Transcript Fraud, Scams and Slams: Health Care Quackery

Fraud, Scams and Slams:
Health Care Quackery
Prepared by:
Dr. Jan Park
Gerontology Specialist
Oklahoma Cooperative Extension service
April 2002
Medical Frauds Prey on the Elderly
“Miracle Cures” Offer Hope
Dreaded Diseases Attract Quacks
 Arthritis
 Cancer
 Anti-Aging Potions
Beware: Don’t Fall Prey to Quacks
 “Miracle drugs”
 “Too-good-to-be true products”
Ask Questions and
Check Out the Product
BEWARE!!!
 Miracle cures
 Natural products
 Scientific breakthrough
 Impressive jargon
 No side effects
Ask Questions and
Check Out the Product
 Information being suppressed
 Words like; detoxify, purify, energize
 Testimonials
 Available one source
 Real cheap
Cyberspace Health Care Quackery
Internet Scams
Buying Prescription Medicine Online
 Way of the future
Advantages of Buying Medication
Through the Internet
 Convenience
 Comparison shopping
 Greater Variety
How to Buy Medications Safely on
the Internet
New Prescription
Private sites
Licensed Pharmacies
How Does Online Sales Work?
Open account
Present prescription
Learn delivery method
Customer service
Rx
Buy Only from Reputable Pharmacy
Sites
Do’s
 Licensed pharmacy
 VIPPS
 Prescription required
 Prescription verification
 Questions and answers
Buy Only from Reputable Pharmacy
Sites (cont.)
Don'ts
 No customer service
 No prescription required
 Questionnaire
 Buy from sites that sell medications not
approved by FDA
 Buy from foreign sites selling low cost
medications
Not
required
The Problem with Regulating Internet
Drug Sales
Federal Trade Commission
Federal Drug Administration
National Association of Boards of
Pharmacy
Federation of State Medical Boards
Verified, Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites
(VIPPS)
Dietary Supplements a Heyday for
Con Artists
 Unproven Dietary supplements risky
 Users! Don’t quit taking prescription
medications
 Dietary Supplement Health and Education
Act
St.
John’s
Wort
Dietary Supplements
Pre-market Review Not Stringent
Read the Label Before You Buy
 What is the product?
 Quantity
 Structure –Function claim
 Directions
 Serving size, active ingredients
 Other ingredients
 Manufacturer, Packer, Distributor
 Customer service address/phone number
Product Claims Allowed
Nutrition content claims
Disease claims
Nutrition Support claims