Your Weekly Update of News and Reviews
October 1, 2017
Consumer Health Digest is a free weekly e-mail newsletter edited by Stephen Barrett, M.D., with help from William M. London, Ed.D., M.P.H. It summarizes scientific reports; legislative developments; enforcement actions; news reports; Web site evaluations; recommended and nonrecommended books; and other information relevant to consumer protection and consumer decision-making. Its primary focus is on health, but occasionally it includes non-health scams and practical tips.
Chiropractic “subluxation” characterized as unconscionable instrument of fear. J. Keith Simpson, an Australian chiropractic educator, has criticized the use of fear in chiropractic marketing. [Simpson JK. Appeal to fear in health care: appropriate or inappropriate? Chiropractic & Manual Therapies 25:27, 2015] His critique concludes:
- In mainstream health care, appropriates appeals to fear are for the most part truthful and effective. However, appeal to fear is totally unacceptable and fallacious when used to promote health care interventions for which there is no credible evidence.
- Many chiropractors use fear fallaciously by marketing unsubstantiated effects of chiropractic “subluxations.” Attempts to convince the unsuspecting public that subluxations are a clear and present danger are false at best and unconscionable at worst.
- It is well beyond time that the authorities governing the chiropractic profession, namely chiropractic registration boards and professional associations, strive to eliminate the fear of “subluxations” from chiropractic marketing.
The portions of Simpson’s article that focus on chiropractic have been posted to Chirobase.
New York Times criticized for publishing silly health information. Health News Review has severely criticized the New York Times for publishing an article titled “An upbeat mood may boost your flu shot’s effectiveness,” which was published in the newspapers Well section. [Joyce M. The NY Times ‘Well’ section is unwell. Health News Review, Sept 27, 2017] The critique noted:
- The headline references a small study that does not establish a causal relationship.
- The story could have bad consequences for readers.
- The Well section has had other poorly reasoned articles and seems to have lower editorial standards than other parts of the newspaper’s Health Section.
HealthNewsReview.org, which has more than 50 expert reviewers, grades and critiques health-related stories and news releases that include promotional claims about specific treatments, tests, products, or procedures. The commonly covered topics include drugs; devices; dietary supplements; dietary recommendations; diagnostic and screening tests; surgical procedures; and mental health interventions.
Australian cancer fraudster fined. The Federal Court of Australia has ordered Annabelle Natalie Gibson (a/k/a Belle Gibson) to pay AUS$410,000 for engaging in unconscionable conduct relating to the sale of her book and app, The Whole Pantry. [Annabelle (Belle) Gibson and Inkerman Road Nominees Pty Ltd – Court action. News release, Sept 28, 2017] The court found that Gibson, 25, had falsely stated that (a) she had been diagnosed with brain cancer, (b) she was given only four months to live, (c) after rejecting standard treatment, she cured herself with “natural” methods, and (d) a portion of the proceeds from the book that described her methods would be donated to charities. The Court also ordered Gibson to pay AUS$30,000 for costs to Consumer Affairs Victoria, which initiated the case against her.
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