Consumer Health Digest Archive (2002)
2001 Archive ||2003 Archive || 2004 Archive || 2005 Archive
2006 Archive || 2007 Archive || 2008 Archive || 2009 Archive || 2010 Archive
Consumer Health Digest is a free weekly e-mail newsletter edited by Stephen Barrett, M.D., and cosponsored by NCAHF and Quackwatch. 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. William M. London, Ed.D, M.P.H., is associate editor. Items posted to this archive may be updated when relevant information becomes available.
Issue #02-53, December 31, 2002
- Neuropsychologist debunks "toxic mold" claims
- "Bio-oxidative medicine" practitioner disciplined
- Another study finds no effect of magnets on blood flow
- FTC nails phony breast-enhancement sellers
- Former Rajneesh cult leader receives prison sentence
- Antiquackery Web sites install global search engine
Issue #02-52, December 24, 2002
- FTC moves toward national "Do Not Call" list
- Homeopathic research blasted
- Another negative echinacea study
- Psychologist Roger Fisher to surrender license
- "Yeast Connection" author dies
- Skin infection outbreak linked to dirty acupuncture needles.
Issue #02-51, December 17, 2002
- Prominent expert urges NCCAM defunding
- Report blasts Gary Young and his "raindrop therapy"
- American Heart Association updates guidelines on fish and fish oil consumption
- New cholesterol guidelines printed
- Famed research team launches Web site
- Life University receives partial reprieve
Issue #02-50, December 10, 2002
- European Union votes to restrict tobacco advertising
- FTC attacks Body Solutions weight-loss scam
- Metabolife hit with $4.2 million verdict
- Utah's "holding therapists" withdraw bid for legal recognition
- New book hits chiropractic misconduct
Issue #02-49, December 3, 2002
- Congress moves to protect vaccine makers
- FTC petitioned to regulate spam
- Vitamins E and C may harm women with coronary artery disease
- New South Wales announces health fraud crackdown
- U.S. Government site offers comprehensive HIV/AIDS information
- New book about ergogenic aids
Issue #02-48, November 26, 2002
- Victor Herbert, antiquackery leader, dead at 75
- Feds nail Blue Stuff marketers
- Heart Association downplays Atkins diet report
- Study of Q-Ray "ionized bracelet" finds no benefit
- Life University facing long reaccreditation delay
- Poor quality found among lacrobacillus supplements
Issue #02-47, November 19, 2002
- Remote prayer report misrepresented its data
- "Miss Cleo" marketers settle with FTC
- Psychologist's cat obtains five "professional" credentials
- Vitamin E supplementation not found effective against macular degeneration
- Internet-based veterinary pharmacies disciplined
- Ravi Devgan, M.D., facing new criminal charges
Issue #02-46, November 12, 2002
- American Medical Association blasts lack of "dietary supplement" regulation.
- Osteopath agrees not to make unsubstantiated claims for alleged anti-snoring spray
- Medical Letter comments on generic drugs
- Several tobacco control ballot measures succeed
Issue #02-45, November 5, 2002
- FDA criticizes "oxygen bars"
- Medical Letter comments on drug expiration dates
- Chiropractor charged with fraud related to woman's death
- Another Internet pharmacy indictment
- Spinal manipulation not proven effective for headaches
Issue #02-44, October 29, 2002
- Eckerd pays $10.7 million to settle charges of overbilling
- Swiss panel blasts Galavit and Hamer's "New Medicine"
- Four plead guilty to blood-test billing scheme
- Cancer scammer signs consent agreement
- Washington nails spammer
Issue #02-43, October 22, 2002
- Life University loses accreditation appeal
- "Organic" standards take effect
- Chiropractic manipulation fails to lower high blood pressure
- Dubious autism products seized
- U.S. opposes worldwide curbs on tobacco promotion
- Discount available for "CAM" review journal
Issue #02-42, October 15, 2002
- Nonsmoker with lung cancer wins worker's comp case
- FDA study finds potency problems with compounded drugs
- Life University sued over loss of accreditation
- U.S. Life expectancy hits new high
- New guide to ache and pain relief
Issue #02-41, October 8, 2002
- "Miss Cleo" promoters sentenced in criminal case
- NCAHF blasts anti-amalgamists
- NICO practitioner charged with professional misconduct
- Six more argyria cases reported
- Heart Association updates chelation position paper
- Book chronicles three prominent quacks
Issue #02-40, October 1, 2002
- California AG sues magnetic mattress pad sellers
- Bio Lab charged with false advertising of diet and "cellulite" pills
- UK withdraws licenses for evening primrose products
- OIG limits gifts to patients
- Chiropractors top OIG exclusion list
- Investigators get faulty advice in health food stores
Issue #02-39, September 24, 2002
- FTC blasts weight-loss advertising.
- Acupuncturists offer inconsistent diagnoses and treatment
- Fast food companies sued for "causing" obesity
- Colorectal screening recommendations updated
- Anti-quackery WebRing launched
- FDA warns against importing drugs
Issue #02-38, September 17, 2002
- Magnet study contradicts "increased circulation" claim
- Peter Breggin debunked
- Cancer scammer receives 88-month prison sentence
- FDA issues "cyber letters"
- Olympic Committee finds hormone precursors in "dietary supplements"
- Class action suit against Rexall Sundown moves ahead
- Judge orders parents not to smoke near child
Issue #02-37, September 10, 2002
- New reports debunk "anti-aging medicine"
- Authoritative herbal published
- Quackwatch achieves 3-millionth home-page hit
- "Psychic" and husband plead guilty to tax evasion
- Florida shuts down two phony medical malpractice companies
- VA advisor appointment upsets chiropractors
Issue #02-36, September 3, 2002
- Homocysteine-lowering therapy reduces coronary reclogging
- FTC hits claims for mosquito repellent device
- Arkansas Attorney General sues dubious naturopath and school
- More data on quack nutrition by chiropractors
- Health Canada bans kava products
- Hydroxygen Plus marketer ordered to stop illegal claims
Issue #02-35, August 27, 2002
- Ginkgo study finds no cognitive improvement
- GAO issues report on OTC "diet pills"
- Baloney Detection Kit available
- Company ordered to stop making ADHD claims for "dietary supplement"
- Quackwatch acquires .org URL
- NYC Conference to debunk "alternative medicine"
Issue #02-34, August 20, 2002
- Metabolife under investigation
- About 10% of dental patients worry needlessly about amalgam
- Prominent screenwriter regrets promoting smoking
- Di Bella facing ethics complaint
- FDA warns about Chinese diet pills containing fenfluramine
- Medical Letter will publish treatment guidelines
Issue #02-33, August 13, 2002
- NIH report advises paying more attention to cancer symptoms
- New York's Mayor seeking wider smoking ban
- "Psychic astrologist" sued
- Heart Association issues advisory on fat substitutes
- "Immune egg" marketers indicted
- Mistletoe preparation found ineffective against bladder cancer
Issue #02-32, August 6, 2002
- Report suggests that all MLMs are pyramid schemes
- Chiropractors lobbying for Medicare coverage expansion
- Erratic quality control for saw palmetto products
- Black cohosh review calls for more research
- Germany bans kava products
- Diet pill scammers traced
- "Remote healing" researcher dies
Issue #02-31, July 30, 2002
- Contempt actions filed against Enforma marketers
- Quackwatch warns against personal injury mills
- IOM to study six "dietary supplement" ingredients
- BioPulse snuffed by FTC
- Desiccated thyroid prescriber's license suspended
- Aetna publishes Lyme disease coverage policy
- Antiabortionist ordered to stop cybersquatting
Issue #02-30, July 23, 2002
- Heart Association updates preventive guidelines
- New OTC drug labels required
- Psychiatric group blasts "rebirthing therapy"
- Congress asked to promote rebirthing ban
- FDA concerned about "dietary supplements" for pets
- Physician ordered to stop marketing syrup for terminal illnesses
Issue #02-29, July 16, 2002
- Hormone-replacement trial arouses concern
- Male menopause" advocate barred from Internet prescribing
- Study finds no link between cardiovascular death rates and vitamin use
- Diet pills containing fenfluramine cause liver failure
- French Antismoking ad draws huge response
- Rise in cigarette tax evasion predicted
Issue #02-28, July 9, 2002
- Antioxidants vs. Alzheimer's disease
- Quackwatch launches dental site
- FDA bans "nicotine water," and "nicotine lollipops"
- Scam artists using "Do Not Call List" ruse
- California woman sentenced for marketing dubious supplement products
- AIDS "vaccine" pill criticized in Thailand
Issue #02-27, July 2, 2002
- Cigarette taxes rise sharply
- Evangelist charged with selling contaminated "miracle water"
- Cell Tech and its owners in financial trouble
- Opthalmologist sentenced for fake surgery
- City-sponsored fitness program criticized
- Herbal product (nettle) recalled because of lead content
- Chiropractor charged with illegal veterinary practice
Issue #02-26, June 25, 2002
- "CAM" survey finds lower usage
- New journal examines questionable mental health claims
- Banned pain-reliever (Dipyrone) available in U.S
- Health Canada warns against eight herbal products
- Study finds no link between vasectomy and prostate cancer
Issue #02-25, June 18, 2002
- PBS broadcast angers chiropractors.
- Bush Administration stalls ephedra ban
- Another study finds supplement labels untrustworthy
- Internet pharmacy faces fines
- Illegal Internet prescriber receives 51-month prison sentence
- NEJM changes its conflict-of-interest guideline
- World Chiropractic Alliance criticizes chiropractor suspension
Issue #02-24, June 11, 2002
- Scientists blast anti-aging quackery
- Bogus "anti-quackbuster" suit withdrawn
- Largest chiropractic school loses national accreditation
- Canadian chiropractic education fosters antivaccination beliefs
- MedHunters Magazine profiles Dr. Barrett
Issue #02-23, June 4, 2002
- "Penis enlargement" pills blasted
- Hallelujah Diet debunked
- Supreme Court weakens federal regulation of compounded drugs
- Anti-quackery classic (The Toadstool Millionaires) posted online
- IOM supports hepatitis B vaccine safety
- Locating new and used books
Issue #02-22, May 28, 2002
- New code of conduct for drug reps
- "Classic" MLM sales pitches debunked
- Chiropractic stroke victim wins $700,000 jury verdict
- Neck manipulation by "bonesetter" causes stroke
- Olympic skiers penalized for alleged "blood doping"
- Many chiropractors sell dietary supplements
Issue #02-21, May 21, 2002
- AMA exposes tobacco's dirty political strategy
- Jury rules against EMF/brain tumor connection
- Anti-amalgam attorney sued for libel
- PC-SPES found to contain two more drugs
- Dealing with unwanted telemarketer
- Pa. Attorney General sues anthrax test marketer
- Seniors want protection against unsafe and misrepresented supplements
Issue #02-20, May 14, 2002
- Recognition likely for questionable massage therapy accreditation agency
- FTC and ACCC attack exercise belt fraud
- Massive Internet archive posted
- TIME science writer blasts anti-amalgamists
- Scientology pays $8.67 million to settle lawsuit
- Aloe and cascara banned as OTC laxative ingredients
- Pennsylvania enacts "Do-Not-Call" law
Issue #02-19, May 7, 2002
- Hundreds of Californians arrested for insurance fraud
- Many California chiropractors involved in prostitution
- Texas enjoins Brian S. Peskin
- ACSH attacks "unconventional medicine"
- Manitoba chiropractors facing pay cuts
Issue #02-18, April 30, 2002
- Medical Letter criticizes echinacea studies
- Podiatrists plead guilty in $30 million Medicare scheme
- American Dental Association compares dental materials
- Maryland anti-amalgam suit dismissed
- Last of five Ritalin-based lawsuits withdrawn
Issue #02-17, April 23, 2002
- Rexall Sundown hit for deceptive marketing of calcium supplements
- Ephedrine product to be destroyed
- FTC targets phony "at-home" medical billing programs
- Florida court curbs advertising of unrecognized dental specialty
- FDA warning on EMS devices
- New book about "Goat Gland Doctor"
Issue #02-16, April 16, 2002
- ConsumerLab.com says "breast-enhancers" are ineffective
- New Mexico passes psychologist prescribing law
- "Naturopath" Laurence Perry sentenced to jail
- Homeopathic asthma treatment found ineffective
- St John's wort flunks another test
Issue #02-15, April 9, 2002
- FTC organizes international anti-spam campaign.
- Obesity program costs are tax-deductible
- Experts issue AD/HD consensus statement
- Dubious MS remedy (Prokarin) studied
- "Immune eggs" under scrutiny
- FTC attacks bogus cancer therapy
- Fredrick J. Stare, leading quackery opponent, dead at 91
Issue #02-14, April 2, 2002
- FDA warns again about kava
- Phony doctor sentenced for cancer drug scam
- Chiropractor to be imprisoned for illegally marketing carpal tunnel device
- Chiropractor in personal injury ring sentenced to prison
- Google adds news search capacity
- Consumer Health Digest adds associate editor
Issue #02-13, March 26, 2002
- Quackwatch blasts final WHCCAMP report
- Government-sponsored "CAM" research called fruitless
- Lorraine Day's claims questioned
- Conference on critical thinking about dietary supplements
- Ohio criminalizes therapist/patient sex
- Major report on food safety
Issue #02-12, March 19, 2002
- WHCCAMP report hit from within
- American Dental Association blasts anti-amalgamists
- World Skeptics Conference June 20-23
- Canada bans sale of Vega devices
- Psychologist ordered to stop using sex toys when treating children
- Fluoridation census update
- "Miss Cleo" unmasked
Issue #02-11, March 12, 2002
- WHCCAMP report "hijacked"
- Canadian neurologists warn against chiropractic neck manipulation
- California voters attack chiropractic insurance fraud
- FTC curbs Wonder Bread claims
- Homeopaths blamed for measles outbreak
- Illinois AG attacks anthrax scams
Issue #02-10, March 5, 2002
- NCAHF blasts WHCCAMP draft report
- FTC curbs bogus anti-bioterrorism products
- Cancer fraudster pleads guilty
- Wild yam cream marketers sued for fraud
- Quackwatch archiving FDA warning letters
Issue #02-09, February 26, 2002
- Federal judge curbs "Miss Cleo" scam
- Herbalife facing new class action suit
- FDA endorses dental amalgam
- California docs wants legal smoking age raised
- FTC targets fraudulent radiation protectors
- Verdict against chiropractic college overturned
Issue #02-08, February 19, 2002
- Antiquackery activists blast White House commission.
- FTC attacks "Miss Cleo"
- Nurse who killed cancer patient convicted of manslaughter
- Chiropractor convicted of chelation fraud.
- Podiatry fraud investigation becomes murder probe
- GAO calls for more research oversight
- Child claimed to read while blindfolded exposed as fraud
- Hua Fo tablets contain Viagra ingredient
Issue #02-07, February 12, 2002
- New data on chiropractic-induced strokes
- Naturopathic accrediting agency loses approval
- Florida doctors offered insurance against frivolous malpractice suits
- PC SPES and SPES recalled
- "Alphabiotics" practitioner loses chiropractic license
- Physical therapists may be barred from treating "subluxations"
Issue #02-06, February 5, 2002
- FTC proposes "Do not call" registry
- New Web site to debunks health scares
- Trial set for questionable cancer treatment marketer
- Cell Tech sued for false advertising
- Chiropractors oppose direct access under Medicare to physical therapists
- Streamline International distributor settles FTC charges
Issue #02-05, January 29, 2002
- ABC News blasts "alternative" cancer treatments
- Glucosamine update
- TIME science writer blasts "remote healing" research
- New health text integrated with Web site
- AT&T stops offering 900 numbers
- Psychic scammer sentenced to prison
Issue #02-04, January 22, 2002
- ABC News report on "alternative" cancer treatments
- JAMA publishes negative chelation therapy study
- U.S. Preventive Services Task Force report update
- Massachusetts medical board opposes naturopathic licensing
- Iowa bans bogus breast enlarger
- Anti-quackery classic (The Medical Messiahs) posted online
Issue #02-03, January 15, 2002
- Oregon Attorney General hits electrodermal testing
- Health Canada initiates ephdra product recall
- Consumer advice on insurance disputes
- Brazen homeopathic responses to bioterrorism
- FTC seeking to end "Fat Trapper" claims
- FTC issues new health fraud brochure
- Suit over birth control advertising withdrawn
Issue #02-02, January 8, 2002
- FTC warns more marketers of bioterrorism defense products
- FDA cautions against full-body CT scans
- New journal to examine questionable mental health claims
- Quackery device museum closing
Issue #02-01, January 1, 2002
- High vitamin A intake may increase hip fracture risk
- Naturopathy debunked on Quackwatch
- FTC zaps "Zapper" sellers
- ACS Web site attacks questionable cancer therapies
- FDA asks doctors to report kava-related liver toxicity
- Health care costs rising sharply
Consumer Health Digest is part of the Anti-Quackery Ring
Navigate the Ring: Next Site || Previous Site || Random || List Next 5 || List All Sites
This page was revised on January 21, 2004.