Consumer HealthFraud and Quackery

Issues

Misleading Information Quackery and Health Fraud Problems with Products Problems with Services Problems with Costs The Need for Consumer Protection Intelligent Consumer Behavior

Issue 7

Intelligent Consumer Behavior

Seek reliable sources of information Maintain a healthy lifestyle Select practitioners with care Assess own health Active health & illness management Use scientifically substantiated health

products and services Understand costs of health and illness Report fraud

Healthy People 2010

Health Communication Health professional-

patient relations Individuals’

exposure to, search for, and use of health information

Individuals’ adherence to clinical recommendations

Construction of public health messages & campaigns

Dissemination of individual & population health risk information

Images of health in the mass media and the culture at large

Education of consumers about how to gain access to health care systems

Develop telehealth applications

Healthy People 2010

Effective Health Communication

Accuracy Availability Balance Consistency Cultural

competence

Evidence base Reach Reliability Repetition Timeliness Understandability

Issue 2

Quackery and Health Fraud

Definitions Hazards Extent of the Problem Characteristics of Victims Misconceptions Recognizing Quackery Conspiracies?

Definitions

QuakerySelling unproven remedies

Quacks Health Fraud

Promotion, for profit, of a medical remedy known to be false or unproven

Hazards

Direct risksResults in injuries orAdverse reactions

Indirect RisksKeeps someone away from proven,

sometimes essential, medical treatment

Extent of the Problem

$15 billion per year $1 billion on arthritis

60% of patients try questionable diets Top 10 health fraud products &

schemesArthritis, AIDS, sexual aids, cancer,

weight-loss, baldness, nutrition, muscle stimulators, chelation, yeast infections

Characteristics of Victims

Faced withChronic suffering, Deformity, Death

Lack of suspicion Desperation Alienation Belief in magic Overconfidence

Misconceptions

Quacks are frauds and crooks Most quackery is dangerous The media are reliable Personal to experience is best way to

tell if a treatment works

Recognizing

Promise a quick or painless cure Claim to be made from a special, secret, or ancient

formula — often only available by mail or from one sponsor

Use testimonials or undocumented case histories from satisfied patients

Claim to be effective for a wide range of ailments Claim to cure a disease (such as arthritis or cancer)

that is not yet understood by medical science Offer an additional “free” gift or a larger amount of the

product as a “special promotion,” or Require advance payment and claim limited availability

of the product

Pure Emu Oil

One product does all" ... extremely beneficial in the

treatment of rheumatism, arthritis ... infections ... prostate problems, ulcers ... cancer, heart trouble, hardening of the arteries, diabetes and more. ... “

"completely eliminating the gangrene ...”

"... antibiotic, pain reliever ... ."

Pure Emu Oil

Personal testimonials"Alzheimer's Disease!!! My husband has

Alzheimer. ... he began eating 1 teaspoon full of ... Pure Emu Oil each day. ... Now (in just 22 days) he mowed the grass, cleaned out the garage, weeded the flower beds, and we take our morning walk again. It hasn't helped his memory much yet, but he is more like himself again!!!"

Pure Emu Oil

Quick fixes"... eliminates skin cancer in days! ..."

FDA determined that a pure emu oil product marketed to treat or cure a wide range of diseases was an unapproved drug. Its marketer had never submitted to FDA data to support the product's safe and effective use.

Weight Loss Product as Alternative to Prescription Drug

Promises of Easy Weight Loss “Finally, rapid weight loss without dieting”

Paranoid Accusations "Drug companies make it nearly impossible

for doctors to resist prescribing their expensive pills for what ails you ... .“

"It seems these billion dollar drug giants all have one relentless competitor in common they all constantly fear--natural remedies."

Weight Loss Product as Alternative to Prescription Drug

Meaningless jargon"... Hunger Stimulation Point (HSP) ...“"... thermogenesis, which converts

stored fats into soluble lipids ...“"One of the many natural ingredients

is inolitol hexanicontinate."

Weight Loss Product as Alternative to Prescription Drug

FDA issued an import alert for a Canadian-made weight-loss product whose claims compared the product with two prescription weight-loss drugs taken off the market after FDA determined they posed a health hazard.

Over-the-counter transdermal weight-loss patch

“Natural”"Healthy, simple and natural-way to

help you lose and control your weight."

Time-Tested or new-Found Treatment"This revolutionary innovation is

formulated by using proven principles of natural health based upon 200 years of medical science."

Over-the-counter transdermal weight-loss patch

Satisfaction Guaranteed"... Guarantee: If after 30 days ... you

have not lost at least 4 pounds each week, ... your uncashed check will be returned to you ... ."

Over-the-counter transdermal weight-loss patch

FDA issued a warning letter to the marketer of the weight-loss product described here because it did not have an approved new drug application. Because of the newness of the dosage form--skin-delivery systems--FDA requires evidence of effectiveness, in the form of a new drug application, before the product can be marketed legally.

Recognizing

One product does all

Testimonials Quick fixes Promises easy

weight loss Paranoid

accusations

Jargon Natural Time-tested New-found

treatment Satisfaction

guaranteed

Conspiracies?

Paranoid Accusations Gets consumer attention Suggests providers & manufacturers are

working together• to promote only company products• for financial gain

Ask Where is the evidence? Would major of health-care people block

treatment

Resources

HealthFinder (www.healthfinder.gov) Intelihealth (www.intelihealth.com). Mayo Clinic (www.mayoclinic.com). Medical Library Association (

www.mlanet.org). Mental Help Net (www.mentalhelp.net) National Health Council (

www.nationalhealthcouncil.org). National Library of Medicine (

www.nlm.nih.gov)

Checking Out a Product

Talk to a doctor or another health professional

Talk to family members and friends Check with the Better Business

Bureau or local attorneys generals' offices

Check with health professional groups Contact the FDA office

Summary

Definitions Hazards Extent of the Problem Characteristics of Victims Misconceptions Recognizing Quackery Conspiracies?