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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 #6-52, December 26, 2006
- Long-term study finds no cell phone-cancer connection
- FTC gets more power to stop foreign spammers
- Leading “NICO” proponent facing disciplinary action
- Major nutrition text updated
Issue #6-51, December 19, 2006
- Suit against Atkins diet dismissed
- Herbal regimen found ineffective against menopausal symptoms
- Iowa enjoins “See Clearly” sales
- Researchers express doubts about alleged weight-loss supplements
Issue #6-50, December 12, 2006
- FTC conducts massive funeral home investigation
- Doctor facing disciplinary action for use of a black salve
- Major report on low-carbohydrate diets issued
- ConsumerLab tests probiotics
- CSICOP changes its name
- California Supreme Court weakens libel protection
- FTC halts phony height-gain product
- Court enjoins cancer/AIDS quack
- Quackwatch fundraising appeal
Issue #6-48, November 28, 2006
- Claims for “spinal decompression” tables attacked
- Century Wellness Center owner indicted
- FTC unveils massive document archive
Issue #6-47, November 21, 2006
- Report rips Save-A-Life Foundation and Dr. Henry Heimlich
- Popular “nutritionist” ordered to stop marketing unregistered products
- Dubious autism treatment provider may lose medical license
- Quackery-related libel suit dropped
Issue #6-46, November 14, 2006
- Questionable clinic will close
- Leading quackery historian dies
- Canada issues senseless homeopathic regulations
- Killer chelationist facing disciplinary action
- “Delusional” chiropractor loses license
- Mercola defies FDA
- Vitamin-mineral supplements unlikely to protect against atherosclerosis.
- Policosanol flunks major test.
- Mannatech claims criticized
- Campaign launched against bogus diabetes products
- Another chelation therapist disciplined
- New guidelines on nutrition and physical activity for cancer prevention
- British agency raps hair test for “food intolerance”
- FTC hits ” reducing soap” marketers
- Congressional candidate tied to improper human experiments
- Mercola gets second warning letter
- Workers’ Comp costs reduced in California
- “Personal belief” vaccination exemptions lead to higher pertussis rates
- Serious disease outbreak traced to “organic” food marketer
- Dr. Phil suit class-action suit settled
- Products seized from MLM company
- Xango warned about illegal claims
Issue #6-39, September 26, 2006
- Dateline stings infomercial industry
- “Integrated oral medicine” specialist disciplined
- Delicensed chiropractor sentenced for insurance fraud
Issue #6-38, September 19, 2006
- “Alternative” cancer treatments fail to stop cancer progression
- Q-Ray marketers hit with huge penalty
- Unconventional hyperthermia advocate disciplined
- Anti-spam help
Issue #6-37, September 12, 2006
- Consumers Union criticizes nursing home industry
- Waxman hits deceptive pregnancy information services
- Former BALCO medical director facing disciplinary action
Issue #6-36, September 5, 2006
- N.C. “Lyme specialist” disciplined
- Online pharmacies accused of selling counterfeit drugs
- MLM company hit by seizure
- “Health freedom” crusader dies at age 70
- Prominent panel issues interim recommendations for health care reform
- High court agrees that subluxation-based chiropractor recommended excessive care
- Herbal sleep aid found to contain prescription drug
- New information revealed in Shantha case
- Appeal court upholds FDA ephedra ban
- Waxman concludes that FDA enforcement is too lax
- Pertussis outbreak reported in Delaware
- Sun soup marketers ordered to curb cancer claims
- Allergy group debunks “alternative” approaches
- Pancreatitis associated with saw palmetto use
- FTC wants domain ownership easy to identify
- Gentle Wind Project facing dissolution
- Fluoride exposure during pregnancy found unnecessary for developing teeth
- Chiropractic imposter pleads guilty to health care fraud
- Slim evidence that dietary supplements affect cancer outcome
- Chiropractic leaders reaffirm subluxation beliefs
- “Toxic mold specialist” facing additional charges
- Obesity surgery reported to have high complication rates
- Seasilver facing huge penalty
- Laser therapy for smoking cessation attacked
- ACSH artificial sweetener report updated
- Prescription ingredients found in “dietary supplement” sex aids
- Investigations uncover irresponsible homeopathic prescribing
- Hellfried Sartori arrested in Thailand
- Philip Morris “good guy” image attacked
- Marriott goes smoke-free
- New edition of Consumer Health published
- Kevin Trudeau’s “secret” source revealed
- Canadian study finds no autism-vaccine connection
- Mercury scaremongers sharply criticized in judge’s ruling
- Hawaii governor vetoes anti-thimerosal bill
- De-licensed podiatrist reinstated
- Dangerous accident/insurance fraud ring busted
- New Medicare scams reported
- New Zealand court fines “anti-cellulite” product marketers
- Should “junk foods” be regulated like tobacco products?
- FTC requests help in stopping “business opportunity” scams
- Surgeon General blasts environmental tobacco smoke
- Many garlic supplements flunk quality tests
- “Biological dentists” charged with unprofessional conduct in California
- Chinese stem cell clinic blasted
- Chiropractors sentenced to prison for miscoding VAX-D claims.
- Study examines unnecessary medical testing
- Percentage of Americans without health insurance coverage is increasing
- Los Angeles Times hits “holistic dentistry”
- California authorities warn against ozone-producing air cleaners
- Unlicensed naturopath facing prison sentence
- PAHO promoting salt fluoridation
- Heimlich maneuver irresponsibly plugged as drowning treatment.
- Fifth state enacts “fire-safe” cigarette law
- Don Lapre gets another warning letter
- James Shortt, M.D., convicted, delicensed, and sued twice.
- New book on homeopathy in America
- Cavitat/Aetna suit settled
- WebMD fostering vitamin scam
- British professors oppose CAM coverage
- Chiropractic group endorses prepaid contracts
- Comprehensive dietary supplement reports issued
- Chiropractors threaten transportation authority
- ConsumerLab’s libel suit against CRN moves forward
- German study finds no cholesterol-lowering with policosanol
- Major weight-loss scammers sign FTC consent agreement.
- New medical search engine
- FDA rejects green tea/cardiovascular health claim.
- Delicensed chiropractor facing probable prison term.
- “Toxic mold expert” curbed
- Oncologist receives long prison sentence for short-changing patients
- Utah BBB warns against Ultralife Fitness
- Undercover investigators expose chiropractic insurance fraud
- Unlicensed psychologist charged with insurance fraud
- FTC issues report on childhood obesity
- “Black salve” marketer confronted
- Man posing as doctor arrested for offering free breast exams
- Chiropractor pleads guilty to massive insurance fraud
- Medicare/Medicaid antifraud program will increase sharply
- Stem cell swindlers charged with fraud
Issue #06-16, April 18, 2006
- Children’s weight-loss product marketers settle FTC charges
- Two studies find amalgam safe for children
- UK General Medical Council lists dubious medical schools
- “Alternative” physician agrees to inactivate license
Issue #06-15, April 11, 2006
- Study undercuts major aromatherapy claim
- Aetna updates its chiropractic coverage policy
- Cancer fraudster indicted
Issue #06-14, April 4, 2006
- Remote prayer fails to help cardiac bypass patients
- Temporary injunction issued against “See Clearly” marketers
- Doctor indicted for bogus stem-cell scheme
- Online journal notes chiropractic educational shortcomings
Issue #06-13, March 28, 2006
- PBS broadcasts misleading “integrated medicine”report
- Consumers Union pans hoodia
- Unlicensed naturopath receives 13-year sentence
- FDA warns WaterOz about illegal claims
- Dental imposter arrested
Issue #06-12, March 21, 2006
- Study gives local health news poor ratings
- Philip Morris must pay $80+ million to smoker’s widow
- Organic hype challenged
- Air abrasion dentist’s revocation upheld
Issue #06-11, March 14, 2006
- New rules for drug package inserts
- FTC nails Garden of Life
- FDA trying to stop sale of steroid-containing “dietary supplements”
- Mannatech class-action suits consolidated
- Pennsylvania Attorney General stops prescription drug plan scam
Issue #06-10, March 7, 2006
- New consumer guide to managing coronary heart disease
- Another chelation therapist loses license
- Shantha’s license suspended
Issue #06-09, February 28, 2006
- Glucosamine, condroitin flunk major clinical trial
- Proprietor of dubious scoliosis clinic charged with insurance fraud
- Utah poised to undermine consumer protection
- FDA initiates seizure of more ephedra products
Issue #06-08, February 21, 2006
- FDA drafts “whole grain” label definition
- Barbara Brewitt ordered to curb homeopathic marketing
- Health Canada issues chaparral warning
Issue #06-07, February 14, 2006
- Berkeley Premium Nutraceuticals hit with more charges
- Dubious credentialing program sued for trademark infringement
- Unlicensed naturopath pleads guilty to homicide and other charges
- Chiropractor gives up Iowa license
Issue #06-06, February 7, 2006
- Donsbach’s clinic closed; victim files suit
- Juice Plus+ marketing criticized
- Mitchell Ghen charged with unlicensed medical practice
- FTC reins in false ad creator
Issue #06-05, January 31, 2006
- Coretta Scott King dies in Mexican cancer clinic
- “Nutritional/metabolic” physician disciplined
- Cell Tech sued for wrongful death
- ConsumerLab pans hoodia supplements
Issue #06-04, January 24, 2006
- Zinc nasal spray marketers settle class-action lawsuit
- Eight people indicted in diploma mill scheme
- Kevin Trudeau company has unsatisfactory BBB rating
- Illinois stops dubious heart screenings of student athletes
Issue #06-03, January 17, 2006
- Huge insurance scam uncovered
- Texas chelationist disciplined for false advertising
- FTC curbs deceptive tooth-whitener and weight-loss-patch telemarketers
- MedlinePlus posts junk report promoting homeopathy
- Avatar investigation urged
Issue #06-02, January 10, 2006
- New report blasts MLM industry
- California appeals court upholds insurance fraud ruling
- Adelle Davis book harms another child
- FDA device approval loophole criticized
- Eli Lilly fined $36 million for off-label promotion
Issue #06-01, January 3, 2006
- Top mail-order scammer settles FTC charges
- Amway / Quixtar critique available
- British experts question ozone tooth-decay treatment
- “Alternative” clinic operator convicted of health care fraud
