Consumer Health Digest is a free weekly e-mail newsletter edited by William M. London, Ed.D., M.P.H., with help from Stephen Barrett, M.D., 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. The Digestâs primary focus is on health, but occasionally it includes non-health scams and practical tips. Items posted to this archive may be updated when relevant information becomes available. To subscribe, click here.
Plan developed for improving primary care. The National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine has released a plan for implementing high-quality primary care in the United States. [Implementing High-Quality Primary Care: Rebuilding the Foundation of Health Care. The National Academies Press, 2021] The report’s highlights include:
High-quality primary care is the foundation of a high-functioning health care system. When it is high-quality, primary care provides continuous, person-centered, relationship-based care that considers the needs and preferences of individuals, families, and communities. Without access to high-quality primary care, minor health problems can spiral into chronic disease, chronic disease management becomes difficult and uncoordinated, visits to emergency departments increase, preventive care lags, and health care spending soars to unsustainable levels.
To achieve its vision, the report recommends reforming payment models, increasing access points. designing interprofessional care teams, supporting community-based training programs, making health information technology user-friendly, establishing accountability and effective measurement, and creating a primary care research agenda. [High-quality primary care should be available to every individual in the U.S., says new report; payment reform, telehealth expansion, state and federal policy changes recommended. National Academies news release, May 4, 2021]
âAlkaline waterâ company sued following hepatitis outbreak. A class action lawsuit alleges that while Real Water, owned by Las Vegas-based Affinity Lifestyles.com, says its alkalized water is the âhealthiest drinking water available,â the company has known since at least November 2020 that it can cause problems that include fever, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, jaundice, liver failure, and hospitalization. [Milberg files Real Water class action lawsuit. Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman PLLC news release, March 25, 2021] In a videotaped deposition, former Real Water employee Casey Aiken, who had no experience in chemistry and only a few hours of what he called âhands-on training,â said he was in charge of mixing a liquid concentrate into the water and did not know how much to add. [Real Water faces lawsuit after 5-year-old girl gets seriously ill: “It was excruciating.” CBS This Morning, May 11, 2021]
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned consumers, restaurants, distributors, and retailers not to drink, cook with, sell, or serve Real Water alkaline water. Nor should it be given to pets. The Southern Nevada Health District has identified 11 probable cases and one suspected case of acute viral hepatitis linked to use of the product. Epidemiological investigation of the disease outbreak is ongoing. In March, the FDA announced that due to a lack of cooperation from Real Water, FDA investigators had been unable to complete investigations at two Real Water facilities and had issued a Demand for Records. On March 24, 2021, the company announced a voluntary recall of all sizes of its Real Water brand drinking water and concentrate. But on March 31, the FDA reported that the companyâs alkaline water product was still being sold online. [Investigation of acute non-viral hepatitis illnessesââReal Waterâ brand alkaline water (March 2021). FDA, updated April 28, 2021] The company had advertised its alkaline water products on its home page and âAbout Usâ page with nonsensical claims of ionization, antioxidant function, detoxification, and increased cellular hydration due to its proprietary technology. On May 23, 2021, those claims still appeared on its Facebook page.
YouTube takes down vaccine disinformation channel. YouTube has taken down Ty and Charlene Bollingerâs âThe Truth About Vaccinesâ channel, which had about 75,000 subscribers, because it violated its policies barring COVID-19 medical misinformation and had three strikes in a 90-day period. The Tennessee couple is among the âDisinformation Dozenâ identified by the Center for Countering Digital Hate as responsible for nearly two-thirds of anti-vaccine content online. The Bollingersâ âThe Truth About Cancerâ channel, with more than 166,000 subscribers, remains active and includes videos that promote distrust about vaccines in addition to egregious cancer misinformation. YouTube said that channel is under review. [Smith MR. Seller of vaccine disinformation has YouTube channel removed. Associated Press, May 19, 2021]
Georgia chiropractors discouraging COVID-19 vaccination. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has noted that:
- Georgia is a hotbed for chiropractors spreading false claims of frightening COVID-19 vaccine side effects, although they are likely a minority of the stateâs chiropractors,
- The Georgia Board of Chiropractic Examiners has issued no guidance to chiropractors about what they can tell patients or the public about COVID-19.
- Some chiropractors associated with the nationâs largest chiropractic schoolâLife University in Marietta, Georgiaâare questioning the vaccines, if not openly discouraging them.
- Life University often communicates anti-vaccine views in messages to its 2,700 students and through guest speakers, such as Andrew Wakefield, M.D., an anti-vaccine activist who was struck off the medical register in England for his involvement in a discredited study that linked autism to the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. [Edwards J. Some Ga. chiropractors are stoking fears of COVID vaccines. Atlanta Journal-Constitution, May 20, 2021]
The article also noted that during the height of the pandemic, Life University’s guidance for faculty and students on how to prevent COVID-19 included âGet your spine checked and adjusted regularly to ensure your nerve system is able to optimally adapt to these external stressors.â This advice was later replaced by “Having your spine checked on a regular basis for vertebral subluxation” as a “reasonable precaution.” Neither of these ideas have any scientific validity.
CFI advocating for mature minors seeking COVID-19 vaccination. The Center for Inquiry is considering filing a lawsuit representing (a) a mature minor who wants to be vaccinated against COVID-19 without parental consent consent or (b) a doctor who wants to provide such vaccinations. People interested in participating should contact CFIâs legal department at [email protected]. All such communications will be confidential. [Little N. Kids have rights, parents have responsibilities: vaccine consent for mature minors. Center for Inquiry, May 19, 2021]
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.
