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Consumer Health Digest is a free weekly e-mail newsletter edited by Stephen Barrett, M.D., and cosponsored by NCAHF and Quackwatch. 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. William M. London, Ed.D, M.P.H., is associate editor. Items posted to this archive may be updated when relevant information becomes available.
Issue #05-52, December 27, 2005
- FTC issues spam report
- Tighter controls slash workers’ comp payments to chiropractors and physical therapists
- “Anti-aging expert” convicted of income tax evasion
- License of alleged cancer scammer suspended
Issue #05-51, December 20, 2005
- Alleged cancer scammers indicted
- Top “CAM” researcher slams homeopathy
- Eyeglass World settles with Florida Attorney General
- For-profit clinical trial industry criticized
- Dental journal offers temporary free access
Issue #05-50, December 13, 2005
- Bee sting therapy found ineffective against multiple sclerosis
- Washington Attorney General attacks another EDT practitioner
- FDA attacks fraudulent avian flu therapies
- Massage group denounces “fringe” practices
- Quackwatch fundraising appeal
Issue #05-49, December 6, 2005
- Heimlich severely criticized
- Center of Inquiry headquarters expands
- Prominent antiquackery activist dies
- FTC expresses optimism about spam control
Issue #05-48, November 29, 2005
- California charter school stops advocating medical qigong
- Texas attacks dubious health “discount card” plans
- Texas disciplines chelationist
- Compounding pharmacists accused in hydrogen peroxide death
Issue #05-47, November 22, 2005
- Documents in Aetna/Cavitat case suggest widespread fraud
- Texas Attorney General stops alleged fake flu vaccine scheme
- James Shortt, M.D., facing multiple legal problems
- Questionable product alleged to “enhance” stem cell activity
Issue #05-46, November 15, 2005
- FTC, FDA warn “natural” hormone sellers
- Berkeley manager indicted
- Mesotherapy causes severe skin infections
- Dietitians update fluoridation endorsement
- Recidivist con man fined again
- Doctor who facilitated dubious cancer treatment surrenders license
Issue #05-45, November 8, 2005
- Anti-fraud activity increased for new Medicare drug program
- ACOG warns against “bioidentical hormone therapy” and saliva testing
- FTC stops another diet pill scam
- Another alleged chelation death reported
- Maryland medical center site loaded with misinformation
Issue #05-44, November 1, 2005
- Acupuncture fails to prevent nausea during gastroscopy
- Kevin Trudeau accused of violating customer privacy
- Texas penalizes “anti-aging” doctors
Issue #05-43, October 25, 2005
- Researchers urge crackdown on illegal HGH sales
- Microwave cancer therapy criticized
- Cherry juice marketers told to stop illegal claims
Issue #05-42, October 18, 2005
- CBS criticized for promoting unfounded thyroid notions
- Direct-to-consumer drug ads debated at Senate hearing
- Court bans “free prescriptions” scam
- Tennessee medical board limits chelation therapy
- Rheumatologists skeptical of “natural” remedies
- Institute of Medicine’s “CAM” report blasted
Issue #05-41, October 11, 2005
- NBTY hit for $2 million penalty.
- “Supreme Greens with MSM” marketers settle FTC charges.
- HGH spammers ordered to stop
- ADA updates fluoridation booklet
- Judge dismisses Barrett libel suit
Issue #05-40, October 4, 2005
- “Dr. Phil” McGraw facing class-action lawsuit
- Bogus device operator hit for large penalties
- Flagrant vitamin scammer ordered to halt illegal claims
- FTC spearheads Internet consumer protection alliance
- New book about vaccine shortages
Issue #05-39, September 27, 2005
- Congressman calls for reducing drug company profits to help disaster areas
- CortiSlim/CortiStress marketers hit for $4.5 million penalty
- Suit against Atkins estate permitted to go forward
- Acupuncture found ineffective for stroke rehabilitation
- Study suggests that “ephedra-free” diet pills are not risk-free
- AIDS kills child of prominent HIV denialist
Issue #05-38, September 20, 2005
- “Toxic mold expert” facing serious legal problems
- Medical qigong at charter school challenged
- More weight-loss patch scammers penalized
- Cancer fund scammer sentenced to prison
- Former chelation therapist pleads guilty to health fraud
- George Kindness pleads guilty to criminal misbranding
Issue #05-37, September 13, 2005
- Mannatech investors file class-action suits
- Metabolife files for bankruptcy
- TrimSpa marketers settle with New Jersey Attorney General
- Folic acid fortification drops birth-defect rate
Issue #05-36, September 6, 2005
- Drugstore.com sues Dr. Andrew Weil
- FDA women’s health director resigns in protest
- Tanning salon operators failing to give proper warnings
- Apple cider vinegar tablets criticized
- Quackwatch debunks Clayton College of Natural Health
Issue #05-35, August 30, 2005
- Lancet blasts homeopathy
- Courts rule against two Trudeau lawsuits
- Whole-body hyperthermia practitioner facing serious charges
- Social workers attack inappropriate restraint
- Doctor charged with facilitating dubious cancer treatment
Issue #05-34, August 23, 2005
- Autistic 5-year-old dies during chelation
- New report calls obesity “epidemic”
- FTC snuffs “”Smoke Away”
- U.S. “Do-Not-Call” list tops 100 million
- Medical impostor receives jail sentence
- British regulators nix fiber supplement ad
- Picketing of Christian Science church announced
Issue #05-33, August 16, 2005
- Iowa Attorney General charges “See Clearly” sellers with fraud
- Actuaries estimate that secondhand smoke costs over $10 billion a year
- Yet another colloidal silver victim
- Warren Levin disciplined
Issue #05-32, August 9, 2005
- “Natural Cures” book achieves undeserved position on best-seller lists
- Major study finds no cardiac benefit from remote prayer, mental imagery, or “healing touch”
- Eleventh colloidal silver-related argyria case surfaces
- Cigarette promotion expense hits record high in 2003
Issue #05-31, August 2, 2005
- Atkins Nutritionals files for bankruptcy
- New Zealand court fines “water treatment” scammers
- Criminal charges filed against Canadians who operated quack cancer clinics
- Charges filed against Canadian weight-loss clinics
- Court curbs nonaccredited Hawaiian school
- Canadian scammers banned from telemarketing
Issue #05-30, July 26, 2005
- FTC hits Xenadrine marketers
- Prominent British epidemiologist dies
- Health Canada warns against heavy metals in Ayurvedic products
- “AIDS specialist” indicted for subdosing and insurance fraud
- Kava, valerian, flunk Internet-based test
- Young psychic receives lengthy prison sentence
- Skeptic NewsSearch returns
Issue #05-29, July 19, 2005
- Aetna uncovers plot to intimidate dental licensing boards
- Medical Letter updates vitamin supplement recommendations
- Metabolife files for bankruptcy
- Bill would help FDA ban supplements that pose unreasonable risks
- Supplement huckster charged with murder
- Skeptics conference October 13-16 in Brussels
Issue #05-28, July 12, 2005
- Chiropractor ordered to stop doing live blood analysis
- “Top AIDS doctor” surrenders his California license
- Study finds vitamin E and aspirin won’t prevent cancer in women
- BMJ will stop posting letters from “AIDS deniers”
- Astrologer sues NASA over comet crash
Issue #05-27, July 5, 2005
- OIG reports chiropractic overpayment
- FTC slams more phony diet pill marketers
- Ravi Devgan arrested for fraud
- Consumer Reports goofs in article about “alternatives”
Issue #05-26, June 28, 2005
- Aetna countersues bogus device promoters
- California acupuncture board may be abolished
- Unlicensed Rhode Island naturopath may face criminal prosecution
- Australian chelation advocate disciplined.
Issue #05-25, June 21, 2005
- FTC slams HGH spammer
- FDA will appeal Utah ephedra ruling
- Former chelation therapist indicted for insurance fraud
Issue #05-24, June 14, 2005
- Commission recommends charging Dr. Jayant Patel with murder
- FTC hits HGH infomercial
- Chiropractor reprimanded for unexplained care
- National fluoridation symposium program announced
Issue #05-23, June 7, 2005
- Ephedra ruling highlights DSHEA’s pro-quackery intent
- FTC curbs orange juice claims
- WaterOz founder receives 43-year prison sentence
Issue #05-22, May 31, 2005
- Surgeon accused of extraordinary misconduct
- FTC curbs “fact-blocker” claims
- FTC halts sale of inaccurate HIV test kit
- Dubious sex-aid marketers facing class-action suit
Issue #05-21, May 24, 2005
- Shark cartilage fails another clinical trial
- Free Internet conference, June 9
- FDA orders cancer salve marketer to stop
- Master’s Miracle product recalled
Issue #05-20, May 17, 2005
- Swimmer wins lawsuit against multivitamin marketer
- New questions raised about Gary Null’s credentials
- Bogus Liberian medical school under attack
- Prolotherapy practitioner surrenders medical license
Issue #05-19, May 10, 2005
- Sharp rise in physician disciplinary actions
- Consumer Reports compares popular diets
- Australian agency head concerned about juice bar claims
Issue #05-18, May 3, 2005
- Experts alarmed by WHO homeopathy report draft
- Acupuncture no better than sham acupuncture for migraine
- Literature review questions whether milk thistle works against liver disease
- Wisconsin board revokes license of air abrasion dentist
Issue #05-17, April 26, 2005
- AB Energizer marketers agree to pay $2+ million penalty
- N.C. chiropractor imprisoned for insurance fraud
- Stephen Edelson “retires”
- Gerontology group issues anti-quackery book
Issue #05-16, April 19, 2005
- Feds unveil new food guidance system.
- Class-action suit alleges Sharper Image defrauded investors
- Stuart Suster facing criminal charges.
- FDA keeps churning out warning letters
Issue #05-15, April 12, 2005
- Spammer receives 9-year prison sentence
- British groups publish comprehensive fluoridation report
- Chiropractor sentenced for unlicensed practice
- Report predicts chiropractors will remain deeply divided
- Skeptical “CAM” conference May 21
- Quackery exhibit in Philadelphia
Issue #05-14, April 5, 2005
- Mannatech sued for fraud and invasion of privacy
- People’s Medical Society (PMS) in major decline
- “Dr.” Robert O. Young lacks legitimate credentials
- Book blasts diploma mills
Issue #05-13, March 29, 2005
- FDA orders “Vitamin O” marketer to stop illegal claims
- Disciplinary action withdrawn against Robert Sinaiko, M.D.
- Enzyte marketers raided
- Doctors targeted in “advance fee” scams
- Advertisement: The Schopenhauer Cure
Issue #05-12, March 22, 2005
- Oral chelation seller ignores FDA warning
- FTC dismisses spurious complaint against ConsumerLab
- Sleep study marketers indicted for fraud
Issue #05-11, March 15, 2005
- Massive “rent-a-patient” scheme uncovered
- Dr. Joseph Mercola gets FDA warning letter
- Rath Foundation ad criticized
Issue #05-10, March 8, 2005
- Prince Charles issues misguided “CAM” report
- Article about supplements boosting brain function retracted
- Suit targets prominent chiropractic “practice-builders”
Issue #05-09, March 1, 2005
- American Osteopathic Association accused of false advertising
- Ephedra product seized
- Homeopathic products fail to prevent colds
- Naturopath imprisoned for narcotic prescribing
- FTC urged to investigate 7-Day Miracle Cleanse
- Quackwatch launches two new sites
Issue #05-08, February 22, 2005
- Medicare carrier attacks chelation fraud
- Connecticut chelationist restricted
- Court upholds acupuncturist’s license revocation for cancer fraud
- FTC nails Paul Harvey advertiser
- Former laetrile peddler disciplined again
Issue #05-07, February 15, 2005
- Aetna evaluates three more questionable procedures
- “Biological dentist” disciplined again
- Holding therapy stopped in Utah
- Allstate reports results of antifraud campaign
- American Biologics receives another FDA warning letter
- Chiropractic book republished
Issue #05-06, February 8, 2005
- “NICO” practitioners sued for fraud.
- Medical equipment investment swindler receives 15-year sentence.
- Another homeopathic marketer ordered to stop selling “homeopathic vaccine”
- National fluoridation symposium announced.
Issue #05-05, February 1, 2005
- Florida State University kills proposed chiropractic school
- Misleading infomercial driving sales of junk book
- Dubious obesity suit against McDonald’s reinstated
- Many indoor tanning facilities give irresponsible advice
- Bogus British “doctor” gets 10-year prison sentence
Issue #05-04, January 25, 2005
- New dietary guidelines issued
- Kraft plans to modify food advertising policy
- Tobacco giant agrees to pay California $17 million and curb ads targeting youths
- Enforma marketers barred from further marketing of weight-loss products
- Medical Letter pans “Airborne” cold products
Issue #05-03, January 18, 2005
- Quackwatch blasts IOM “CAM” Committee report again
- FDA advisors oppose OTC marketing of cholesterol-lowering drug
- FTC nails Body Wise and Dr. Jesse Stoff
- Chiropractor and two associates accused of massive insurance fraud
Issue #05-02, January 11, 2005
- IOM issues irresponnsible “CAM” report
- Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs Project online
- Illegal Botlinum toxin suppliers curbed
- Unlicensed naturopath raided
Issue #05-01, January 4, 2005
- Discount health plan may be scam
- Little evidence supports organized weight-loss programs
- Mayo study analyzes autism increase
- Casewatch archives FDA warning letters
