Issues
Misleading Information Quackery and Health Fraud Problems with Products Problems with Services Problems with Costs The Need for Consumer Protection Intelligent Consumer Behavior
Issue 7
Intelligent Consumer Behavior
Seek reliable sources of information Maintain a healthy lifestyle Select practitioners with care Assess own health Active health & illness management Use scientifically substantiated health
products and services Understand costs of health and illness Report fraud
Healthy People 2010
Health Communication Health professional-
patient relations Individuals’
exposure to, search for, and use of health information
Individuals’ adherence to clinical recommendations
Construction of public health messages & campaigns
Dissemination of individual & population health risk information
Images of health in the mass media and the culture at large
Education of consumers about how to gain access to health care systems
Develop telehealth applications
Healthy People 2010
Effective Health Communication
Accuracy Availability Balance Consistency Cultural
competence
Evidence base Reach Reliability Repetition Timeliness Understandability
Issue 2
Quackery and Health Fraud
Definitions Hazards Extent of the Problem Characteristics of Victims Misconceptions Recognizing Quackery Conspiracies?
Definitions
QuakerySelling unproven remedies
Quacks Health Fraud
Promotion, for profit, of a medical remedy known to be false or unproven
Hazards
Direct risksResults in injuries orAdverse reactions
Indirect RisksKeeps someone away from proven,
sometimes essential, medical treatment
Extent of the Problem
$15 billion per year $1 billion on arthritis
60% of patients try questionable diets Top 10 health fraud products &
schemesArthritis, AIDS, sexual aids, cancer,
weight-loss, baldness, nutrition, muscle stimulators, chelation, yeast infections
Characteristics of Victims
Faced withChronic suffering, Deformity, Death
Lack of suspicion Desperation Alienation Belief in magic Overconfidence
Misconceptions
Quacks are frauds and crooks Most quackery is dangerous The media are reliable Personal to experience is best way to
tell if a treatment works
Recognizing
Promise a quick or painless cure Claim to be made from a special, secret, or ancient
formula — often only available by mail or from one sponsor
Use testimonials or undocumented case histories from satisfied patients
Claim to be effective for a wide range of ailments Claim to cure a disease (such as arthritis or cancer)
that is not yet understood by medical science Offer an additional “free” gift or a larger amount of the
product as a “special promotion,” or Require advance payment and claim limited availability
of the product
Pure Emu Oil
One product does all" ... extremely beneficial in the
treatment of rheumatism, arthritis ... infections ... prostate problems, ulcers ... cancer, heart trouble, hardening of the arteries, diabetes and more. ... “
"completely eliminating the gangrene ...”
"... antibiotic, pain reliever ... ."
Pure Emu Oil
Personal testimonials"Alzheimer's Disease!!! My husband has
Alzheimer. ... he began eating 1 teaspoon full of ... Pure Emu Oil each day. ... Now (in just 22 days) he mowed the grass, cleaned out the garage, weeded the flower beds, and we take our morning walk again. It hasn't helped his memory much yet, but he is more like himself again!!!"
Pure Emu Oil
Quick fixes"... eliminates skin cancer in days! ..."
FDA determined that a pure emu oil product marketed to treat or cure a wide range of diseases was an unapproved drug. Its marketer had never submitted to FDA data to support the product's safe and effective use.
Weight Loss Product as Alternative to Prescription Drug
Promises of Easy Weight Loss “Finally, rapid weight loss without dieting”
Paranoid Accusations "Drug companies make it nearly impossible
for doctors to resist prescribing their expensive pills for what ails you ... .“
"It seems these billion dollar drug giants all have one relentless competitor in common they all constantly fear--natural remedies."
Weight Loss Product as Alternative to Prescription Drug
Meaningless jargon"... Hunger Stimulation Point (HSP) ...“"... thermogenesis, which converts
stored fats into soluble lipids ...“"One of the many natural ingredients
is inolitol hexanicontinate."
Weight Loss Product as Alternative to Prescription Drug
FDA issued an import alert for a Canadian-made weight-loss product whose claims compared the product with two prescription weight-loss drugs taken off the market after FDA determined they posed a health hazard.
Over-the-counter transdermal weight-loss patch
“Natural”"Healthy, simple and natural-way to
help you lose and control your weight."
Time-Tested or new-Found Treatment"This revolutionary innovation is
formulated by using proven principles of natural health based upon 200 years of medical science."
Over-the-counter transdermal weight-loss patch
Satisfaction Guaranteed"... Guarantee: If after 30 days ... you
have not lost at least 4 pounds each week, ... your uncashed check will be returned to you ... ."
Over-the-counter transdermal weight-loss patch
FDA issued a warning letter to the marketer of the weight-loss product described here because it did not have an approved new drug application. Because of the newness of the dosage form--skin-delivery systems--FDA requires evidence of effectiveness, in the form of a new drug application, before the product can be marketed legally.
Recognizing
One product does all
Testimonials Quick fixes Promises easy
weight loss Paranoid
accusations
Jargon Natural Time-tested New-found
treatment Satisfaction
guaranteed
Conspiracies?
Paranoid Accusations Gets consumer attention Suggests providers & manufacturers are
working together• to promote only company products• for financial gain
Ask Where is the evidence? Would major of health-care people block
treatment
Resources
HealthFinder (www.healthfinder.gov) Intelihealth (www.intelihealth.com). Mayo Clinic (www.mayoclinic.com). Medical Library Association (
www.mlanet.org). Mental Help Net (www.mentalhelp.net) National Health Council (
www.nationalhealthcouncil.org). National Library of Medicine (
www.nlm.nih.gov)
Checking Out a Product
Talk to a doctor or another health professional
Talk to family members and friends Check with the Better Business
Bureau or local attorneys generals' offices
Check with health professional groups Contact the FDA office
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