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 Digest’s 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.
Issue #18-52, December 30, 2018
- Chiropractors sued over peripheral neuropathy claims
- Efforts to expand chiropractors’ scope denounced
- Chiropractic “preventive maintenance” blasted
- “Alternative” cancer therapy ads backfire
- Quackwatch, Barrett profiled
Issue #18-51, December 23, 2018
- New Brunswick naturopaths barred from advertising that they are medically trained
- UK “CAM” organizations face new scrutiny for charitable status
- Early 20th century quackbuster profiled
- Harmful impact of fake medical news exposed
- Stem cell marketer warned
Issue #18-50, December 16, 2018
- Infrared sauna device hype debunked
- Consumers warned to avoid Rhino male enhancement products
- Cosmetic contact lens seller violated FTC Contact Lens Rule
- Insurance fraud conspiracy led patients to unnecessary surgery
Issue #18-49, December 9, 2018
- Routine vitamin and mineral supplements not recommended for chronic disease prevention
- Nobetes Corporation banned from selling diabetes products
- Implantable medical devices investigated
- StemGenex warned about purported stem cell product
Issue #18-48, December 2, 2018
- New physical activity guidelines for Americans released
- Jury decision affirmed in favor of homeopathy sellers
Issue #18-47, November 25, 2018
- Stem-cell clinic hype exposed
- Dietary supplement marketers warned about opioid use disorder claims
- Lead found in spices, herbal products, and ceremonial powders
Issue #18-46, November 18, 2018
- Fifty British Columbia chiropractors still making prohibited claims
- Spain proposes “alternative medicine” ban in health centers
- Ex-naturopath awarded Maddox prize for courage
- Anti-vaccination naturopath surrenders license.
Issue #18-45, November 11, 2018
- “pH miracle” promoter hit with huge damages award
- Seller of sham health insurance shut down
- “Energy medicine” chiropractor’s license suspended
Issue #18-44, November 4, 2018
- Nutrition Facts food label revised
- U.S. adults asked about their cancer views
- Ontario, Canada’s chiropractic regulatory body blasted
Issue #18-43, October 28, 2018
- Deceptive marketing by cancer treatment centers investigated
- Data on adulterated dietary supplements summarized
- College of Chiropractors of B.C. warns against false advertising
- Anti-vaccine chiropractor’s clinic shut down
- Goop.com still marketing non-validated health products
Issue #18-42, October 21, 2018
- Eleven charged with insurance frauds involving surgeries on addicts
- Anti-fluoridation activities investigated
- “Creative” billing by chiropractors described
Issue #18-41, October 14, 2018
- Oversight of surgery centers in California blasted.
- Concerns raised about probiotic supplement safety
- Insect repellant advertising case settled
- Electromagnetic hypersensitivity lawsuit dismissed
- “Alternative medicine” use linked to shorter survival for cancer patients
- Dentist and husband charged with fake credential fraud
Issue #18-39, September 30. 2018
- Web site ads for stem cell treatments analyzed
- MCS guru dies
- California’s “Patient’s Right to Know Act” will require discipline disclosure
- Thyroflex testing scrutinized
- Woman charged with unlicensed dental practice
Issue #18-38, September 23. 2018
- Myers cocktail marketer agrees to stop deceptive health claims
- AbbVie sued for illegal kickbacks in promoting HUMIRA
Issue #18-37, September 16. 2018
- Compounded “bioidentical hormone” prescriber disciplined
- Crowdfunding campaigns for dubious cancer treatments investigated
- Interactive graphic spotlights prescription drug overpayments
Issue #18-36, September 9. 2018
- Goop settles lawsuit over three products
- Banned sports stimulant found in supplements
- More online networks warned about illegal opioid marketing
- Notorious blood-testing company to shut down. Theranos
Issue #18-35, September 2. 2018
- Chelationist sued for Medicare fraud
- Complaints filed to stop use of unproven stem cell treatments
- Herbalife sued by distributors
- Sexual enhancement marketing halted
- Phiippine cancer clinic shut down
- Hydrogen peroxide hucksterism exposed
- Sale of kid-friendly labeled e-cigarette liquids halted
- Skeptic Zone interviews Dr. Barrett
- Academics blast prevalence of chiropractic “subluxation” teachings
- Leading naturopathy textbook blasted
- Herbalist charged with manslaughter
- Harms of cesium chloride treatments reported
- Homeopathy commissioning in England ended
- Evidence mounting against fish-oil supplementation
- Vaginal ring contraceptive approved
- Position statements attack facilitated communication and the rapid prompting method
- Aromatherapy scrutinized
- Problems with Medicare-certified hospice care reported
- Australian chiropractor deregistered over cancer cure ads
- Warning issued about devices in vaginal ‘rejuvenation’ procedures
- Essure sales to end
- Federal agencies issue kratom warnings
- FDA warns against contaminated synthetic cannabinoid products.
- “Holistic” dentist facing dental board action
- “Complementary medicine” (CM) use linked to worse outcomes for cancer patients
- Classic investigation of quack cancer clinics republished
- Crowdfunding campaigns for unproven stem cell treatments investigated
- Contemporary bogus autism therapies summarized
- New restrictions on British Columbia naturopaths
- CVS sued for selling homeopathic products
- Naturopath loses license in British Columbia
- Long-acting reversible contraceptives highlighted
- Phony therapist arrested
- Telemarketing executive sentenced
- FTC halts “free trial” marketing scheme
- U.S. hospital utilization data summarized
- Couple charged with practicing medicine without a license
- Vaccine scaremonger “Dr. Bob” Sears placed on probation
- Hundreds charged in health care fraud takedown
- Theranos founder indicted
- Supreme Court rules for faith-based crisis pregnancy centers
- Evidence for cardiovascular benefit of vitamin and mineral supplementation remains elusive
- Fish oil supplementation not supported in new meta-analysis
- Drug company influence on patient advocacy groups questioned
- Lotus birth scrutinized
- Conference promoting “facilitated communication” criticized
- National Guideline Clearinghouse to close
- FDA warns companies selling highly concentrated caffeine products
- Egregious marketing and prescribing of pain drugs exposed.
- Eight Insys officials prosecuted
- Subsys over-prescribers receive prison sentences
- Civil fraud actions filed against TIRF marketers
- FDA warns online networks marketing unapproved opioids
- Federal “right to try” law enacted
- Naturopath found guilty of manslaughter
- Vision loss following chiropractic neck manipulation reported
- “Functional neurology” chiropractor sentenced
- CFI objects to Michigan naturopath licensing bill
- Stem-cell treatment misinformation found on crowdfunding platforms
- FDA warns against benzocaine for teething/mouth pain
- Accusation filed against M.D. promoter of “homeopathic” audio
- Facilitated communication practitioner sentenced
- Fraudulent naturopath sentenced
- Salmonella infection linked to rattlesnake pills
- Discredited, alarmist HPV vaccine study retracted
- Psychological links to anti-vaccination attitude investigated
- Mainstreaming of “Traditional Medicine” diagnoses blasted
- Barrett interviewed about quackery in podcast
- Beautician sentenced for illegal buttocks enhancement injections
- Rise and fall of “liberation therapy” for MS summarized
- “Tijuana Tumor Terminator” Geronimo Rubio scrutinized
- Former holistic nutritionist “confesses”
- QLaser marketers sentenced
- Sale and distribution of Essure restricted
- Funeral homes failing to disclose pricing information
- Registration opens for upcoming skeptic conferences
- Evidence for chiropractic disease prevention found lacking
- Elevated rate of complaints about chiropractors reported
- Homeopathy prescribing linked to poor prescribing of other drugs
- Recommended recent videos
- FDA warns against dangerously high-dose caffeine products
- Pharmacist and assistant sentenced in massive drug compounding fraud
- UK health agency renews fluoridation support
- CFI opposes religious-based discrimination against patients
- Purported psychic sentenced for tax evasion
- Naturopath sentenced for life-threatening diet advice
- Naturopath who homeopathically managed fatal natural birthing absolved
- CFI calls for consumer protection against homeopathy
- Cal-Ban 3000 weight-loss scam story recounted
- Reports blast high-priced German cancer clinics
- U.S. abortion services assessed
- “Neurotransmitter-related disease”-monger scrutinized
- “Master herbalist and iridologist” charged in diabetic boy’s death
- Medicine affordability recommendations made for the U.S.
- Pricing information lacking on funeral home Web sites
- Patient killed by bee sting therapy
- Eczema misinformation common on YouTube
- Persistent chiropractic problems noted
- Non-evidence-based beliefs common among chiropractic students in Australia
- Frequently shared autism stories usually misinform
- Mike Adams (“The Health Ranger”) under fire
- Neuro Connect wearable clips flunk CBC Marketplace testing
- Stem cell treatment advertising by “CAM” practitioners analyzed
- Ad agency barred from making deceptive weight-loss marketing pitches
- Basis for six-month intervals for dental visits explored
Issue #18-08, February 25, 2018
- Recommendations from “The Dr. Oz Show” and “The Doctors” criticized
- Eye doctor sentenced for egregious Medicare fraud scheme
- “Anti-aging” marketer barred from making false and unsupported health claim
Issue #18-07, February 18, 2018
- Former hospital owner sentenced for spinal surgery referral scheme
- OIG blasts continuing chiropractic overpayments under Medicare
- “Functional neurology” chiropractor pleads guilty to grand theft
Issue #18-06, February 11, 2018
- Evidence on e-cigarettes and health reviewed
- Launch of diploma program in homeopathy thwarted
- Homeopathic autism treatment scrutinized
- Body-building marketer warned about adulterated products
Issue #18-05, February 4, 2018
- Hazardous conditions are common in nursing homes
- GOOP expo critiqued
- Claims for Miridia Technology’s products scrutinized
- “Health freedom” arguments criticized
Issue #18-04, January 28, 2018
- MD/naturopath caught dispensing diet drug online
- Warnings posted against illegal opioid-cessation product marketing
- Baseless nutrition claims in Super Bowl champion’s 2017 book scrutinized
Issue #18-03, January 21, 2018
- Medically unnecessary pediatric dental services case settled
- HHS “religious freedom” division criticized
- “CAM” in academic medical institutions blasted
- Fact sheet compiled on “alternative” cancer therapies
Issue #18-02, January 14, 2018
- Deceptive claims barred for alleged cancer products
- Fake doctor sentenced
- 2017 JREF Award announced
- Legal defense fund set up for naturopathy whistleblower
- Consumer Health Digest editors swap roles
- Manitoba chiropractic regulator issues directives against improper advertising
- CFI complains about CVS’s homeopathy marketing
- Neglect of home hospice patients reported
