Re: my pal

When you are tired of reading Dave's posts, and would like a few
articles about cancer quackery in Canada:

http://www.medbroadcast.com/health_news_details.asp?news_channel_id=1037&news_id=824

Patients warned about quack cancer therapies as B.C. company
investigated

Feb. 23, 2003

Provided by: Canadian Press
Written by: CAMILLE BAINS

VANCOUVER (CP) - Cancer patients should be wary of bogus "cures"
touted on the Internet to protect themselves from suffering a serious
dent in their bank accounts and endangering their lives, doctors warn.

The advice comes after American authorities launched a lawsuit last
week against a British Columbia company's "sham therapy" that cost 850
people $15,000 US each and was promoted on its Internet site and
through telemarketing.

The Canadian Competition Bureau is also investigating but no charges
have been laid against Cell Specific Cancer Therapy Inc., which began
treating patients at a Tijuana clinic five years ago with an
electromagnetic device that supposedly kills cancer cells.

People often turn to unproven and ineffective therapies because they
distrust the medical establishment or because conventional cancer
treatment such as radiation, chemotherapy and surgery failed to cure
their disease, says Dr. Terry Polevoy, a quack-cure watchdog.

Desperate people and their families seeking alternative therapies
often turn to the Internet for a world of resources.

That's where charlatans looking to profit from such easy prey take
advantage of those who are willing to try just about anything.

"Stay away from the Internet," Polevoy said. "It's dangerous."

The World Wide Web contains a seemingly endless array of unregulated
claims from practitioners who offer bizarre regimes and devices. One
from a Canadian manufacturer claims to "zap" a cancer patient's body
with a low wave of electricity to rid it of cancer-causing parasites.

Other promoters of dubious treatments say their products shrink
tumours, boost the immune system and increase energy. There are herbal
teas and elixirs, and various compounds including laetrile, which is
made of the pits of apricots and other fruit and also contains
cyanide.

Even psychic surgery, traditionally performed by shamans in the
Philippines but also available in North America by visiting Filipino
practitioners, has been used to "cure" cancer and other diseases.

Psychic surgery involves the removal of supposed tumours from the body
through a bloody but painless and invisible "incision" in the
patient's stomach. Often, chicken parts and blood have been found
hidden on the mystic healers who perform such procedures.

Independent companies and practitioners often offer glowing
testimonials and the promise of a cure but usually deliver only
heartache to ailing people.

In the end, patients are kept from timely and tested treatments that
could have saved their lives, Polevoy says.

Most of the people who underwent treatment at the B.C.-based company's
clinic in Mexico were American while about 10 per cent were Canadian,
according to the Canadian Competition Bureau.

While several agencies deal with health fraud in the United States,
that's not the case in Canada.

Emmanuel Chabot, a Health Canada spokesman, said consumers who have
concerns about the efficacy of any treatment should call the
department But he conceded there's no particular agency that deals
specifically with fraudulent health claims.

However, Chabot said all medical devices sold in Canada must be
approved by the federal government for safety and efficacy.

Chabot suggested people also contact the Competition Bureau, which
deals with deceptive business practices in general, if they have
complaints about bogus health products.

While con artists use the Internet to lure vulnerable people to spend
thousands of dollars on questionable and potentially dangerous
treatments, some in the medical community are determined to keep track
of them.

Polevoy, a former pediatrician who now runs an acne clinic in
Kitchener, Ont., crusades against such practices on his Web site
(www.healthwatcher.net).

The site is similar to one operated by Dr. Stephen Barrett, a retired
psychiatrist in Allentown, Penn., who exposes medical quackery on
www.quackwatch.com and is vice-president of the National Council
Against Health Fraud in the United States.

People should be especially leery of businesses that offer treatments
at clinics in foreign countries that can be havens for fraudulent
practices, Barrett says.

"People should understand that if a method really worked it would be
available close to home because there's enough interest that if
somebody really comes up with something and collects the data there
would be a rush to the door by the scientific community to study it,"
he says.

"You should maintain a high level of skepticism. And don't let
desperation cloud your judgment."

Anne Leis, a health psychology professor at the University of
Saskatchewan's College of Medicine, says about nine per cent of cancer
patients reject orthodox treatment.

"The big concern is that people would move away from standard
treatments that have proven efficacy," she says. "And also the big
concern is that they would turn to treatments that . . . could hurt
them."

Leis is conducting a three-year study of alternative and complementary
therapies involving over 2,000 cancer patients from British Columbia,
Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia.

She warns patients to avoid Internet sites of companies that promote
their own treatments and stick instead to those associated with
reputable organizations.

Dr. Barbara Whylie, spokeswoman for the Canadian Cancer Society, says
the agency respects patients' rights to make their own decisions about
alternative therapies. But they should become well informed about
what's involved and discuss their choices with their physician.

"They should think carefully before abandoning conventional medicine
because it is more predictable and we do know more about it," says
Whylie.

http://www.healthwatcher.net/Quackerywatch/Cancer/Zoetron/index.html

CSCT's Zoetron - Not a Cancer Cure
"People who went there were intelligent people," she said. "They were
smart, they were funny. They believed in God. They all had one thing
in common, though - they were going to die."

Shelia Lewandowski, daughter of victim

http://www.quackwatch.org/02ConsumerProtection/FTCActions/clarkassn.html

For Release: January 27, 2003

Swiss Company Charged by FTC with Making Unsubstantiated Health Claims

The Federal Trade Commission has charged a Switzerland-based company
and its U.S. counterpart with making numerous unsubstantiated efficacy
claims for a variety of dietary supplements and devices that they sell
on the Internet. In its complaint filed in federal court, the
Commission alleges that the defendants advertise that their products
and programs can cure advanced and terminal cancers, AIDS, and other
serious diseases. The FTC's complaint names Dr. Clark Research
Association (DCRA), a California corporation that uses a San Diego,
California, address; Dr. Clark Behandlungzentrum GMbH, a company based
in Munchenbuchsee, Switzerland, and doing business as Dr. Clark
Zentrum (DCZ), and their owner, David P. Amrein.

Quoted message said:

Subject: Re: my pal
From: [email hidden] (Vera Teasdale)

Quoted message said:

When you are tired of reading Dave's posts, and would like a few
articles about cancer quackery in Canada:

If it comes from Polevoy, Barrett or Bowditch,,,,,it is most likely
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

http://askwaltstollmd.com/body_quackery.html

Health Freedom Issues

False Cry of Quackery
"Since the early 60's, organized groups have worked overtly and covertly to
unfairly destroy beneficial alternative practices."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
------
By Martha Kent

Quackery is a word that immediately attracts attention. It implies medical
fraud that may harm us or at least waste our money. All of us need to know when
it is applied justly and when it is a false cry. It has also happened that some
alternatives once labeled as quackery are now mainstream medical practices.
Chiropractic was once targeted by the AMA for containment and eventual
elimination, yet has grown more popular in this era of sports medicine and is
even approved for Medicare payments. Other changes in acceptance have involved
folic acid, vitamin C, other anti-oxidants, and nutritional supplements.

The AMA first launched a campaign to rid the country of quack remedies at the
turn of the century. At that time there were no controls for fraudulent
labeling and deceptive ads. We need to know, however, that since the early 60's
organized groups have worked overtly and covertly to unfairly destroy
beneficial alternative practices. This has been documented by P. Joseph Lisa in
his book, The Assault on Medical Freedom (1994). He describes the pervasiveness
of an ongoing campaign which began in 1963, when the AMA's Board of Trustees
established the Committee on Quackery, headed by Doyle Taylor. He details the
formation and functions of the Coordinating Conference on Health Information
which paralleled the AMA group. The participants in this group were the AMA,
American Cancer Society, American Pharmaceutical Association, Arthritis
Foundation, Council of Better Business Bureaus, National Health Council, FDA,
Federal Trade Commission, US Postal Service, and Office of Consumer Affairs.

These two groups acted as a task force on quackery. Minutes of meetings over
subsequent years revealed interest in targeting vitamins, homeopathy,
chiropractic, naturopathy, all alternative cancer treatments and other
practices which compete with the drug sales of pharmaceutical companies. In
1972, the illegal anti-competitive activities of the AMA were exposed to the
public. Eventually the AMA had to pay the US Postal Service $1 million and owed
the IRS $15 million.

According to Lisa, in 1984, the Pharmaceutical Advertising Council and the FDA
entered a joint campaign called the Public Service Anti-Quackery Campaign. They
targeted entities in economic competition with the pharmaceutical and medical
industries calling them "quacks" or "health frauds". The FDA at the same time
focused its attack against alternative manufacturers of vitamins, supplements,
and herbs. Various groups had differing target priorities in the war but the
targets had two things in common: they did not use pharmaceuticals in healing
and they were in direct competition with conventional medical practices. This
campaign was waged in three ways: attempting to identify supplements as "quack
products" which alternative medicine uses in place of drugs, investigation and
seizure by the FDA using the Task Force once the items were identified, holding
congressional hearings attacking supplements and making it easier to pass laws
against their use.

A recent organized effort to suppress alternative medicine occurred in February
1997 when the Federation of State Medical Boards adopted the recommendations of
the Special Committee on Health Care Fraud. To the naive eye, this report
appeared to protect the public from medical fraud. However, the wording
throughout had the far reaching purpose to eliminate all alternative practices.
The FSMB included among its strategies the intent to strengthen the power of
the State Medical Boards to monitor questionable medical practices, to work
with state prosecutors on disciplinary action, and to oppose state legislative
initiatives which might diminish the ability of State Medical Boards to
regulate questionable health practices. The complete text of the FSMB Report
has been reprinted in the Aug/Sept 1997 issue of the Townsend Letter for Doctor
and Patients.

In the face of popular support of alternative therapies, usually paid for by
the patient, it appears that the public is increasingly turning a deaf ear to
these false cries of quackery. Supplements and other practices once labeled as
quackery are gaining acceptance by mainstream doctors. Interest in homeopathy
and naturopathy are undergoing revivals. There is great interest in alternative
cancer and arthritis treatments. Therapeutic touch, a type of energy healing,
is offered in schools of nursing.

We can't foresee whether any of those who cry quackery today will avail
themselves of alternative therapy when degenerative disease strikes home. Our
own best protection is to stay healthy and to find doctors experienced in both
conventional and holistic methods. As more of us are willing to pay for
effective treatments that cost less and are non-toxic, the health insurers take
increasing notice. On our part, we need to support state groups which are
trying to protect our medical rights. We can also support state and federal
bills that preserve the patients freedom of choice by phoning legislators at
their home offices or the Capitol Switchboard, (202) 224-3121.

Submitted by Martha Kent, editor Health Freedom Issues page

Jan

Quoted message said:

Subject: Re: my pal
From: [email hidden] (Vera Teasdale)
Date: 5/19/2004 7:30 PM Pacific Standard Time
Message-id: <[email hidden]>

http://www.health

Q U A C K

Quoted message said:

Subject: Re: my pal
From: [email hidden] (Vera Teasdale)
Date: 5/19/2004 7:31 PM Pacific Standard Time
Message-id: <[email hidden]>

http://www.quack

Q U A C K

"Vera Teasdale" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
A lot of "doctor" says, but nothing showing that the therapies did not work.
Typical.

"Vera Teasdale" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

http://www.healthwatcher.net/Quackerywatch/Cancer/Zoetron/index.html

CSCT's Zoetron - Not a Cancer Cure
"People who went there were intelligent people," she said. "They were
smart, they were funny. They believed in God. They all had one thing
in common, though - they were going to die."

Shelia Lewandowski, daughter of victim

So? did they all die sooner than similar folks who went to the conventional
witch doctor? Do you have proof?

"Vera Teasdale" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

http://www.quackwatch.org/02ConsumerProtection/FTCActions/clarkassn.html

So what? The FTC, now there's a bunch that have no interest in the money to
be made huh? Bugger off.

"Jan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Subject: Re: my pal
From: [email hidden] (Vera Teasdale)
Date: 5/19/2004 7:30 PM Pacific Standard Time
Message-id: <[email hidden]>

http://www.health

Q U A C K

That was very fowl of you.

Is spamming interested in insurance scammers who also prey on cancer
victims?

http://news.google.ca/news?q=geronimo%20rubio&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wn

Article published May 20, 2004
Three San Diegans arrested in connection with fraudulent health center

The Associated Press

BONITA, Calif. Three San Diego County residents were arrested on
charges of health care fraud and tax violations in connection with a
clinic operated in Tijuana, Mexico.

Agents from the FBI and the Internal Revenue Service on Wednesday
arrested Dr. Geronimo Rubio, 45, of San Diego, the medical director of
Hospital San Martin, a small clinic in the Mexican border city.
Authorities also arrested William Fry, 65, and Debbie LaRue, 48, both
of Chula Vista, at a billing office for the American Metabolic
Institute in Bonita. Fry and Rubio are co-owners of the institute,
LaRue is an office manager.

All three were charged with health care fraud, filing false tax
returns and structuring cash withdrawals to avoid federal notification
requirements.

The American Metabolic Institute claimed to be an alternative care
center specializing in degenerative diseases.

It filed medical claims from St. Joseph Hospital, the U.S. name for
the Mexican operation, and used a postal box address as its business
address for billing claims,, according to federal investigators.

The institute offered alternative therapies including lymphatic
massage, color therapy, coffee enemas, acupressure and colonics,
according to Internet advertisements.

The FBI began investigating the operation in June 2001.

Baja California authorities shut down Hospital San Martin three years
ago after finding it was treating patients with unapproved methods,
such as injections made from chicken liver extracts and guinea pig
tissue. The clinic moved operations to a Tijuana hotel and was allowed
to reopen after promising to offer only conventional treatments, The
San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

An indictment filed in San Diego federal court alleges the clinic's
operators defrauded U.S. insurance companies by claiming St. Joseph
Hospital was in San Diego, not Mexico, and provided chemotherapy, not
untested treatments.

"Vera Teasdale" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
So? some scammers are in Alt. too. So???

Quoted message said:

Subject: Re: my pal
From: [email hidden] (Vera Teasdale)
Date: 5/20/2004 12:21 PM Pacific Standard Time
Message-id: <[email hidden]>

Is spamming interested in insurance scammers who also prey on cancer
victims?

Are YOU interested in the fact that those in organized medicine are doing
worse, and remain on staff???

You've been asked your opinion, you are strangely silent, but still posting
ONLY fraud within alternative medicine. Furthermore we see fraud within
conventional medicine, EVERYDAY.

Do tell us WHY we never see this kind of fraud on the Barrett, Polevoy and
Bowditch websites????????

Jan

http://www.msnbc.com/news/809196.asp

In February, the Food and Drug Administration said that because Dr. Wilson
filed

***“false and misleading” reports and “repeatedly and deliberately
violated regulations****

Now let's look at cover-ups.

AND

DISHONESTY!!

Years earlier, a scientist just a few miles away from the Gelsinger’s home in
Tucson had raised serious questions about whether the experiment was safe.

Documents

• Feb. 8, 2002: FDA letter, attempt to ban Dr. Wilson from other
experiments.
• March 3, 2000: FDA Warning Letter, original findings about the gene
therapy experiment.

(No coverups there,,,,,,,,,,,,,)

The trouble is, Paul Gelsinger says, Dr. Wilson’s team had never told him
that anyone had ever raised questions about safety

(That's fine and dandy according to organized medicine member, Peter Moran.)

ADVERSE REACTIONS WERE NOT REPORTED
And that was just the beginning. Federal investigators, pouring through
Penn’s records, announced at the conference that they had made a series of
startling discoveries, raising questions about whether the doctors had covered
up problems and broken basic test rules.

In fact, just a few months before Jesse had signed up for the experiment,
several monkeys given viruses similar to Jesse’s got sick. And two of them
died.

(No coverup there)

The rules for the experiment said: Even if volunteers didn’t get visibly ill,
if tests showed that any of them had a significant reaction called “grade
3,” the experiment was supposed to be “halted” immediately.
Records show there were “grade 3” reactions in more than one
patient. The first time, doctors stopped, called the government and got
permission to continue, saying an unusual condition with the patient might have
been the cause.
The second time, they stopped, called and got permission again, citing
another unusual condition.
But when it happened a third time, they didn’t stop, didn’t call.
Then, a fourth time. They didn’t stop or call then either

(No coverups there).

For their own safety, volunteers weren’t supposed to have a blood
ammonia level higher than 50. But people were coming in with higher levels and
without proper approval. The limit was raised to 70.
When Jesse signed up over the summer, he was within the limits, but
records show that when Penn doctors tested him, just days before the
experiment, his reading was 114 — more than double the original safety limit.

(That's way cool huh Peter???)

HIGH FINANCIAL STAKES
With so many red flags from the monkey deaths to the reactions in other
volunteers, even to Jesse’s own ammonia levels, Why had Dr. Wilson’s team
allowed the experiment to continue?

(Wonder if Peter can answer this question?)

At the University of Pennsylvania, the conflict committee approved Dr.
Wilson’s arrangement with Genovo.
In fact, the university itself owned a piece of his company and stood to
profit, too.

(Hmmmmmmmmm).

In a statement, the university acknowledged that some information
“should have been shared with the FDA sooner.”

(Just a minor little slip,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,)

There was no information given to Jesse or his family about the monkey deaths.
There was no information given to Jesse or his family about toxic results in
prior patients. There was no information that would allow Jesse and his family
to make any kind of informed decision.”

(Peter STILL can't see any coverup!!!! NO dishonesty!)

CONFIDENTIAL REPORTS

He told congress that other private companies in the race for cures had
also been doing gene therapy experiments and had also gotten adverse reactions.
But instead of sharing the information, government rules allowed them to stamp
those reactions “confidential,” classifying them as trade secrets to
protect their research investments.
So, while the government knew about them, other researchers like Dr.
Wilson and volunteers like Jesse Gelsinger were never allowed to see them.

(TRust the government!!!)

“I was outraged,” says Paul. “I had a right to know. Jesse had a right to
know.

(Oh my,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,emotions).

In February, the Food and Drug Administration said that because Dr. Wilson
filed “false and misleading” reports and “repeatedly and deliberately
violated regulations

REPEAT FOR THE HARD HEADED!!!

Dr. Wilson filed “false and misleading” reports and “repeatedly and
deliberately violated regulations

(No coverups,,,,,,,,,,no fraud,,,,,,,,,,no deliberate violations,,,,,,,,,,,,)

This week marks the third anniversary of Jesse Gelsinger’s death. At
the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Wilson

****is still on the faculty****

(Soooooooooo in organized medicine,,,,,,,,,,,)

****Filing *false and misleading reports* is A OK,,,,,,,,,,,,****

****REPEATED and DELIBERATE violations,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,is A OK.***

but no longer in charge of its gene therapy program. And, in Congress,
lawmakers are still debating legislation to provide more protection for medical
volunteers.

******in the end, whether Jesse was betrayed by the doctors he and his family
thought they could trust.*********