Taking Action Against Questionable Health Claims
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has launched an aggressive campaign targeting Internet scams and questionable health claims for alternative therapies that tout cancer cures, disease relief and other unfounded promises.
"Consumers waste billions of dollars on unproven, fraudulently marketed, and sometimes useless health care products and treatments," said the FTC in its warning. "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."
The FTC is the federal agency charged with enforcing federal antitrust and consumer protection laws. It is responsible for investigating claims about health-related products and services, including supplements, medical devices, and healthcare clinics.
According to the FTC, a growing number of alternative treatments are being marketed as "cures," yet they are untested, unapproved by federal regulatory agencies, and often ineffective. They may even be harmful and dangerous if they interfere with, delay, or are used as a substitute for conventional medical treatment.
Fraudulent health claims on the Internet have become a special focus of the FTC's investigative work. Since 1997, the agency has also been coordinating its efforts with the Food and Drug Administration, Health Canada, and various States Attorney General in an initiative called "Operation Cure All."
Most recently, the FTC announced that it and its partner agencies had taken enforcement actions against six companies for fraudulent marketing on the Internet. The products were being marketed to treat or cure cancer, HIV/AIDS, arthritis, hepatitis, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, and other conditions.
The six companies named and their products were:
Not only did these products carry unfounded claims, the FTC says, but many have potentially dangerous interactions with other medications.
"Many herbal products and other supplements are promoted as natural and having no side effects," said FTC Chairman Timothy Muris. "We want consumers to understand that these products are pharmacologically active and can be very potent."
SOURCES:
Federal Trade Commission (http://www.ftc.gov)
U.S. Food and Drug Administration, "Buying Medicines and Medical Products Online," 2001 (http://www.fda.gov)
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (http://www.nccam.nih.gov)
[Table of Contents] [Archived Issues / Search] [The Breast Center]