Fraudulent Health Claims

Don't Be Fooled

Consumers waste billions of dollars on unproven, fraudulently

marketed, and sometimes useless health care products and treatments.

In addition, those with serious medical problems may be wasting

valuable time before seeking proper treatment. Worse yet, some of

the products they're buying may cause serious harm.

Poison Ivy Is Natural, Too!

Just because a plant or herb is "natural" or unprocessed does not

necessarily mean it's safe. Unlike prescription or over-the-counter

medicines, herbs and other food supplements do not have to undergo

review for safety or effectiveness before they are marketed. Some

"natural" products, like herbs, may have powerful pharmacological

effects that could present risks for people who take other

medications or who have specific medical conditions.

It's not hard to be taken in by a promoter's promises, especially

when successful treatments have been elusive. But the fact is that

when it come to claims for health-related products, a healthy dose

of skepticism may turn out to be the most promising prescription.

How to Spot False Claims

Remember the first rule of thumb for evaluating any health claim:

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Also, be on the

lookout for the typical phrases and marketing techniques fraudulent

promoters use to deceive consumers.

* The product is advertised as a quick and effective cure-all

for a wide range of ailments.

* The promoters use words like scientific breakthrough,

miraculous cure, exclusive product, secret ingredient or

ancient remedy.

* The text is written in "medicalese"- impressive-sounding

terminology to disguise a lack of good science.

* The promoter claims the government, the medical profession or

research scientists have conspired to suppress the product.

* The advertisement includes undocumented case histories

claiming amazing results.

* The product is advertised as available from only one source,

and payment is required in advance.

* The promoter promises a no-risk "money-back guarantee." Be

aware that many fly-by-night operators are not around to

respond to your request for a refund.

Be wary of health care clinics that require patients to travel -

and stay - far from home for treatment. While many clinics offer

effective treatments, some prescribe untested, unapproved,

ineffective, and possibly dangerous "cures." Moreover, physicians

who work in such clinics may be unlicensed or lack appropriate

credentials. Contact state or local health authorities where the

clinic is located before you arrange an appointment.

Why Health Fraud Schemes Work

Health fraud is a business that sells false hope. It preys on

people who are victims of diseases that have no medical cures, such

as HIV/AIDS, Alzheimer's, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, diabetes,

and certain forms of cancer. It also thrives on the wishful

thinking of those who want short-cuts to weight loss or improvements

to personal appearance. It makes enormous profits because it

promises quick cures and easy solutions to better health or personal

attractiveness.

Some Medical Problems That Attract Health Fraud Schemes

Cancer

A diagnosis of cancer can bring feelings of fear and hopelessness.

Many people may be tempted to turn to unproven remedies or clinics

that promise a cure. Although some cancer patients have been helped

by participating in legitimate clinical trials of experimental

therapies, many others have wasted time and money on fraudulently

marketed, ineffective and even dangerous treatments.

When you are evaluating cancer-cure claims, keep in mind that no

single device, remedy or treatment is capable of treating all types

of cancer. Cancer is a name given to a wide range of diseases that

require different forms of treatment best determined by a medical

doctor.

For more information about cancer, contact the American Cancer

Society office listed in your yellow pages. To order free

publications on cancer research and treatment, call the National

Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service at 1-800-422-6237.

HIV and AIDS

People diagnosed with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, also may

feel pressured to try untested "experimental" drugs or treatments.

Although there are legitimate treatments that can extend life and

improve the quality of life for AIDS patients, there is, so far, no

cure for AIDS. Trying unproven products or treatments can be

dangerous, and may delay proper medical care. It also can be

expensive and usually, is not covered by insurance.

Don't be pressured into making an immediate decision about trying

an untested product or treatment. Ask for time to get more

information from a knowledgeable physician or health care

professional. Legitimate health care providers will not object to

your seeking additional information. The U.S. Government has

established a toll-free HIV-AIDS Treatment Information Service,

1-800-HIV-0440. This information help line is staffed by health

information specialists who are fluent in English and Spanish.

Arthritis

If you are among the estimated 37 million Americans who suffer from

one of the many forms of arthritis, be aware that this disease

invites a flood of fraudulent products and services. This is

because medical science has not yet found a cure for arthritis. The

Arthritis Foundation advises that symptoms should be monitored by a

doctor because the condition can worsen if it is not properly

treated.

Consumers spend an estimated two billion dollars a year on unproven

arthritis remedies. Thousands of dietary and natural "cures" are

sold for arthritis - mussel extract, vitamin pills, desiccated

liver pills, shark cartilage, and honey and vinegar mixtures. Many

supplements marketed as arthritis remedies are not backed by

adequate science to determine whether or not they offer any relief.

For a free brochure about unproven remedies, call the Arthritis

Foundation, toll-free, 1-800-283-7800 (9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m., Eastern

Time, Monday-Friday), or write:

Arthritis Foundation

P.O. Box 19000

Atlanta, Georgia, 30326.

Precautions for Taking Dietary Supplements

Thousands of dietary supplements are on the market. Many contain

vitamins and minerals to supplement the amounts of these nutrients

that people get from the food they eat. There also are many

products on the market that contain other substances like

high-potency free amino acids, botanicals, enzymes, herbs, animal

extracts, and bioflavanoids.

The Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) review of the safety and

efficacy of these products is significantly less than for drugs and

other products it regulates. Be cautious about using any supplement

that claims to treat, prevent or cure a serious disease. The FDA

has approved only a few claims for labeling, based on a review of

the scientific evidence (for example, claims about folic acid and a

decreased risk of neural tube defect-affected pregnancies). The FDA

allows other disease claims on supplement labels only if they are

based on authoritative statements from scientific organizations

like the National Academy of Sciences.

Some dietary supplements have documented benefits; the advantages

of others are unproven and claims about those products may be false

or misleading. For example, claims that you can eat all you want

and lose weight effortlessly are not true. To lose weight, you must

lower your calorie intake or increase your calorie use through

exercise. Most experts recommend doing both. Similarly, no body

building product can "tone you up" effortlessly or build muscle

mass without exercise. Claims to the contrary are false. Other

questionable claims may involve products or treatments advertised

as effective in shrinking tumors, curing insomnia, reversing hair

loss, relieving stress, curing impotency, preventing memory loss,

improving eyesight, and slowing the aging process.

In addition to lacking documented effectiveness, some dietary

supplements may be harmful under some conditions. For example, many

herbal products and other "natural" supplements have real and

powerful pharmacological effects that could cause adverse reactions

in some consumers, or cause dangerous interactions with other

medicines. It doesn't necessarily follow that supplements marketed

as "natural" are safe and without side effects. The FDA monitors

reports of adverse reactions to dietary supplements to identify

emerging safety issues.

According to the FDA, the following substances in dietary

supplements are among those that can raise serious safety issues:

chaparral, comfrey, lobelia, germander, willow bark, ephedra

(ma huang), L-tryptophan, germanium, magnolia-stephania

preparations and dieter's teas. In addition, some vitamins and

minerals can cause problems for some people when taken in excessive

doses. Finally, a label of "natural" is no guarantee of a product's

safety or effectiveness.

If you use dietary supplements, always read product labels to

determine the percentage daily value for various nutrients in the

product. Also, it's a good idea to seek advice from a health

professional before taking dietary supplements, particularly for

children, adolescents, older people or those with chronic illnesses,

and women who are pregnant or breast-feeding.

For More Information or To Report a Problem

To determine the value of a health care product or treatment,

consult a pharmacist, doctor, or other health professional. To

report a company you believe may be making false advertising claims,

contact:

* The FTC by phone, toll-free, at 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357);

TDD: 202-326-2502; by mail to Consumer Response Center,

Federal Trade Commission, Washington, DC 20580; or online at

www.ftc.gov - click on Complaint Form.

* Your state Attorney General's office, your state department of

health, or local consumer protection agency. These offices are

listed in your local telephone directory.

* To report a company for falsely labeling its products, call

your local FDA office.

* To report an adverse reaction or illness that you think is

related to the use of a supplement, call a doctor or other

healthcare provider immediately. You also may report your

reaction or illness to FDA MedWatch by calling 1-800-FDA-1088

or on the FDA web site at www.fda.gov/medwatch/report/hcp.htm.

Patients' names are confidential.

* For information about a particular hospital, clinic, or

treatment center, contact state or local health authorities

where the facility is located. If it is in a foreign country,

contact that government's health authority to see that the

facility is properly licensed and equipped to handle the

procedures involved. For information about facilities in

Mexico, contact the Secretary of Health (Secretaria De Salud)

in the Mexican state where the facility is located.

You can file a complaint with the FTC by contacting the Consumer

Response Center by phone: toll-free 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357); TDD:

202-326-2502; by mail: Consumer Response Center, Federal Trade

Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20580; or

through the Internet, using the online complaint form. Although the

Commission cannot resolve individual problems for consumers, it can

act against a company if it sees a pattern of possible law

violations.

Federal Trade Commission

Consumer Information Center