{"id":3318,"date":"2015-07-17T06:00:12","date_gmt":"2015-07-17T10:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/candostreet.com\/blog-parents\/?p=3318"},"modified":"2015-07-12T16:28:59","modified_gmt":"2015-07-12T20:28:59","slug":"health-care-fraud","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/candostreetny.com\/blog-parents\/health-care-fraud\/","title":{"rendered":"False Prophets of Health Care"},"content":{"rendered":"

Beware of the snake oil sales person; the health \"health<\/a>care scam pro who uses the TV, the Internet, the mail and the telephone to peddle fake cures for what ails you.<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/h1>\n

This is the message the Food and Drug Administration is trying to get out to all of us in their recently released article on the subject of health care scams.<\/span><\/p>\n

The FDA\u2019s Health Fraud Scams website (www.fda.gov\/healthfraud<\/a>) pulls together videos and articles on how to avoid fraudulent health care schemes, and offers information about products that have been seized, recalled or are the subject of warnings from the agency.<\/span><\/p>\n

The site also provides links to government resources on health fraud involving FDA-regulated products, such as drugs, dietary supplements, tobacco products, alternative medicines, medical devices, and cosmetics.<\/span><\/p>\n

Gary Coody, R.Ph., national health fraud coordinator at FDA, calls the site \u201cone-stop shopping\u201d for people who want to learn how to recognize and avoid health care fraud scams. Anyone can search the site to see if FDA has taken an action against a product or company. However, just because a product is not listed does not mean that it is legally marketed or safe to use.<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/h2>\n

Consumers spend a fortune on health care products that \u201care either worthless or may cause harm,\u201d says Coody. \u201cConsumers can buy dangerous products on the Internet and in stores that can cause serious injury or death.\u201d The waste of money is bad enough but using one of these unproven treatments can delay getting a potentially life-saving diagnosis and medication that works, he says.<\/span><\/p>\n

The schemes can take many forms. \u201cSome products billed as \u201call natural\u201d in fact have prescription drugs and other chemicals not listed on the label that could be dangerous,\u201d Coody says.\u00a0 The most common categories of these tainted health care products include weight loss, sexual performance, and bodybuilding.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other health care products claim to be a cure-all for such serious chronic diseases as cancer, arthritis, diabetes, Alzheimer\u2019s disease and multiple sclerosis. Seniors are particularly vulnerable to this kind of deception but consumers of all ages are taken in by fraudulent products, says Coody, adding, \u201cEveryone is vulnerable<\/strong><\/em>.\u201d<\/span><\/h3>\n

With every new health threat, phony products appear overnight, Coody says. For example, after the Japan nuclear incident in March, 2011, he says the market was flooded with products that falsely claimed to offer protection from harmful radiation.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe snake oil salesman is still alive,\u201d says Coody.<\/span><\/p>\n

Health fraud is more pervasive today, says Coody, because \u201cthe Internet has opened up the world market to people from their personal computers.\u201d If you’re tempted to purchase any unproven or little known health care treatment, especially if it\u2019s sold on the Internet, check with your doctor or health care professional first, he advises.<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n

Shady products are also peddled by TV infomercials, radio, direct mail, word-of-mouth marketing and ads in newspapers and magazines.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere are many ways that consumers are getting these messages,\u201d says Coody, and they should view these ads with a healthy dose of skepticism.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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