I NEW REVISED EDITION I I I I I I Edited by: Stephen Barrett, M.D. Foreword by: Ann Landers I I I I I HOW TO PROTECT YOUR MONEY AND YOUR LIFE Medical science has never had more to offer than it does today. But more and more people are turning to quackery . In this revised and expanded edition, THE HEAL TH ROBBERS reveals the truth about vitamins, food additives, Stephen Barrett, M.D., a practicing occult healers, medical impostors, psychiatrist, is the nation's most vigorous "holistic" medicine, exploiters of cancer opponent of health quackery . Since 1970, and arthritis victims, and others. It shows he has been Board Chairman of the how you can tell if someone has a Lehigh Valley Committee Against Health legitimate treatment or is simply taking Fraud , Inc ., a member organization of your money, whether out of misguided Consumer Federation of America . An belief or actual intent to defraud . It also expert in medical communications, he explains how quackery is being fought, serves as medical consultant to WFMZ­ why it persists, and how you can get the TV, Allentown , Pennsylvania. He is co­ best possible health care from your editor of The Tooth Robbers: A Pro­ doctor . Fluoridation Handbook and co-author of THE HEAL TH ROBBERS is a critically the college textbook Consumer Health­ important book that will enable you to A Guide to Intelligent Decisions. He has protect your money-and possibly, save been a member of the Committee on your life. Quackery of the Pennsylvania Medical Society and the Committee on Health Fraud of the Pennsylvania Health Counc il. He is a scientific advisor to the American Council on Science and Health and a scientific consultant to the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal. Jacket Designed by Alber Associates "This is a slashing attack on medical quackery, health fraud and every sort of fad, lobby and gadget that in effect endangers trusting American consumers. Each chapter is written by an acknowledged expert. Their attacks are razor-sharp, assertive, largely well documented." -PUBLISHERS WEEKL V "By far the best book in this field, a blockbuster in the fight against health charlatanism." -FREDRICK J. STARE, M.D. Professor of Nutrition, Harvard University "This book is important for all American consumers. Health care cost containment is a top priority for our country. Consumers must help, and an excellent start is for you to recognize when your dollars are being burned-up in useless health care." -VIRGINIA KNAUER Chairman, Council for the Advancement of Consumer Policy; and former White House Special Assistant to the President for Consumer Affairs. 89313-023-0 GEORGE F. STICKLEY COMPANY ~ 210 W. WASHINGTON SQUARE PHILADELPHIA, PA 19106 THE HEALTH ROBBERS How to Protect YourMoney and YourLife SECONDEDITION Edited by STEPHEN BARRETI\ M.D. Chairman,Board of Directors Lehigh Valley Committee Against Health Fraud, Inc. GEORGE F. STICKLEY COMPANY Publishers 210 W. Washington Square/ Philadelphia, Pa 19106 The Health Robbers is a special publication of the Lehigh Valley Committee Against Health Fraud, Inc., an independent organizationwhich was formed in 1969 to combat deception in the field of health. The purposes of the Committee are: 1) To investigatefalse, deceptive or exaggeratedhealth claims. 2) To conduct a vigorouscampaign of publiceducation 3) To assist appropriategovernment and consumer-01ientedagencies. 4) To bring problemsto the attentionoflawmakers. The Lehigh ValleyCommittee Against Health Fraud is a member organizationof the Consumer Federation of America Since 1970, the Committee has been chartered under the laws of the Commonwealthof Pennsylvaniaas a not-for-profit corporation. Inquiries about Committeeactivities may be addressed to P. 0. Box 1602, Allentown,Pa 18105. First Printing September 1980 Copyright© 1980, 2nd Edition, The Lehigh ValleyCommittee Against Health Fraud,Inc. I.S.B.N. #89313-023-0 Libraryof Congress CatalogCard #80-83198 All rights reserved under Internationaland Pan-AmericanCopyright Convention. Permission to reprint any part of this book must be obtained from the Lehigh ValleyCommittee Against Health Fraud Published in the United States by the George F. Stickley Company, Philadelphia Introduction Day after day, we hear about our health. Advertisements bombardus. News is sensational.Health booksabound. Unfortunately, much of this infonnation is false. Health science has never had more to offer than it does today. Yet trust in doctors has fallen . and quackery is at an all-time high. Some exploiters merely want our money. Others, perhaps more confused than crooked,seek convertsto their ignorance. How can we tell experts from pretenders? How can we get reliableinfonnation? How can we communicate to get better health carefrom our doctors? Is our government working or failing to protect us from being cheated? By exploring these questions, this bookshould help both your health and your pocketbook. -THE LEHIGH VALLEY COMMITTEE AGAINST HEALTH FRAUD, INC. iii CONTENTS FOREWORD BY ANN LANDERS PART ONE: HEALTH ROBBERSAND HOW TO SPOT THEM 1 WHAT THE SURGEON GENERAL DIDN'T TELL US Cigarette industry deception. 1 Alan Blum, M.D. 2 HOW QUACKERYIS SOLD Supersalesmenat work . 12 Stephen Barrett, M.D.,and WilliamT. Jarvis, Ph.D. 3 OCCULT HEALING Is the proof of the pudding in the eating? . 26 Ray Hyman, Ph.D. 4 THE FEAR OF ADDITIVES Beware of chemicalcon men . 35 Elizabeth M. Whelan, Sc.D., M.P.H. 5 THE HEALTH HUSTLERS How to spot a food quack . 49 VictorHerbert, M.D.,J.D. 6 THE MAKE-BELIEVEDOCTORS Medicalimpostors . 69 Robert C. Derbyshire,M.D. 7 AVOIDING THE "MARGINAL"MEDIC How to spot a fuzzy-thinking physician . 81 Philip R. Alper,M.D. 8 THE GADGETEERS Exploiting science . 93 Wallace F. Janssen 9 THE CRUELLEST KILLERS: AN UPDATE Exploiting cancervictims . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 108 G. Congden Wood,Ph.D., and BirdieM. Presley 10 THE SPINE SALESMEN Need your spine examined? . 123 Stephen Barrett, M.D. 11 THE PILL PEDDLERS Do you have tired blood? . 146 Murray S. Katz, M.D.C.M. iv Contents 12 THE CONFUSED CRUSADERS Have they confused you? . 160 Gilda Knight 13 DIET FACTS AND FADS Beware of fat profiteers . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 173 Stephen Barrett, M.D. 14 NUTRITION FOR ATHLETES Oldfallacies vs. new facts . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 184 Ellington Darden, Ph.D. 15 THE MISERY MERCHANTS Exploiting arthritis sufferers . 196 Diana Benzaia 16 THE POISONMONGERS Fighting against our teeth! . 208 MaryBernhardt and BobSprague 17 THE MIRACLE MERCHANTS Doesfaith healingwork? .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 220 Rev. Lester Kinsolving 18 THE GENUINE FAKES The natural-organicrip-off . 231 Stephen Barrett, M.D. 19 THE UNHEALTHYALLIANCE Fighting to make quackerylegal. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 244 Stephen Barrett, M.D. 20 QUACKUPUNCTURE? Can acupuncture help you? . 257 ArthurTaub, M.D.,Ph.D. 21 DUBIOUS DENTISTRY Promoting"superhealth"........................................ 267 WilliamT. Jarvis, Ph.D. 22 THE EYE EXORCISORS Can you "throw away your glasses"? . 276 Jacob Nevyas,Ph.D., Sc.D. 23 WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING The holistic hoax . 281 Wallace I. Sampson, M.D. 24 THE MIND ROBBERS Destructive cults . 291 John G. Clark, Jr., M.D. 25 THE MENTAL HEALTH MAZE How to find a therapist . 297 Stephen Barrett, M.D. V Contents PART TWO: THE STRUGGLE TO PROTECT YOUR MONEY AND YOUR LIFE 26 THE TRUTH-SEEKERS The voicesof scientific truth . 311 Stephen Barrett, M.D. 27 QUACKERYAND THE MEDIA Should we believewhat we hear and read? . 325 Max Gunther 28 FIGHTING QUACKERY Anti-quackery programs . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 337 H. WilliamGross, D.D.S. 29 THE FEDS How well doesgovernment protect us? . 342 Irene L. Bartlett and Stephen Barrett,M.D. 30 WHY QUACKERYPERSISTS Quacks never sleep . 352 Jaines HarveyYoung, Ph.D. 31 GETTING THE MOST FROM YOUR DOCTOR Communicationtips . 361 Philip R. Alper,M. D. A FINAL COMMENT . 370 INDEX ............................................................ 371 vi Foreword Barnum was right. There's a sucker born every minute. And two to take him. How do I know? Because the victims write to me. And they have been writing to me every day for over 20 years. Ann Landers receives approximately 7,000 letters a week from readers who represent every conceivable socio-economic group. They live on sub­ urban estates and in the city slums. My correspondents are from 6 to 110 years of age. They are double-dome intellectuals and borderline morons. Almost half of the letters come from men. Every bag of mail contains at least 150 inquiries that drive me up the wall. "How can they be so stupid?" I ask myself. And then I answer the question. It's not merely stupidity. It's desperation and wishful thinking that wipes out all reason and common sense. I become furious at the exploitation of these good people whose only crime is ignorance and vulnerability. Here are some examples that crossed my desk just this week: "Dear Ann: Is it true that musk oil will turn a man on? My husband is 46 years old and sexually dead as a doornail. I've seen this musk oil advertised, but $11 is a lot of money for a little bottle. If you say it will help, I'll buy it." "Dear Ann: I'm a career girl, 28 years old, and haven't had more than three real dates in my life. The reason is because I am flat-chested. I mean I don't have any bust at all. All my life I've wanted to have nice round bosoms. Please tell me if this cream will help. (Advertisement enclosed.) As you can see, the 'before' and 'after' pictures are very con­ vincing. What do you say?" "Dear Ann: Is it true that cooking in aluminum will cause cancer? A man came to the door yesterday selling cookware. He scared the life out of me. His utensils cost $450 for the complete set. If what he says is true, about cancer, I mean, it sure would be worth it.