Consumer Health Digest Archive (2019)
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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. Its primary focus is on health, but occasionally it includes non-health scams and practical tips. The Digest currently has 10,470 subscribers. Items posted to this archive may be updated when relevant information becomes available.
- "Fountain of youth" promoter convicted of health care fraud
- ALCAT testing blasted
- New York eliminates religious exemptions to mandatory vaccinations
- "Alternative medicine" critic Wim Betz dead at 76
- Medical cost hardship is common in the United States
- High-deductible health insurance plans fare poorly in national survey
- Warning issued against dietary supplements containing vinpocetine
- Court rules against US Stem Cell clinics
- Naturopathy critic prevails in defamation suit
- Critical thinking conference scheduled for July
- Registration open for CSICON 2019
- "CAM" Web ads about gluten sensitivity often mislead
- Claims for wearable brain technologies criticized
- Company warned about unapproved stem cell therapies
- No significant impact found for spinal manipulation frequency on clinical outcomes
- Study of model course about chiropractic published online
- FDA toughens regulation of compounded drugs
- Companies prohibited from further drug compounding.
- FDA warns five homeopathic companies about unsterile products
- Walmart sued for misrepresenting its homeopathic products
- Quebec pharmacies provide disclaimers about homeopathic products
- Amniotic "stem cell" treatments scrutinized
- FDA blasted for failing to crack down on bogus stem cell treatments
- Class action lawsuit against Prevagen marketer proceeding
- Quackwatch praised in credit card article
- Consuming human placenta products discouraged
- Medical records of anti-vaccine physician subpoenaed
- Warning issued against "free" DNA testing for cancer
- Evidence found lacking for Rapid Prompting Method as autism spectrum aid
- Insys executives convicted of racketeering conspiracy in promoting potent opioid
- New boxed warning issued for specific insomnia medication
- Newspaper coverage of medical crowdfunding scrutinized
- "Amniotic stem cell therapy" companies settle FTC complaint
- Prolonged antibiotic therapy for Lyme disease criticized
- "Chronic Lyme disease" propaganda film criticized
- Telemarketers charged with misleading benefit and job seekers
- Marketers of phenibut and DMHA products warned
- Naturopathic views on immunization spotlighted
- Supplement sellers barred from brain-boosting claims
- Many FDA warnings issued to stem cell marketers
- NYC stem cell clinic sued for fraudulent advertising
- Position statement issued on restorative therapies for erectile dysfunction
- Warning issued against unproven medical devices to assess concussions
- Kidney failure after high-dose vitamin D reported
- WHO blasted for legitimizing non-evidence-based Chinese medicine.
- Cannabidiol promoters warned
- Homeopathy companies warned for manufacturing quality violations
- High prices of diabetes medications in U.S. scrutinized
- Chiropractic board issues policy on pediatric spinal manipulation
- GoFundMe blocks fundraising for treatment at Hallwang Clinic
- No antibody responses found for homeopathic vaccines
- Kamala Harris's decision not to investigate Herbalife criticized
- John Oliver exposes "psychic medium" trickery and harms
- CEASE therapy promoters ordered to cease claims
- Marketer warned about unapproved addiction and pain products
- Strategies used by adults to reduce prescription drug costs reported
- Amazon removes "autism cure" books
- John Oliver blasts addiction treatment industry practices
- Anti-vaccine views promoted by chiropractic regulators
- Naturopathy legitimization effort criticized
- Correction notice
- Web giants announce plans to curb anti-vaccine propaganda
- 20 states have introduced anti-vaccination bills.
- Consumer health textbook available online
- Jail time for herbalist who urged boy off insulin
- Anti-vax chiropractor surrenders license
- Guidelines released on selecting mental health therapies
- Fake paid product reviews on Amazon challenged
Issue #19-08, February 24, 2019
- Feedback sought on regulation of "unconventional" practitioners
- Chiropractor who manipulated infant banned from treating children under 12
- "iV Cocktails" promoter barred from making unsupported health claims
- Warning issued about young donor plasma infusion treatments
Issue #19-07, February 17, 2019
- Warnings issued against illegally marketing products for Alzheimer's disease
- 27 BC naturopaths facing disciplinary action for dubious ads
- Misinformation about prostate cancer found in YouTube videos
- Doctors group calls for end to France's homeopathy reimbursements
Issue #19-06, February 10, 2019
- LA Times attacks misrepresentations by stem cell marketer
- Vaccine scaremongering banned on app for mothers
- Health pseudoscience opponent profiled
- Netflix and Delta deals with Goop criticized
Issue #19-05, February 3, 2019
- Dubious social work activities noted
- Suboptimal toothpaste use and toothbrushing among children reported
- CFI objects to New Mexico naturopathy bill
- Former massage therapist tells why he left his profession in disgust
- Tarr, Inc. settles complaint over deceptively advertised health products
Issue #19-04, January 27, 2019
- Colloidal silver suits settled
- Chiropractic "maintenance care" promoter indicted
- Pseudomedicine for dementia and brain health blasted
- High prices of eyeglasses criticized
- Flu-symptom nostrum widely available in Montreal pharmacies
Issue #19-03, January 20, 2019
- Twenty years of US medical marketing reviewed
- Evidence still lacking for facilitated communication
Issue #19-02, January 13, 2019
- Excessive cancer drug pricing quantified
- "Complementary medicines" position statement issued
- Detoxing debunked
- Fluoridation benefits and safety reaffirmed
- Physicians and chiropractor ordered to stop IV vitamin/mineral infusions
- DOJ summarizes money recovered in health care fraud cases
- More reports explore crowdfunding of dubious treatments
- FDA warns about teething necklaces and bracelets
This page was revised on June 25, 2019.