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 #08-52, December 23, 2008
- Slim Chance Awards issued
- FDA warns against undeclared drugs in weight-loss products
- FTC stops another diet pill scammer
Issue #08-51, December 16, 2008
- Fraud and abuse add billions to auto injury payouts
- Damage from HIV/AIDS denial quantified
- Laws to ban drugstore cigarette sales survive initial challenges
- Whistleblower suit for cancer fraud settled
Issue #08-50, December 9, 2008
- Bioesthetic dentistry examined
- Chelation data released
- Gonzalez study stopped
- “Defiant” doctor’s license revoked
Issue #08-49, December 2, 2008
- Studies support generic drug use for cardiovascular problems
- Heimlich-affiliated doctor loses election
- FDA urged to stop sale of homeopathic flu product
- Renegade Canadian physician dies in prison
Issue #08-48, November 25, 2008
- Quackbooster nominated for HHS Secretary
- Autism clinic criticized
- Newspaper ombudsman raps ad for “free” discount card
- Chiropractor’s license suspended for not reporting fraud
Issue #08-47, November 18, 2008
- New Guide to Preventive Services available
- Ginkgo ineffective against dementia
- Whitcomb technique developer charged with unprofessional conduct
- FDA warns about FDA impersonators
Issue #08-46, November 11, 2008
- PharmacyChecker.com issues money-saving tips for drug purchases
- Chiropractors convicted of insurance fraud
- Chelation therapist settles improper billing case
Issue #08-45, November 4, 2008
- Quack device manufacturer issues FDA-prompted “recall”
- Cancer quack loses medical license
- B-vitamin supplements fails to decrease overall cancer incidence
Issue #08-44, October 28, 2008
- Selenium and vitamin E fail to prevent prostate cancer
- Bayer ordered to stop marketing two aspirin products
- Dentist approval of amalgam has increased
Issue #08-43, October 21, 2008
- Cholesterol-lowering “dietary supplements” pose serious problems
- Heimlich associate loses groundless libel suit
- Study finds vitamin C interferes with anti-cancer drugs
Issue #08-42, October 14, 2008
- South African Government acknowledges that AIDS is an HIV infection
- FTC hits major spam network.
- Maryland bans Don Lapre from selling business opportunities
- Trudeau facing $5 million penalty and 3-year infomercial ban
- Autism “pseudo-board” launched
- Alabama tightens school licensing rules
Issue #08-40, September 30, 2008
- Book blasts anti-vaccination scaremongers
- Another major glucosamine trial is negative
- ERSP reports on challenged infomercial claims
Issue #08-39, September 23, 2008
- Enrollment stopped in dubious chelation therapy study
- PBS fundraisers draw complaints
- FTC strengthens unwanted phone-call rules
Issue #08-38, September 16, 2008
- “Stroke doctor” in trouble again
- New book can help parents decide about HPV vaccine
- Illegal Internet drug prescribing is widespread
Issue #08-37, September 9, 2008
- Dental screening test criticized
- Petition targets weight-loss supplements
- Suit against questionable “nutritionist” settled for $1.6 million
Issue #08-36, September 2, 2008
- Outstanding antiquackery book published
- Project Cure scrutinized
- Another study blasts alleged vaccine-autism link
- Bogus device debunked
- Pair arrested for recruiting homeless people as hospital patients
- “Natural health coach” disciplined
- More infections from raw milk reported
- L.A. City Attorney launches insurance fraud Web site
- Mannatech claims attacked
- Airborne settles with FTC
- British homeopath disciplined
- Experts discuss U.S. healthcare reform
- Fluoridation figures updated
- “Natural hygiene” practitioners settle wrongful death suit
- Dutch warn against Simoncini cancer treatment
- Expert panel advises against PSA screening after age 75
- Psychiatrists doing less psychotherapy
- Warning issued about homeopathic “look-alikes”
- Diet study said to support Atkins diet
- Proprietor of dubious scoliosis clinic convicted of insurance fraud
- Bogus device marketed under new name
- “Energy healer” exposed as fugitive war criminal
- Study of chelation to treat autism suspended
- California insurance companies agree to stop “post-claims underwriting”
- “Antiaging doctor” loses DEA appeal.
- Allstate sues chiropractic insurance ring
- Arkansas warns against low-price insurance plans
- New group attacks paraformaldehyde use in root canal treatment
- Congressional investigation uncovers extensive Medicare fraud
- Study demonstrates that rogue pharmacies are widespread
- Virginia paying big bucks for “attachment therapy”
- California warns genetic test labs
- Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic placed on probation
- Mother facing criminal prosecution for withholding chemotherapy
- Medical centers urged to curb drug industry support of medical education
- Herbalife products accused of causing liver toxicity
- San Diego will fluoridate
- Attorney sanctioned for abusing autism quackery blogger
- Stroke triggers major anti-chiropractic lawsuit
- Ontario bans smoking in cars when children under 16 are present
- Feds target “fake cancer cures”
- Congress urged to ban menthol as tobacco additive
- St. John’s wort found ineffective against ADHD
- Metabolife founder gets 6-month prison sentence
- Canadian Government warns against cancer scams
- Suit aims to stop taxpayer funding of California’s Waldorf Schools
- Medical Letter pans spinal decompression devices
- Couple prosecuted for use of quack device
- FDA warns another “black salve” seller
- Professor charges that medically-related dishonesty is increasing
- Significant lead levels found in Herbalife products
- “Spiritual” dentist disciplined for “evil spirits” advice
- “Mercury-free” dentist reprimanded for deceptive advertising
- “Chiropractic pediatrics” leaders disciplined for improper billing
- FTC concerned about anti-competitive generic drug deals
- Deep-discount generic drug programs proliferating
- NIH chelation research project blasted
- Chelation therapy provider under investigation
- FTC curbs “smoking cessation” patch promotion
- Whooping cough outbreak closes Waldorf school
- Chirobase answers 100th question
- Bachynsky convicted again
- Queensland willl fluoridate
- MLM mockumentary available on DVD
- Appeals court upholds huge penalty against defunct MLM company
- Ernst blasts chiropractic
- Popular dietary therapy for autism unsubstantiated
- Prince Charles asked to withdraw inaccurate publications
- British homeopathic advertiser criticized
- Cancer scammer gets 171/2 year prison sentence
- Supplement marketers indicted
- 20/20 attacks “foot detox” scam
- Do Not Call registration becomes permanent
- ASA hits “research” ploy for dietary supplement
- Cochrane Review pans antioxidant supplements
- Research insider blasts “CAM” as worthless
- Yale embraces quackery
- Texas chiropractors blocked from accessing accident reports
- Government maintains large dietary supplement database
- State officials urge FDA to curb bogus “energy medicine” devices
- Australian group debunks “alternative” allergy treatments
- Chelation drug withdrawn
- Court permits suits against Quixtar to proceed
- Hospital evaluation database posted
Issue #08-13, March 25, 2008
- California State Auditor castigates chiropractic board
- TCM diagnostic process blasted
- Cancer scammer loses medical license
- Australian “Alternative” doctor may lose license
Issue #08-12, March 18, 2008
- MLMs dropped from proposed Business Opportunity Rule
- Bogus cancer therapist sentenced to prison
- Nutri-Energetics ordered to stop unsubstantiated claims
- Vaccine-related settlement misrepresented
- Doctors campaigning for single-payer national health plan
- FDA”hides” old warning letters
- British “psychic” told to tone down claims
- Doubt cast on “brain repair” practitioner
- Eniva’s “PDR” hype debunked
- Blatant infomercial marketers agree to stringent restrictions
- Airborne “cold product” class-action suit settled
- Missouri curbs unauthorized credit card charges related to Trudeau book
Issue #08-09, February 26, 2008
- More criticism of dubious home genetic testing
- Unfounded vaccine lawsuit dismissed
- Shantha and co-conspirator sentenced
- Supplements fail to help Down syndrome infants
- Congressional candidate linked to unethical experiments
Issue #08-08, February 19, 2008
- Class action suit filed against Akavar diet pill scammers
- Chiropractors using “research project” to lure patients
- Major report concludes that amalgam fillings are safe
Issue #08-07, February 12, 2008
- British agency concludes that Rodale book ads were misleading
- FTC attacks another weight loss fake
- New site notes dangers of uncritical thinking
Issue #08-06, February 5, 2008
- Virginia licensing board reprimands chiropractor who used bogus muscle-testing
- Medical group trying to curb Texas Medical Board
- TM founder dies
- Medicare modifies chiropractic x-ray rules
Issue #08-05, January 29, 2008
- Newsweek hits homeopathic quackery
- NHS curtailing homeopathy
- Research-related quackery exposed
- FTC curbs bogus weight-loss claims for hoodia product
- Kidney transplant patient kills self with vitamin C
Issue #08-04, January 22, 2008
- MLM recruiting techniques laid bare
- “Cancer cure” investment schemer pleads guilty
- Courts getting tougher on spurious thimerosal-autism link
Issue #08-03, January 15, 2008
- Southern California fluoridated
- FDA blasts “bio-identical hormone” compounders
- FDA issues chelation therapy warning
- “Kimkins” diet fraud unmasked
- Evidence keeps mounting against phony autism-thimerosal link
- AmeriSciences facing four lawsuits
- Seattle Times blasts device quackery
- Court upholds licensing authorities in quack device case
- New anti-quackery blog launched
- Skeptical chiropractic discussion forum very active
2001 || 2002 || 2003 || 2004 || 2005 || 2006 || 2007
2008 || 2009 || 2010 || 2011 || 2012 || 2013 || 2014
2015 || 2016 || 2017 || 2018 || 2019 || 2020 || 2021
2022 || 2023 || 2024 || 2025
To subscribe, click here.
