Carol Lewis
Cyberspace vendors beware: sell illicit drugs online and be prepared to be shut down. And shut down he was, when drug supplier Jason Vale used the Internet to promote the sale of a false cancer cure. President of Christian Brothers Contracting Corporation based in Queens, N.Y., Vale signed a consent decree of permanent injunction on Nov. 16, 2000, agreeing to stop making and selling amygdalin products, better known as laetrile, vitamin B-17, and apricot kernels. Despite warnings from the Food and Drug Administration, Vale, who operated several Web sites out of the basement of his home, promoted and dispensed these products with false promises that they could prevent, and even cure, cancer. The consent decree, which resulted from inspections of Vale’s home office and several …
More than 75% of Americans over 35 have some form of gum disease. In its earliest stage, your gums might swell and bleed easily. At its worst, you might lose your teeth. The bottom line? If you want to keep your teeth, you must take care of your gums. The mouth is a busy place, with millions of bacteria constantly on the move. While some bacteria are harmless, others can attack the teeth and gums. Harmful bacteria are contained in a colorless sticky film called plaque, the cause of gum disease. If not removed, plaque builds up on the teeth and ultimately irritates the gums and causes bleeding. Left unchecked, bone and connective tissue are destroyed, and teeth often become loose and may have to …
You’ve seen the full-page ads. Dozens of clinics nationwide are touting a new service for health-conscious people: full-body CT scans—high-tech computerized X-rays that promise early warnings for cancer, cardiac disease, and other abnormalities. But these body scans are controversial because the long-term benefits and risks have not been researched. The Food and Drug Administration has approved the CT X-ray system only as a diagnostic tool to be used when symptoms exist, or when there is reason for further testing. But no studies have been done to support using CT scans for screening people without symptoms, or when there is no suspicion or indication of a problem or disease. This is a portion of an ad from a hospital that solicits people over age 40 to …
A Florida couple who admitted using an illegal magnetic device to “treat” thousands of people suffering from the pain of arthritis and other conditions must repay the government nearly three times the amount they received in fraudulent reimbursements. Richard Markoll and his wife, Ernestine Binder Markoll, of Boca Raton, Fla., pleaded guilty to a felony charge of conspiracy to violate the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FD&C; Act). Richard Markoll also pleaded guilty to a felony violation of the FD&C; Act. His wife pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor violation of the Act. In addition, Richard Markoll pleaded guilty to mail fraud on behalf of his corporation, Magnetic Therapy Scovill Street Inc. The Markolls treated over 2,000 people with the Electro-Magnetic Induction Treatment System (EMIT …
