The National Council Against Health Fraud was a nonprofit, tax-exempt voluntary health agency focused upon health fraud, misinformation, and quackery as public health problems. This site, which belongs to long-time NCAHF board member Stephen Barrett, M.D., archives many NCAHF documents that can help people evaluate health claims.
Basic Principles
NCAHF’s founding principles were derived from consumer protection law and the scientific process. Included were the beliefs that:
- “Consumer” is not a special class but a role played by all; everyone in a free enterprise society has a stake in maintaining high standards for health products and services.
- Professionals in the health sciences, academia, law and business as well as government agencies share a responsibility to help consumers protect themselves from deception and exploitation in health-related matters.
- The scientific process is essential for discovering truths and validating health claims and information.
- Health products and services should be:
- proved safe and effective before marketing with proponents bearing the burden of such proof
- accurately labeled or fully described
- truthfully advertised.
- As noted in the Consumer Bill of Rights, consumers have:
- The right to free and informed choice
- The right to accurate information
- The right to safety
- The right to be heard
- The right to consumer education
Activities and Purposes
NCAHF’s activities and purposes included:
- Investigating and evaluating claims made for health products and services.
- Educating consumers, professionals, business people, legislators, law enforcement personnel, organizations and agencies about health fraud, misinformation, and quackery.
- Supporting sound consumer health laws
- Opposing legislation that undermines consumer rights.
- Encouraging and aiding legal actions against those who violate consumer protection laws.
- Sponsoring a free weekly e-mail newsletter.
Privacy
No one collects electronic or personal data from visitors to this site. All e-mail messages are kept confidential, with one exception: Comments about the website may be posted without revealing the identity of the sender.
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