FTC News Release
March 30, 1995
David Green, MD, has agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that he deceptively advertised as pain-free and permanent his varicose vein and spider vein treatments. Green offers the treatments through The Varicose Vein Center he operates in Bethesda, Maryland. The FTC alleged that Green could not back up representations he made about the permanence, success rate, and lack of pain associated with the treatments. The FTC settlement would prohibit Green from making various representations about any vein treatment or cosmetic surgery procedure he markets in the future unless he first has scientific substantiation to support the claims.
Green operates The Varicose Vein Center as a sole proprietorship in Bethesda, and has advertised his treatments, known as sclerotherapy in magazines, newspapers and through promotional brochures and pamphlets. This is the second case in which the FTC has challenged advertising for varicose and spider vein treatments, and this case follows on the heels of several other FTC cases in which the agency challenged the truthfulness of advertising for several medical procedures, including cosmetic surgery, in vitro fertilization and other surgical procedures.
According to the FTC complaint detailing the allegations in this case, Green has represented without adequate evidence in various advertisements and promotional materials that:
- his treatments permanently eliminate spider veins and varicose veins;
- more than 95 percent of the varicose and spider veins treated at his clinic are eliminated for at least a significant period of time; and
- patients do not experience any pain.
The proposed consent agreement to settle the FTC charges, announced today for public comment, would require Green to have competent and reliable scientific evidence to substantiate any claim he makes in the future, in connection with any venous disease treatment or other cosmetic surgery procedure, regarding:
- the permanence or duration of any results;
- the success or recurrence rate;
- the nature, duration or intensity of any pain; and
- the risks, side effects or recovery period.
The settlement also contains various reporting requirements that would assist the FTC in monitoring Green’s compliance.
The Commission vote to accept the proposed consent agreement for public comment was 4-0.
Related Documents
- In the Matter of David Green (d/b/a The Varicose Vein Center). FTC Docket No. C-3589, FTC File No. 942-3052.
This page was posted on December 23, 2005.
