Gavin D. Southwell) and a former vice president of sales (Amy E. Brady) from selling or marketing any healthcare-related product. The former vice president was also banned from telemarketing. [FTC sends nearly $100 million in refunds to consumers harmed by Benefytt Technologies’ sham health plans. FTC press release, March 18, 2024]

According to the FTC’s August 2022 complaint:

  • Benefytt and its third-party partners operated a series of deceptive websites that targeted consumers who were searching for comprehensive health insurance plans that qualified under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
  • Sales agents pitched Benefytt’s sham plans even though they were not ACA-qualified health plans and lacked key elements.
  • Consumers were led to believe they were buying comprehensive health insurance and were then charged hundreds of dollars per month for Benefytt products and services that often left them unprotected.

Investigation spotlights misleading videos discouraging hormonal contraception. According to a report by The Washington Post, popular videos on TikTok, Instagram, and other social media platforms targeting teens and young adults are vilifying hormonal contraception, including birth control pills and intrauterine devices, and often spreading misinformation. [Weber L, Malhi S. Women are getting off birth control amid misinformation explosion. The Washington Post, March 21, 2024] Examples include:

  • A video by Nicole Bendayan, 29, about how she got off birth control and became a “cycle-syncing nutritionist” who teaches women how to live “in tune” with their menstrual cycles, has been viewed 10.5 million times. Bendayan, while not a licensed medical specialist, has more than one million combined followers on Instagram and TikTok for her holistic-health coaching business. She claims birth control depletes various vitamin and mineral levels. According to the report, she charges hundreds of dollars for a three-month virtual program that includes analyses of blood panels for what she calls hormonal imbalances. Like some other social media influencers, she promotes unproven hormone balancing regimes. Following an inquiry by The Washington Post, TikTok removed at least five videos linking birth control to mental health issues and other problems, including one in which Bendayan falsely claimed certain forms of birth control could make users more susceptible to sexually transmitted infections.
  • A video in which Brett Cooper, a media commentator for the conservative Daily Wire, argued falsely that birth control can impact fertility, cause women to gain weight, and even alter their perception of who they find attractive. The video received more than 200,000 likes but TikTok removed it following The Washington Post’s inquiry.

The Washington Post report notes that few data are available about the extent of the birth control misinformation problem. It also discusses a journal article published last year by Duke University Medical Center researchers who identified the top 100 videos on TikTok tagged #IUD. Fifty-three of the videos presented scientific claims in English. Of those, 51% were rated highly accurate, 19% were moderately accurate, 19% moderately inaccurate, and 6% highly inaccurate. [Wu J, and others. TikTok, #IUD, and user experience with intrauterine devices reported on social media. Obstetrics & Gynecology 141:215-217, 2023]

Another Post article discusses: (a) the more than 99% effectiveness of long-acting reversible contraceptives (Nexplanon implant and IUDs); (b) side effects of birth control pills and IUDs; (c) the effectiveness of fertility awareness-based methods (natural family planning); (d) the lack of evidence of a definitive link between birth control pills and weight gain; (e) the rarity of negative mood changes for women taking oral contraceptives; and (f) the lack of evidence birth control causes personality changes or has an impact on your perception of who you find attractive. [Malhi S, Weber L. Debunking common birth-control misconceptions. The Washington Post, March 21, 2024]

Doctor in Australia banned from offering naturopathic cancer treatments. South Australia’s Health and Community Services Complaints Commissioner has imposed an interim prohibition order (IPO) prohibiting Dr. Karl “Horst” Poehlmann of Barossa Naturopaths at Angaston from:

  • “providing health services, namely naturopathy” to treat cancer and cancer-related symptoms
  • “offering, advertising, or otherwise promoting” naturopathy as a cancer treatment option

The IPO will last up to 12 weeks but could be renewed if investigations continue. The commissioner said the action was in response to “allegations about the provision of an inappropriate diet plan and ozone therapy.” Dr. Poehlmann is not among the listed health practitioners on the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency website.

The Barossa Naturopaths website stated that Poehlmann:

  • “graduated as a medical doctor from the University of Erlangen” in Germany
  • had a PhD in “radiation treatments in cancer”
  • was proficient in “numerous healing modalities like acupuncture, chiropractics [sic], neural therapy, homoeopathy, resonance treatment . . . and so many others that it makes no sense to try and list them all”
  • was over 80 and still working

Poehlmann told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation he had retired and the claims against him related to information he had provided to a friend. [Naturopath banned from promoting service as cancer treatment after health complaint. ABC News (Australia), March 20, 2024]

Consumer Health Digest is a free weekly e-mail newsletter edited by William M. London, Ed.D., M.P.H., with help from Stephen Barrett, M.D., It summarizes scientific reports; legislative developments; enforcement actions; other news items; Web site evaluations; recommended and nonrecommended books; research tips; and other information relevant to consumer protection and consumer decision-making. The Digest’s primary focus is on health, but occasionally it includes non-health scams and practical tips. Items posted to this archive may be updated when relevant information becomes available. To subscribe, click here.


Consumer Health Digest: Index of COVID-19 News Briefs

Consumer Health Digest is a free weekly e-mail newsletter edited by William M. London, Ed.D., M.P.H., with help from Stephen Barrett, M.D. It summarizes scientific reports; legislative developments; enforcement actions; news reports; Web site evaluations; recommended and nonrecommended books; and other information relevant to consumer protection and consumer decision-making. The Digest’s primary focus is on health, but occasionally it includes non-health scams and practical tips. This page indexes our information about COVID-19. They are arranged by topics with the most recent briefs first. To subscribe to Consumer Health Digest, click here. Chiropractors Anti-COVID-vaccine chiropractors in Kansas spotlighted (10/17/21) Vaccination alarmism by chiropractors spotlighted (10/10/21) School district stops accepting mask opt-out forms signed by chiropractors (9/5/21) Georgia chiropractors discouraging COVID-19 vaccination (5/23/21) Misinformation by chiropractors about COVID-19 scrutinized (11/22/20) …

Continue Reading >

Consumer Health Digest is a free weekly e-mail newsletter edited by William M. London, Ed.D., M.P.H., with help from Stephen Barrett, M.D. It summarizes scientific reports; legislative developments; enforcement actions; news reports; Web site evaluations; recommended and nonrecommended books; and other information relevant to consumer protection and consumer decision-making. The Digest’s primary focus is on health, but occasionally it includes non-health scams and practical tips. This page indexes our information about COVID-19. They are arranged by topics with the most recent briefs first. To subscribe to Consumer Health Digest, click here.

Chiropractors

Civil and Criminal Actions

Consumer Behavior

Consumer Protection

Consumer Resources

Court Decisions and Orders

Dietary Supplements

Drugs (Questionable)

Homeopathy

Hucksters

Licensing Board Actions

“Miracle Mineral Solution”

Misinformation

Naturopaths

Silver Products

Warnings to Marketers