----------' N C A H F I

T H E BULLETIN BOARD

JANUARY/ FEBRUARY, 1990

[The NCAHF Bulletin Board is sent to members only. It is intended to stimulate and aid in activism agHlst health fraud, misinformation and quackery at the local, state and national levels.]

NCAHF ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING RESCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 16 AT KANSAS CITY NCAHF Bylaws call for an annual meeting of the general membership in February at Loma Linda unless scheduled for another time and place. Due to the scheduling of the 1990 National Health Fraud Conference on September 16-18 at Kansas City, the board of directors has voted to call the meeting on Sunday, September 16, 1990, to begin at 1 pm and conclude by 4:00 pm. The board of directors will meet from 9:00 am until noon on that same day. This is approximately the same schedule used in 1988 when these meetings were held in conjunction with the National Health Fraud Conference. Members should be prepared to show their up-to-date membership cards to gain entrance to the general meeting. The National Health Fraud Conference will begin later that evening with an entertaining and informative program. Kansas City's central location nationally proved to be convenient. · The quality of the hospitality, food, accommodations, and program put on by Dr. Renner and his associates at the last conference was outstanding. We hope that many will take advantage of this opportunity to meet with others concerned about health fraud, misinformation and quackery.

TASK FORCE ON THREATS TO CHILDREN'S HEALTH NCAHF is seeking applicants to serve on a newly established Task Force on Threats to Children's Health. We were impressed recently when we saw a report ranking the major causes of death in the USA, that used "years of potential life lost" (VPLL) instead of absolute numbers of people dying from various causes. Using YPLL for 1986 & 1987, heart disease dropped from #1 to #3, cancer held .on to the 1/:2. spot, and "unintentional injuries" moved into first place by a large margin. The reason is because unintentional injuries affect young people who have most of their lives ahead of them and heart disease affects the elderly (oldsters also have a high accidental death rate, but here again the YPLL is low). VPLL not only provides a new way of looking at the impact of various causes of death, but a fresh way of looking at the harm of quackery upon society. It helps us quantify the magnitude of the tragedy of children kept from proper care by parents misguided by quackery. This new task force will be coordinated by John Bolton, MD, 2100 Webster St., Suite 117, San Francisco, CA 94115; 415/923-3526. Volunteers wishing to serve should send their resumes directly to Dr. Bolton.

PROJECT: AUTHOR & BOOK REVIEWS DATABANK In the last Bulletin Board we sought a volunteer who would develop a file of author and book reviews. William D. Evers, PhD, RD, who is in the Department of Foods and Nutrition at Purdue University. has volunteered for this project. Dr. Evers role will be to develop and maintain a computer databank of author and book reviews that will include references, basic information on topics covered in the book, and whether the book was recommended or not recommended. Copies of the actual review articles will be kept at the Main Office and National Resource Center as will back-up copies of the dafabank for which Dr. Evers will provide updated software on a quarterly basis.

YOUR JOB will be to send reviews of books and authors, past and present, that are likely to be of interest to NCAHF members (good and bad health-related books) to Dr. Evers at Dept. of Foods & Nutrition, 213 Stone Hal, Pwdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907.

FTC ASKS FOR HELP SPOTTING FALSE ADS NCAHF members are asked to help report false and misleading advertisements for health products--particularly those aimed at AIDS. The FTC regional office located in Seattle is focusing more attention on the problem of health fraud. Members may send samples of false ads to either the Main Office of NCAHF or-directly to: Federal Trade Commission, 915 Second St. Suite 2806, Seattle, WA 98174; telephone: 206/442~4656. Although this regional office serves Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska, it is not restricted to prosecuting frauds within its own area, so do not let the fact that you are located outside of the Pacific northwest deter you from reporting. Any advertising that is interstate in distribution (even local newspapers often qualify because of out-of-state subscribers to their hometown papers). Our advice, send in all suspicious ads, let the FTC determine if they are within_ their jurisdiction.

GREAT BOOK AVAILABLE AT A BARGAIN PRICE Marten Gardner's Fads & Fallacies in the Name of Science is a classic review of modern pseudoscience. It is a primer for individuals desirous of improving their insights. Barnes & Noble is offering this fine work at a mere $5.98 ( +$4 postage & insurance; add tax in CA, CT, MA. MN. NJ. NY, PA). Address: 126 Fifth Ave., NY, NY 10011, Catalog #1620905.

DC REFORMER CAUSES FUROR Preston B. Fitzgerald, DC of Manning, South Carolina has upset other chiropractors in the Charleston area by publicly stating, "I denounce the concept of vertebral subluxation; its totally unscientific." Reporter David MacDougall of the Post-Courier has published Fitzgerald's statements resulting in hate-mail and name-calling. Fitzgerald, 37, is a former Navy medical corpsman who was educated at Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic, a very conservative school. Dr. Fitzgerald. said, "I was duped. After I became involved in the National Council Against Health Fraud, I realized that chiropractors all over the nation, though well-intentioned people, have given up

· a minimum of seven years of their lives to studying a mechanism and method that isn't scientific."

OUACKBUSTER PUT ON EDITORIAL BOARD Charles Davant Ill, ~D. of Blowing Rock, NC, made a bit of quackbusting history when he exposed a medical imposter practicing as a naturopath in his town. Davant's article detailing his frustration with a lack of action on the part of the consumer protection bureaucracy first appeared in the North Carolina Medical Journal (50:341-6, 1989), NCAHF covered it in the July-August, 1989 newsletter.· Davant's account was rewritten for Medical Economics ("No medical degree, no license? Come practice here," pp. 70 +, 12/18/89). As a result of that article and five others by Davant that Medical Economics has published, the doctor has been added the magazine's board of contributing editors.

IS YOUR CONGRESSMAN CONSPIRING WITH THE NUTRmON HUCKSTERS? Information being disseminated by the National Nutrition Coalition contains some of the · most shocking words we've ever seen publicly uttered by the promoters of pseudonutrition.

"Our Congressional sponsors have been very careful to draft their legislative proposal and · state in their introductory statements that the. Federal Council . will have no policymaking authority and will not determine which scientific data is correct." (" Questions and Answers: Federal Council on Nutrition and Health," 10/2/89).

In NCAHF's view, for U.S. Congressmen to propose a bill that deliberately evades the responsibility of providing only reliable information to the public on nutrition and health takes unethical bF.thavior to a new low. the Federal government should not be a party to consumer deception. According to the document cited above, supporters of the bill include AARP, the American Nurses Association, The Blue Cross & Blue Shield Association, and Catholic Health Association · along with many health foods tradespeople. NCAHF wonders if some · of these organizations realize the true nature of this proposed legislation. Information on the NNC can be obtained from Nancy Macan, Coordinator, National Nutrition Coalition, 1050 Thomas Jefferson Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20007; 202/298-7208 . .'

FTC FACT SHEET ON PROGRAM LENGTH COMMERCIALS NCAHF has obtained a copy of the FTC Facts for Consumers entitled II Program-length TV Commercials" (July, 1989). The 1-page (both sides) flyer serves as a consumer warning that the TV show they may be watching may not be what they think it is, and goes on to tell how to spot a program-length commercial. This can be useful as a consumer health education tool, but seems t to be a poor substitute for proper regulation by the FCC. At least we can take heart that the FTC sees program-length TV commercials as potentially deceptive enough to publish a consumer warning on the matter.

INSIGHT INTO THE MIND OF A HOMEOPATHIST In the last NCAHF Bulletin Board we stated that to our knowledge no one had ever had homeopathic formulations used in apparently successful. clinical trials. independently analyzed for adulteration. We have~ received a letter (12/26/89) from Dana Ullman, MPH, chief U.S. salesman for homeopathy, stating that "Because these studies were all double-b6nd, placebo-controlled studies, there is no need for adulteration analysis. 11 We find it surprising that someone with a scientific background does not realize that double-blinding or control groups would overcome the effect of employing an adulterated drug. For instance, Morice reported (The Lancet. 4/12/86, pp.862-3) that an alleged homeopathic remedy called II Dumcap" seemed to relieve asthma symptoms in a group of students. Upon analysis, it was found to be adulterated with therapeutic doses of drugs proven, effective for asthma. Let us suppose that a double-blind, placebo-controlled test were conducted on the effectiveness of adulterated Dumcap on asthma. It would appear to be effective because of its adulteration. Neither the fact that the observers evaluating the effects were blinded nor the presence of placebo controls would expose the fraud--only an analysis of the Dumcap could do so. This example is seems so obvious that I feel pedantic in presenting it; but it apparently was no so obvious to Mr. Ullman. Because I also am involved··. teaching botll research methods and public health, I am aware that MPH. training provides skills in epidemiology, not clinical research. Have we discovered something here about why Mr .. Ullman. is. a believer in homeopathy? Has his lack of training in clinical research methodology betrayed him? Its an interesting question to. ponder for those of us who wonder how well-intentioned individuals with legitimate training become enamored with pseudomedicine. Scofield stated in his critical review of homeopathic experimental research that their studies were characterized by II bad design" (~rit Homoeopath J. 73:(3):161-225, 1984).

Please send items of possible interest to NCAHf members tor The Bulletin Board or to readers of the NCAHF Newsletter to: P .0. Box 1276, Loma Linda. CA 92354. Be Sift to include complete references (source. data, page number(s), author(s). plus volume, runber and pages of joumals.)

T H E NCAHF

·s U L L E T I N BOARD

MARCH / APRIL, 1990

[The NCAHF Bulletin Board is sent to members only. It is intended to stimulate and aid in activism against health fraud, misinfonnation and quackery at the local, state and national levels.]

NEEDED: MORE NCAHF SUPPORTING MEMBERS It is clear from the financial statement elsewhere on this page that NCAHF needs to increase its income if it is to balance it books, let alone increase its effectiveness. Income sources are limited. NCAHF does not do public fund raising because it is complex and expensive. In addition, public misperceptions about quackery and its victims does not make it a good competitor with other charity causes. NCAHF has not sought government or private grant monies because of the fact that granting agencies are apt to impose their values and priorities upon grantees, and NCAHF wants to be independent and true to its fundamental guidelines of science and consumer protection legal principles. Although some philanthropic grant monies may not subvert NCAHF goals, grant applications take an enormous amount of time and effort and which would itself divert our limited resources away from attending to NCAHF's business. The reality is that NCAHF is dependent upon those who believe in what it stands for and are willing to support it. Only about 2% of its roughly 1600 members are Supporting Members ($100 per year). If ten percent of the membership would become Supporting Members, annual income would rise about $8500, which would more than cover the additional $6000 occupancy fee NC~HF will pay Loma Linda University in 1990, plus the amount of shortfall experienced in 1989.

HIDING OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS It would be great if NCAHF could toot its own horn a bit more.. NCAHF is responsible for many important antiquackery actions throughout the year. Tooting our horn would be helpful in inspiring the membership. It might help elicit donations for the cause. Its not that we're modest, but that there are some very practical reasons why NCAHF must keep many of its accomplishments private. Unfortunately, the kind of work done is very sensitive and revealing NCAHF's role could easily be misconstrued by the proponents of quackery. People under prosecution could claim persecution, targets of media exposes could claim that they had been unfairly singled out by the "quackbusters," etc. Privacy must be observed in cases involving victim redress. NCAHF President William Jarvis reports that he can honestly say that there has never been an instance where NCAHF has gone after someone on a personal basis. NCAHF simply tackles health fraud, misinformation and quackery where we find it. If someone has been mentioned often its only because he or she has been exceptionally active.

NCAHF 1989 ANANCIAL REPORT 1989 was an average year for NCAHF financially. Just as has happened in four of the last five years, NCAHF showed a small deficit. These were all off-set by the gain NCAHF experienced in 1988 (for reasons unknown). 1990 has us worried due to the substantial increase in what we must pay to LLU for occupancy (from $1000 to $1500 per month), but we cannot complain because this is still a great bargain.

1989 Financial Summary Income Membership dues Subscriptions Sales Contributions Interest Miscellaneous Total

$33,524.75 4,467.70' 2,234.32* 4.438.48 1,927.79

121.12 $46,714.16

*Does not include Resource Center or NCAHF Book Sales gross; these are separate businesses with

which NCAHF has a symbiotic relationship.

Expenses $24,052.52 Labor & Contracts

Occupancy Accounting Secretarial service Computer service

12,000 1,200 9,000 2,052.52

General Operating Public Information Research & Investigation Legal Action & Defense Promotion & Expansion Directors Expenses Total

Balance: gain or (loss) Net worth 2/25/90

1989 BULLETIN BOARD INDEX

13,253.29 1,472.39

302.25 152.75

2,203.50 6,830.26

$48,266.96

(1,552.80) $42,531.66

For the first time, an annual index for the NCAHF Bulletin ~ has been prepared. There is no plan to distribute it to the entire membership as is done with the newsletter index. However, if members would like a copy of the 1989 BB index, send $1 and a SSAE to the Main Office.

LEGISLATION TO STOP BOGUS DIPLOMA USE INTRODUCED IN CALIFORNIA On 2127190, Assemblyman Curtis R. Tucker, Jr., (50th District) introduced AB3409, a bill that would make it a misdemeanor to claim, either orally or in writing, to possess an academic degree, or the title associated with the degree, unless the person has, in fact, been awarded the degree from an institution that is accredited by a national or regional association recognized by the United States Department of Education or the Council for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education (there is more, but the intent of the bill is clear). Assemblyman Tucker was impressed by the bill that NCAHF introduced and was passed in Florida (CS/HB1575; see Nov-Dec, 1989 NCAHF Newsletter) and realized that the only was to stop the use of fraudulent diplomas was to make their use illegal. California sought to reform its diploma mill problem by strengthening standards for "authorized" schools, but this did not prevent the use of bogus credentials obtained prior to the new standards or those obtained outside of the state. NCAHF applauds Assemblyman Tucker for his efforts to protect California consumers from pretenders. California members are urged to write to their state representatives urging support tor- AB3409.

AWARDS FOR COMBATING HEALTH FRAUD, MISINFORMATION AND QUACKERY NCAHF has been giving awards to writers, broadcasters and others who have made significant contributions to the community by exposing health fraud, misinformation or quackery. Two types of awards are given: a National Consumer Service Award for publications, broadcasts or activities that have a nation-wide impact, and a Local Consumer Service Award for those that impact a smaller region. The awards themselves are attractive 8"x10" parchment certificates with a gold embossed NCAHF logo at the top, appropriately worded, and signed by the NCAHF Board Chairman and President.

In the past, nominations for awards have been made by NCAHF board members. At its February 25 meeting, the Board voted to open the awards program up to the general membership or anyone else who believes that someone deserves recognition. The procedure tor nominating and approving awards is:

1. Obtain a nomination form from the Main Office. 2. Fill out the form and supply the required

documentation. 3. Send nomination form and required documentation to

Dr. Stephen Barrett, P.O. Box 1747, Allentown, PA 18015; (215)437-1795.

4. Dr. Barrett will process the nomination by attempting to gain the support of at least two NCAHF Board members.

5. Approved awards can be given either publicly or privately depending upon circumstances.

CONSUMER DISSERVICE AWARDS The Board has long wanted to have· a mechanism for calling people's attention to publications, broadcasts and activities that represent a disservice to the community in terms of advancing the problems of health fraud, misinformation or quackery. Such a system was established at the Feb. 25 board meeting. The procedure for nominating, selecting and presenting community disservice awards is:

1. Send nominations and documentation to the Main Office of NCAHF (no special form is required).

2. Nominees will be compiled and distributed to the Board of Directors annually.

3. Board members will rank the top 20 nominees, with the top ten selected for awards.

4. Suitable names and a brief report will be developed tor each award. These will be reviewed by NCAHF's General Counsel to assure that they are not legally actionable for defamation.

5. Community Disservice Awards will be publicized in the newsletter and/or presented at the National Health Fraud Conference.

PSEUOOALLERGIST'S METHODOLOGY One of the areas most abused by the practitioners of pseudomedicine is that of allergies, real and imagined. A document entitled "Food Allergies: Identification Techniques and Treatment" that is being distributed by a health food source and a . supplement manufacturer (neither put their names on it which is typical of companies that know they are engaging in the illegal practice of medicine with such documents) has fallen into NCAHF's hands. Readers who confront pseudoallergy practices may find this inside information helpful by knowing the type of misinformation and pseudomedical practices that are being systematically used by a major source of nutrition-related quackery. Send $1 and a SSAE to the Main Office or Resource Center.

WHAT THE VITAMIN HUCKSTERS ARE SAYING The Council for Responsible Nutrition, the leading supplement trade association, has circulated its promotional messages in media publications. These are the tip sheets that provide radio interview reporters with fodder to chew on. Five "possible topics" are listed which are propositions the supplement industry is advancing as to why Americans should be swallowing their products. Consumer health educators will find this information useful for countering to these flawed messages. (Same price as item above OR free with above $ 1 order.)

Please send items of possible interest to NCAHF members for The Bulletin Board or to readers of the NCAl:IF Newsletter to: P .0. Box 1276, Loma Linda. CA 92354. Be sla'e to include complete references (source, date, page number(s), author(s), plus volume, number and pages of joumals.)

T H E NCAHF

B U L L E T .I N BOARD I

MAY / JUNE, 1990

(The NCAHF Bulletin Board is sent to members only. It is intended to stimulate and ald in activism against health fraud, misinfonnation and quackery at the local, state and national levels.)

SUPPLEMENT TRADE GROUP PUSHES FOR RECOGNITION OF NONDIETITIAN "NUTRITIONISTS" The Council for Responsible Nutrition, a major trade association of supplement sellers, has been attempting to get the American Public Health Association to endorse its position against state laws restricting dietetic licensure to Registered Dietitians or equivalent training. Backing the CAN position are "nutritionists" known to favor prescribing supplements to clients. CRN's president, J.B. Cordero, cited promotion of a APHA position paper on nutritionist licensure as a "targeted activity" during 1988. That year, Annette Dickinson, a CRN representative, fought hard to have CRN's favored statement accepted by the Food and Nutrition Section of APHA without success. It was voted down 11-3. Dickinson is now attempting to introduce the CAN-favored statement as a resolution submitted by an individual member. Apparently, CRN places a high priority on getting APHA backing for its anti-RD-or­equivalent nutritionist statement. CRN obviously has a strong self-interest in legitimizing nutritionists who will push supplements. Its tenacity in trying to obtain APHA endorsement reveals how far pill promoters will go in their marketing efforts. APHA-NCAHF members need to inform themselves on this matter and do what they can to prevent APHA from being used to further the CRN agenda.

USING EXISTING CHANNELS FOR EDUCATION Dr. Wallace Sampson, Coordinator of NCAHF's Task Force on Consumer Activism, otters suggestions about how members can educate others about health fraud, misinformation and quackery. The following can be done to reach your local communities: letters to the editor, regular column for shopper's newspapers, book reviews, presentations before local service clubs or senior citizen groups, newspaper interviews, publish local newsletters, put on a course through adult education channels offered through, local schools or parks and recreation departments . Many of these are easier to arrange if you have a title such as a NCAHF Area Network Coordinator or chapter president. Those who are professionals can ask that a sectional meeting on health fraud be included at conventions, AAAS meetings, or local professional (eg, medical, dental, dietetic, nursing, attorneys, insurance groups) society meetings. Sampson emphasizes how much easier it is to plug into existing channels of education and communication than it is to take on the burden of organizing and promoting special events of our own.

FINANCIAL AFFAIRS UPDATE We pointed to NCAHF's increased financial needs in the last Bulletin Board. To bring members

1 up to date we

report that in the first four months of 1990, NCAHF is operating at about a $2,000 loss, proj~cting a $6,000 loss for the year. This is slightly better than the comparable period for 1989 which showep a $3,000 loss. Last year the deficit was greatly helped by members who responded to a plea for midsummer contributions. NCAHF ended year with only a $1,200 loss. We again appeal for more to become supporting members or for tax-deductible contributions.

FOX COUNTY, WISCONSIN, DIETITIANS COMBAT NUTRITION QUACKERY The Fox County Dietitians established a Committee Against Health Fraud in 1989. Their goals include making local dietitians aware about quackery that is going on in their area through a simple newsletter, responding to newspaper articles that promote "alternative health care," making a video on nutrition quackery that can be shown for public meetings of business groups, auxiliaries, women's clubs, church groups, and so forth. A university student has taken on the production of the video as a project for her telecommunications training. They are also working on plans to present a nationally-known speaker on health fraud at a jointly sponsored meeting of local professional societies. In 1988, the local mental health center successfully sponsored a six-hour continuing education program, by NCAHF President William Jarvis, on quackery for a variety of health professionals. That program laid the groundwork for subsequent efforts in the area.

FDA SEEKS CONSUMER REPRESENTATIVES FDA's Office of Consumer Affairs (OCA) is recruiting candidates to serve as consumer representatives on FDA's public advisory committees. Committee members advise the Agency on scientific and medical issues relating to drug products, biological and blood products, medical devices, radiological products, veterinary medicine, and toxicological research. Consumer representatives are needed on each advisory committee to focus on the consumer perspective relating to the issues under consideration. Although the OCA would like to receive nominations by June 1, it noted that they would accept nominations at any time. Write or call Catherine Beck or Phyllis Weller (HFE-40), FDA Office of Consumer Affairs, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857; 301/443-5006.

ARTICLES FOR ACTIVISTS Activists will find the following articles of value for self education or consumer information. These are more

, specialized than those that appear in the newsletter.

1. Czajka-Narins D and Parham E. "Fear of fat: attitudes toward obesity," Nutrition Today. pp.26-32, 1990. A most insightful article on the factors underlying what we see happening in the field of weight loss. Few areas prone to quackery are more resistant to reform than weight loss. With serious reform efforts are now underway. This article is a primer for anyone who must deal with this perplexing field. 2. Herbert V. "Megavitamins, Food Fads, and Quack Nutrition in Health Promotion: Myths and Risks," in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention in the Elderly. edited by Chernoff and Lipschitz, Raven Press, Ud., NY, 1988. A comprehensive tome that describes good nutrition (4-basic food groups and U.S. Dietary Guidelines} and then presents straightforward information on: the Pritikin Program, abuses of epidemiology, foods vs. pills, health claims in food labeling & advertising, the 1985 RDAs, fiber and colon cancer, cholesterol and heart disease, calcium supplementation, life extension, and iron supplementation. 3. Honig W. "Science's Miss Lonelyhearts," Sciences, May-June, pp.2~27, 1984. A rare, wonderful account by the editor of what happened when a journal was formed for publishing speculative science articles for those writers who can't get their work published in peer-reviewed journals (a common complaint of quacks). 4. Jarvis W. "Chiropractic: controversial health care," Ministry. p.25-29, May, 1990. An up-to-date, reader-style description. Included are the value of spinal manipulative therapy for back pain, chiropractic's unique theory, its scientific shbrtcomings, factionalism, reform efforts, and consumer guidelines. 5. Monaco G. 0 Weird medicine doesn't work wonders," Cope. 2/89. . A brief, but substantive account of how to deal with people who·· in.quire about the value of a questionable cancer treatment. Provides information on Ms. Monaco's evaluative database on questionable cancer remedies, Emprise, Inc. 6. Mogadam M. "Cancer and nutritional misconceptions," Am J Gastroenterol, 83:1346-1351, 1988. A review of the misconceptions and disinformation that have clouded the relevance of nutritional practices in cancer prevention. 7. Sloan A, et al. "Consumer attitudes toward additives," Cereal Foods World, 31:523-532, 1986. A penetrating analysis of consumer attitudes toward additives and what food advertisers should do about these. Specific additives that have received bad publicity are given special attention. Most interesting is the "believability ratings" of information sources regarding whether a food is "safe" or "not safe." The AMA and personal physicians rate tops. The authors are with McCall's and Good Housekeeping.

MORE ON LIBRARIES AND CENSORSHIP Illinois member Kurt Youngmann describes his experience confronting a community librarian who had set up a display of Adele Davis books for National Nutrition Week. After hearing both Youngmann's anti-censorship feelings and concerns about the lack of validity of the Davis books, the librarian became very upset and justified her choice on the basis of her own personal belief in Ms. Davis' works. Youngmann says, not knowing what to do, he dropped the matter at that point. He now asks, what else could he have done? NCAHF's answer: There is documented evidence on the lack of reliability of, and harm caused by, Davis' books. A letter specifying the flaws and dangers of the Adele Davis books, and pointing out the responsibility that a librarian--in this case a public employee as well--has to provide accurate information must supersede one's personal beliefs. Copies of the letter, with notation at the bottom, should be sent to the librarian's superiors and other socially responsible individuals in the community (eg, public health department, medical society, dietetic association, superintendent of schools).

CITIZEN SUES SCHOOL BOARD Christofer Trey heard a program that presented what he thought was medical misinformation on WDTR-AM, a radio station operated by the Detroit Board of Education. Trey requested nine tapes of the broadcasts through the Michigan Freedom of Information Act. The Board of Education turned over only five broadcasts, and stalled on supplying the remainder. Trey sued, representing himself in court, and won a judgment of $500 and costs. (Detroit News, 10/27/89). Although the nature of the medical misinformation did not appear in the article, the case may be instructive for quackbusters who are attacking broadcast media abuse.

FDA OFFERS HEALTH FRAUD TEACHING KIT A health fraud teaching kit that includes a dozen 35 mm slides, a user's guide, lesson plans on weight loss scams, arthritis quackery, critiquing quack ads, fact and myths · of vitamins, and quackery which targets teens is available without charge from the FDA. Write: ·Jeffery A. Nesbit, Associate Commissioner for Public Affairs, U.S. Food & drug Administration, HFl-40, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857.

SUMMER SCHEDULE Drs. Renner and Lowell will serve as primary contact people July 1 0 through August 24. Dr. Jarvis will be in Canada Juiy 16 to August 21. He may be reached at 604/837-2593. He 'doesn't mind being called, but this is a private home in the bush and his availability is somewhat limited (9-11 am PDT, M-F offers best chance).

Please send items of possible interest to NCAHF members for The Bulletin Board or to readers of the NCAHF Newsletter to: P.O. Box 1276, Lorna Linda, CA 92354. Complete references are needed.

T H E NCAHF

BULLETIN BOARD

JULY/ AUGUST, 1990

[The NCAHF Bulletin Board is sent to members only. It is intended to stimulate and aid in_ activism against health fraud, misinfonnation and quackery at the local, state and national levels.]

ANNUAL GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING The 1990 NCAHF General Membership Meeting will be held on September 16, 1 :30 - 4:30 pm at the Vista Hotel, Kansas City, Missouri. Please be prepared to show an up-to-date membership card for admittance.

NCAHF BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING The NCAHF Board Meeting will be held- September 16, 9:00 - 12:00 at the Consumer Health Information Research Institute, 3521 Broadway, Kansas City, MO. Members may observe.

ANANCIAL AFFAIRS NCAHF's operating deficit has grown to nearly $6,000 for the first haH of the year. Members can help by renewing as soon as possible (some of the problem may stem from a slow-down in getting out renewal notices due to recent changes in the LLU mailroom), or by making a midsummer tax-deductible contribution.

LATINO HEALTH FRAUD CONFERENCE September 13-14 the FDA, FTC, and others are sponsoring the Western Regional Health Fraud Conference for the Latino Community. The program will be held at the American Diabetes Association, 3460 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 900, Los Angeles. For more information contact Irene Gomez Caro, Regional Consumer Affairs Officer, FDA, 1521 W. Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90015-2486; (213) 252-7597.

ORGANIC FOOD LEGISLATION The organic food industry is calling for letters of support for Senator Leahy's SB 2108 the "Organic Foods Production Act of 1990." NCAHF members wishing to write about this bill may reach their Congressman at the House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20515; Senators at U.S. Senate, Washington, DC 2051 O; Tel: U.S. Congress 202/224-3121.

·coNSUMERS' RESEARCH MAGAZINE We are impressed with Consumers' Research magazine. Like Consumer Reports it is an unbiased source of reliable information for consumers. Unlike Consumers' Union which we believe performed poorly during the alar hysteria, Consumers' Research took a rational, scientific view of the issue. Consumers' Research magazine is a worthwhile buy at 12 issues for $24 per year. Write P.O. Box 642, Holmes, PA 19043.

UK AFFILIATE UNFAIRLY ASSAILED The Campaign Against Health Fraud, NCAHF's affiliate has been the target of erroneous publicity. A journalist for the Sunday Times accused CAHF of existing solely to bash alternative medicine. Another "revealed" that CAHF was on the pay-roll of the Wellcome drug company. Neither charge is true nor did either journalist bother to interview anyone at CAHF. Like NCAHF, CAHF operates on a shoe string. CAHF's Caroline Richmond reports that CAHF recently supported the British Chiropractic Association in its attempt to become registered. The BCA's training course is recognized by the Council for National Academic Standards and they are taking part in

trials organized by the Medical Research Council. Presently, anyone can hang out a shingle that they are a chiropractor. Registration would require that practitioners are qualified. [NCAHF members will be interested to know that although still considered to be outside of the mainstream, UK chiropractors have a reputation for being skilled manipulative therapists and generally limit themselves to manipulation for back pain; they do not make the extravagant claims associated with U.S. chiropractors.]

SUPREME COURT NARROWS PROTECTION AGAINST LIBEL Activists need to be aware of a new ruling at the U.S. Supreme Court which narrows the protection ottered by prefacing critical remarks with the words "in my opinion." Statements of opinion that incorporate actionable assertions of fact may be actionable. Mr. Botts will be writing something more on this in the future for the newsletter, but for now it appears that people who stick to pointing out provable adverse truths without embellishment, which is what NCAHF recommends; do not have anything to fear.

•· MASSACHUSETTS AREA NETWORK COORDINATOR We are pleased to announce that Diane DiPiero-Saia, MS, CHE, has been named NCAHF Area Network Coordinator for Massachusetts. Ms. Saia has been active against health fraud, misinformation and quackery in New England for several years. In 1987 she organized a health fraud workshop in conjunction with the Society of Consumer Affairs Professionals in Business--New England Chapter. She can be contacted at 55 State Street, Springfield, MA

01103; (413) 737-1935.

NCAHF BOARD MEMBER WILL DO PHARMACY RADIO SHOW NCAHF board member Richard Oksas, PharmD, MPH, Director of the Medication Information Service located at the Los Angeles Free Clinic will host a new radio show titled "Prescription for Health." The weekly half-hour show will air on Friday mornings at 8:30 on KFOX 93.5 FM in most of Southern California. Dr. Oksas is also coordinator of the NCAHF Task Force on Herbal Remedies.

NHF IN UPHEAVAL National Health Federation president Maureen Salaman has sent an 8-page tabloid-sized letter (dated July, 1990) to the general membership presenting her side of the story in the current upheaval at NHF. Kurt Donsbach resigned as board chairman last year and has since tried to destroy and replace NHF with his own organization. In her communique Salaman reveals a great deal of skulduggery by Donsbach, Clinton Miller, Kirkpatrick Dilling and others. She says that Donsbach illegally removed NHF files, Miller has had an unauthorized bank account through which he has run $262,000. Salaman suggests that these were funds raised by Miller for NHF but turned to his own unauthorized use. Miller has been fired and barred from NHF headquarters. His refusal to leave the premises on May 11, 1990 which resulted in his arrest and handcuffing by the Monrovia (CA) police. Salaman accuses Dilling of overcharging NHF for defending it against the Herbert and Renner lawsuits. Dilling has already been paid $82,000 and is suing NHF for an additional $64,633.171 The picture one gets from Salaman's report is that NHF is a real money machine that is being tapped by many people with access to the bank accounts. She describes improprieties such as finding that "Many envelopes with membership applications, gifts and memorials were opened, the checks removed, but there is no record of a response to the senders" are reported by Salaman.She reveals that one company makes a regularly monthly contribution of $2,000 to NHF! She complains that this has recently been discontinued because of the current crisis. Salaman also reveals other interesting inside information such as that NHF spent $21,000 to defeat the California Dietetic licensure bill. We wish we could say that this is the end of the NHF, but we doubt it. This is not the first time that NHF leaders have had an in-house power struggle that turned into a public spectacle. NHF is too lucrative and necessary for advancing the political agenda of the health hucksters for it to be dissolved.

UPDATE ON .HERBERT LAWSUITS Herbert versus AOk The number of defendants has been reduced to four, Kurt Donsbach, the International Institute of Natural Health Sciences, Inc., the IAT Patients Association (now known as People Against Cancer), and Frank Wiewel. Strange as it may seem the Judge dismissed the the author of the allegedly libelous book and many others directly associated with its distribution, on the basis that the defendants claimed that they did no

business in the State of Iowa where the case is being tried. These dismissals can and will be appealed. The judge did grant that discovery on all of the original 26 defendants and this is proceeding.

Herbert versus NAS: Discovery is proceeding and Mr. Botts is planning to file for a summary judgment.

PRIMER ON COPYRIGHT LAW Victor Herbert was able to protect the intellectual property of the. 1985 RDA committee because of his knowledge of copyright law. He has summarized the law for our information.

U.S. lnteDectual Property Law: Copyright in a NutsheD

A. Copyright attaches with the act of creation in fixed form, i.e., it is an incident of the process of authorship, protected by Title 17, U.S. Code.

B. Copyright is traditionally announced by writing on front or back of title page:@, year, author's name. This is not necessary, but it Is wise to do so. In 1989, the U.S. finally signed and became a member of the 1866 Berne Convention.

C. To sue an infringer, one must, with 5 years of creation, file (register). a copy (with 2-page application Form TX and $10 fee) with the Copyright Office, Library

of Congress. There are special advantages (statutory damages, attorney fees guaranteed) of filing within 3 months of creation.

D. Section 106 of the Copyright Act gives the owner of copyright the exclusive right to, and to authorize others to:

1. Reproduce the copyrighted work in whole or in part. 2. Prepare derivative works (changing words or format creates a derivative). 3. Distribute copies or recordings to the public by sale or other means.

4. Perform the work publicly. 5. Display the work publicly.

It is a Federal offense for anyone to violate any of the rights provided by the Act to the owner of the copyright.

The Berne Convention and U.S. Law also provide the moral rights to (A) Paternity (whoever uses the work must put the true author's name on it), and (8) Integrity (no one may alter the text without the author's permission).

@ 1990, Victor Herbert

Please send items of possible interest. to NCAHF members for The Bulletin Board or to readers of the NCAHF Newsletter to: P .0. Box 1276, Loma Linda, CA 92354. Complete references are needed.

T H E NCAHF

BULLETIN BOARD

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER, 1990

(The NCAHF Bulletin Board is sent to members only. It is intended to stimulate and aid in activism against health fraud, misinformation and quackery at the local, state and national levels.]

ANNUAL GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING The 1990 General Membership Meeting was held on September 16 at the Consumer Health Information and Research Institute in Kansas City. Our apologies to members who may have missed the meeting because of our having to change the meeting location at the last moment. Toe change was made out of our concern over threatened actions by the ACT UP activists reported in this issue of the Newsletter.

On August 31, 1990, NCAHFs paid-up membership stood at 1526 distributed as follows:· 88 Student, 827 Regular, 569 Professional, 41 Supporting, 1 Patron. Financially, NCAHF is carrying a loss of $4,497 for the year. Most of the heavier than usual loss ($4,000) is accounted for by the increased occupancy fee NCAHF is paying to Loma Linda University. Bank balance was $34,064.20.

The Board voted to establish an endowment fund to improve NCAHFs long term financial stability. Details will be announced following a report by NCAHFs legal counsel.

DIET & BEHAVIOR TASK FORCE SEEKS LEADER Due to the recent retirement of Helene Swenerton, PhD, RD, the NCAHF Task Force on Diet and Behavior finds itself without a Coordinator. This is the task force that issued a position paper on diet and criminal behavior in 1983 that was subsequently endorsed by a number of recognized nutrition organizations including the American Dietetic Association. The position paper was reaffirmed in 1989. Anyone who is interested in finding out more about this position should contact William Jarvis.

DISCOVERING PHYSICIAN'S CREDENTIALS The American Board of Medical Specialists now has a toll­free number which will provide certification information on any physician in the USA; 1-800-776-2378.

FALSE ADVERTISING BY MEDIA IS ll.LEGAL IN CALIFORNIA Section 17500 of the california Business and Professions Code declares that "it is unlawful ... to make or disseminate ... from this state before the public in any state, in any newspaper or other publication, or any advertising device ... or any manner or means whatever, any statement ... which is untrue or misleading ... • (omitted words do not dilute the meaning conveyed here). This law could be used against media sources that knowingly disseminate false and misleading advertising. Apparently it could be used against promoters located in California who advertise outside of the state. For a copy of the section, send $1 and an SSAE.

BE ON THE ALERT FOR FREE LANCE ANTI­CONSUMER ACTIVIST CLINTON MILLER Clinton Miller no longer is the NHFs Washington representative. However, he still shows up before legislative committees backing the agenda of anti-consumer protection groups. In June he appeared at a North Carolina hearing identifying himself as representing the "National Association of Ninth Amendment Nutritionists" (Miller's latest hobby horse is the notion that the 9th Amendment provides a Constitutional basis to permit the freedom to practice quackery; his unique interpretation of the 9th Amendment was published in the June, 1990 Health Freedom News pp.21-22]. In August he appeared before a California legislative hearing claiming to be a lobbyist for "Prohealth of Northern California" and the "Council for Better Health of Southern California." He also has claimed to be a lobbyist for Liberty Lobby, the publishers of the radical right wing tabloid The Spotlight. We suggest that Miller be quizzed on the organizations he claims to represent. Are they incorporated? If so, when and where? Who are the officers? Where is the main office located? What is the approximate size of the enrollment? and so forth. (NCAHF has copies of the July, 1990, publication NHF: The Real Facts which presents the nasty mud-slinging war going on within NHF. It offers insight into the bizarre personalities that lead NHF. Send $1 and a SSAE for a copy.

CALIFORNIA PROPosmoN 128 Prop 128, the "Big Green Initiative," is a misguided attempt to write radical environmentalism into law. Prop 128 would institutionalize the kind of misinformation and public distrust of science and technology that feeds health fraud and quackery. The "No" on 128 Committee will be contacting California NCAHF members for their support. Former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop is a leading opponent of this unrealistic legislation. NCAHF board member, Wallace Sampson, MD, is one of the signers of the voter pamphlet opposing Prop 128.

DELTA IS READY NCAHF has been asked to evaluate questionable advertisements submitted to Delta Airlines. The airline became alerted to the problem of fraudulent advertising and has asked for our help. We have volunteered our services in the public interest.

Please send items of possible interest to NCAHF members for The Bulletin Board or readers of the NCAHF Newsletter to: P.O. Box 1276, Loma Linda, CA 92354; FAX 714-824-4577.

1990 PRESIDENT'S REPORT

Our meeting this year is being held in connection with the National Health Fraud Conference. As in the past, organized quackery is here to distort our message, and if possible, to disrupt our meetings. This year they have enlisted the help of desperate AIDS sufferers who they have deceived into believeing that NCAHF is a tool of "organized medicine and the pharmaceutical industry." Each one of us must do his or her best to communicate the simple straightforward principles upon which NCAHF is founded.

NCAHF holds that under circumstances in which providers and consumers are on unequal terms, the principle of Caveat Vendor (let the seller beware) should prevail. This forms the basis of consumer protection law. We believe in the basic demands of consumer protection and science that have been encoded into the U.S. Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act for drugs and medical devices; to wit: full disclosure of the nature of the remedy through accurate labeling; truth in advertising; premarketing proof of both safety and effectiveness that permits benefit-risk assessments to be made for a specific purpose with proponents bearing the burden of proof; with unproved remedies required to be clearly identified as "experimental" subject to peer reviewed, acceptable protocols. Subjects must be fully informed and should not be charged a fee to serve as guinea pigs. Those who violate these principles should be held accountable for their misd.eeds. We believe that these represent what consumers expect from responsible medicine and government,

- and -wish to see··· them expanded. as far as is reasonable throughout the health marketplace.

Even quacks recognize that consumers want safe and effective health remedies. this is evident from their deceptive promotions. Through the use of meaningless words such as

. "holistic," "natural," "organic," "alternative," and so forth, they label their products, services or practices as safe. Through testimonials and unsubstantiated claims they create the illusion of effectiveness. Quacks attempt to evade accountability by advocating "freedom of choice."

One good news item for 1990 is the outcome of the OTA investigation into unconventional cancer treatments. Our statement published in the May-June, 1987 NCAHF Newsletter sounds almost prophetic. We stated: " There is little doubt in our minds of what OTA's findings will be since they will simply go over the ground covered by all of the rest of us who study cancer quackery. Following a negative report, the quacks will predictably yell 'foul' and resurrect their standby arguments about conspiracies, cover-ups, inside fixes, and so forth." That is precisely what happened.

Another positive happening has been that the umbrella organization of individuals responsible for much of the hard core quackery in North America is0 in disarray. The reality is that just as the recent apparent collapse of Communism is merely a public display of what actually happened long ago, the divisions among the continent's leading quacks has existed for a long time. The bad news iS that each and every one of

them is still in business, preying upon the desperate sick and wishful-thinking seekers of superhealth.

Organized quackery may be wounded, but it is not dead. Oliver Wendell Holmes was right when he said: "Quackery and idolatry are all but immortal." Today, quackery and idolatry are united in "New Age Medicine" and "Holistic Health." I say this because these usually promote Vitalism, an ancient notion about unverified energy forces that connect the human "spirit" to the Universal Life Force of the Cosmos. As emotionally satisfying as this can be, it belongs in the realm of religion and philosophy, not health science. Efforts to scientifically locate a "soul" within humans have been unsuccessful (for a fascinating account of the scientific search for the soul see: Christopher M. Mediums, Mystics & the Occult, New York: Thomas Y Crowell Co., 1975). Any attempt to treat the soul scientifically will have to wait until such a entity can be objectively evaluated. Charles Warner said: "No quack is a perfect quack without a pretense of religion." Quacks pretend to both religion and medical skills they do not possess. Piety and patriotism are the last strongholds of scoundrels (author unknown).

Just as quackery is immortal, so must organized efforts against it be seen as a continuing process. Persistence and perseverance must be among our primary attributes. · If you need a source of motivation to keep going, consider this. The leading cause of death in the USA is coronary heart disease if you use absolute numbers-or death rates. However, if you calculate the Years of Potential Life Lost, unintentional injuries moves from fourth place to number one because accidental death involves so many young people. After learning this, I took a new look at the harm done by quackery. Advances in cancer therapy have mainly be made in the diseases that strike the young (Hodgkin's, Wilm's, acute lymphocytic leukemia, testicular). The most tragic needless deaths from cancer quackery involve the loss of young lives. Insulin dependent diabetes is another disease more apt to involve a young person that can be a killer when the quacks move in. AIDS sufferers are most apt to be young, and while there is no cure, the prolongation of life through proper clinical management is essential, and quackery denies this to AIDS patients who heed its siren call. Bill London and I plan to a presentation on the harmful impact of quackery upon children at the national convention of the American School Health Association in October.

Let us continue the good fight against quackery. Let us not grow weary of the slanderous slings and arrows of quacks and its dupes. Let us always been willing to make the emotional investment that it takes to talk to desperate, confused and alienated people who wrongly believe that we are interfering with their freedom of choice. Let us continue to enhance their freedom of choice through reliable health information.

Presented at the Annual General Membership Meeting of the National Council Against Health Fraud, Inc., September 16, 1990, held at 3521 Broadway, Kansas City, Missouri

---------' N. CA H F ---------------,L..--------T H E B UL LET IN BOARD

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER,1990

[The NCAHF Bulletin Board is sent to members only. It is intended to stimulate and aid in activism against health fraud, misinformation and quackeiy at the local, state and national levels.]

RENEWING YOUR MEMBERSHIP Members will notice that renewal forms now come with the newsletter. This. method enabled a significant cost cut by reducing extra mailings and printing costs. Membership cards will be sent out as renewals are received.

STEPHEN BARRETI GIVES USEFUL ADVICE At the NHFC, Stephen Barrett, MD gave one of the most practical presentations for quackbusters we have heard. He published an article from which his talk was drawn in the July-August, Nutrition Forum, entitled "Nutrition quackery: recent trends and tidbits." For a copy of the five-page piece, send $1 and a business-size SSAB.

OPPONENT AGENCY QUITS The Coalition for Alternatives in Nutrition and Healthcare, Inc. (CANAH) is calling it quits. CANAH was headed by Catherine Frompovich, who passes herself off as a "PhD" based upon a diploma from the unaccredited correspondence school, Columbia Pacific University, cites lack of financial suppon as the reason CANAH failed.

QUACKERY ADVOCACY GROUP CHANGES NAME The IA T Patients Association operated by Frank Wiewel of Otho, Iowa has changed its name to People Against Cancer. Interesting, PAC claims to be tax-exempt. We wonder how a referral agency for questionable cancer remedies can claim tax-exemption.

FINANCIAL AFFAIRS NCAHF's financial picture improved in September and October. The balance sheet for the year as of October 31 showed a deficit of $1,952 Please remember NCAHF with a tax-deductl"ble, year-end contribution.

CALIFORNIA AO CONSUMER ALERT MAGAZINE The California Attorney General's Office has published a high quality slick magazine entitled Senior's Action Alert that warns about various types of frauds. Included is useful information on how to report fraud. Write: P.O. Box 944255, Sacramento, CA 94244-2550.

VIRGINIA LIVINGSTON-WHEELER DEAD AT 84 Virginia Livingston-Wheeler, owner and operator of infamous Livingston Clinic in San Diego, died this past June of heart failure while on a European tour. VL W purported to have discovered a bacterium which she believed to be the cause of cancer. She dubbed her pet Progenitor cyptocides (PC). Scientists who looked into her microscope merely saw a variety of common bacterium. VL W's explanation was that PC was "pleomorphic" (appearing many different forms). VL W alleged to cultivate patient's urine and develop an anti-cancer vaccine and prescribed megadoses of vitamins which were sold at her office window. VL W was ordered to cease and desist her dubious cancer treatments in February, 1990.

Please send items of possible interest. Include clear copies and complete references. Thank you.

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Happy Holidays

DEBATING CHIROPRACTICS COMMITMENT TO RESEARCH An interesting "Viewpoint - Counterpoint• debate between several reform-minded chiropractic representatives and the Director of Research of the Foundation fot Chiropractic Education and Research appeared in the ACA Journal of Chiro. Most interesting is the documentation that the American Chiropractic Association misrepresents itself when it alleges to be a •scientific publication." Long-time NCAHF membem may recall Eric Biazer's expose of the ACA as nothing more than a public relations outfit for DCs (CCAHF Newsletter, Jan-Feb, 1983). It appears from this 1990 analysis that little has changed.

SCIENTOLOGY The Church of Scientology keeps popping up in connection with health fraud, misinformation and quackery-all three. Some NCAHF leadem have been aware of the dubious actions of this group for many yeam. One offered his home as a California base to an author being harassed by Scientologists in the mid-19705. People victimized by Scientology's pseudocounselors have sought a received help. Originally focused upon mental health and self-help, more recently Scientologists have expanded into other areas of health. Dentists and chiropractors have reported being victimized by practice building promoters connected tQ Scientology who used and taught questionable techniques. In this issue of the Newsletter we report that Scientologist David Steinman, is spreading misinformation and promoting a questionable "detoxification• and •purification• program concocted by L Ron Hubbard, Scientology's late founder. A couple of short articles appearing in The Cult Observer (Nov-Dec, 1989) sheds more light on the nature and appeal of Scientology. Scientology is descn"bed as a cult because "it employs unethical, manipulative, and coercive techniques of pemuasion and control and advances the goals of its leadem, Qften to the detriment of its members. ...Scientologists appeal to the perfectly reasonable and natural desires of people to improve themselves, to perform better, to lead a better life," says Louis Jolyon West, MD, "They go after honest people who are not likely to suspect that someone is planning to cheat them." West called the late L Ron Hubbard "a charlatan and a quack." Antiquackery activists will want to be informed on this aggressive health cult.

CENTER FOR MEDICAL CONSUMERS A pseudoconsumer agency based in New York City now openly defends the promoters of dubious AIDS and cancer remedies under the same distorted idea of "freedom of choice• advanced by organi7.ed quackery. The Center reveals its true colors in the March, 1990 edition of Health Facts (Vol.XV, No.130) in "Alternative treatments: freedom of choice in crisis." Believe it or not, it editor, Maryann Napoli, was a speaker at the 1988 National Health Fraud Conference. She was put on the program by an FDA official who never has explained why despite numerous complaints at the time.

HOW BIZARRE DOES IT GET? CON MAN SELLS HUMAN EXCREMENT PILI.S FOR AIDS A French con man is peddling an "alternative" remedy for AIDS and other debilitating conditions a concoction based upon extract of human excrement! Yves Gerard Delatte is the promoter of Delta Te, Ecoflorin and Symbion through a company called Symbiogenesis, Ltd. It is reported that Delatte has no qualifications, his remedies no proven value, and his claims to success no basis in fact. He works with a woman, Monica Bryant, who calls herself the "International Institute of Symbiotic Studies" which nothing more than her sales company. Apparently these promoters were able to dupe staff people at more than one university for a while that these products were legitimate. The scheme was the subject of a expose by Thames TV's Thames Report in June, 1989. A written account, "Let them eat shit," appeared in New Statesman & Society*, (June, 1989). (*this could an error because the reference is barely legible.)

LIST OF DRUGS AVAILABLE TO OREGON NATUROPATHS NCAHF has obtained a list of drugs now available for prescn'bing or use by Naturopaths in Oregon. According to a member of the Naturopathic Physician's Formulary Council, this list came about as a result of "political manipulation of the Council and an apparent lack of basic knowledge in pharmacology and the clinical use of drugs on the part of the naturopathic representatives." Opposition to the Naturopathic Formulary Compendium by Joseph Schnabel, PharmD, the Oregon Society of Hospital Pharmacists, Oregon State Pharmacists Association and NCAHF General Counsel Michael Botts are a matter of public record.

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Season's Greetings