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Consumer Health Digest #08-38
September 16, 2008
Consumer Health Digest is a free weekly e-mail newsletter edited by
Stephen Barrett, M.D., and cosponsored by NCAHF and Quackwatch. It
summarizes scientific reports; legislative developments; enforcement
actions; news reports; Web site evaluations; recommended and
nonrecommended books; and other information relevant to consumer
protection and consumer decision-making.
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Quackwatch and Dr. Barrett need your help. If you haven't already
done so, please read
http://www.ncahf.org/digest07/07-48.html and
send a contribution to support our work.
###
"Stroke doctor" in trouble again.
The Osteopathic Medical Board of California has charged David
Steenblock, D.O. with gross negligence, repeated negligent acts,
excessive treatments, failure to maintain adequate records, and
falsely representing his credentials. Steenblock operates the Brain
Cell Therapeutic Clinic in Mission Viejo, California, which claims to
"give the maximum amount of recovery possible for stroke and
traumatic brain injury." The complaint states that he charged a
77-year-old stroke patient more than $26,000 for services that
included 87 sessions of hyperbaric oxygen, 84 physical therapy
treatments, 20 intravenous treatments, and 8 testosterone injections.
http://www.casewatch.org/board/med/steenblock/steenblock4.shtml Steenblock asserts that stroke victims suffer from a long-term lack
of oxygen to the brain cells and that his neuro-rehab program is
"designed to bring oxygen back to these starved cells, reduce
swelling, and provide the nutrients needed to help the cells remove
their waste and restore normal metabolic function." However, there is
no scientific evidence that increasing oxygen delivery to the brain
after an acute episode of stroke is over can stimulate cells to
regenerate.
This is the third time Steenblock has been in trouble. In 1991, he
was charged with negligence in connection with two patients he had
treated.
http://www.quackwatch.org/11Ind/steenblock1.html In 1994,
the case was settled with a stipulation under which he agreed to
serve five years of probation, pay $10,000 for costs, and take extra
continuing education courses in pharmacology, medical charting, and
ethics. In 1997, Steenblock was charged with violating his probation
by not paying the $10,000 assessment and by using three unlicensed
"physical therapy assistants" to administer patient services. (In
1997, the employees were convicted of practicing physical therapy
without a license.)
http://www.quackwatch.org/11Ind/steenblock2.html In 2000, after Steenblock had paid the $10,000 and hired a licensed
physical therapist to supervise the others, the board assessed
another $3,500 toward costs but decided not to penalize him for
"aiding and abetting the unlicensed practice of physical therapy."
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New book can help parents decide about HPV vaccine.
The HPV Vaccine Controversy, by Shobha S. Krishman, M.D., dissects
the arguments for and against administering human papillomavirus
vaccine (Gardasil) to preadolescent girls.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0313350116/quackwatch-20 HPV
infection can cause genital warts, about 70% of cervical cancers, and
several other types of cancer. The vaccine can sharply reduce the
incidence of these cancers, but, for maximum effect, must be given
before sexual activity begins. In the United States, more than 20
million people are infected and about 6 million get a new genital HPV
infection each year. Proponents argue that the only way the
vaccination can work as a public health measure is if it is widely
used. Opponents claim that its use will endorse and encourage teenage
sexual activity, although no scientific data support that belief.
There is also controversy about whether HPV vaccination should be
mandated or offered on a voluntary basis. In 2006, the FDA approved
Gardasil for preventing cervical cancer in girls and women ages 9 to
26. This month, the agency added approval for preventing vulvar and
vaginal cancers. [FDA approves expanded uses for Gardasil to include
preventing certain vulvar and vaginal cancers. FDA news release, Sept
12, 2008]
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2008/NEW01885.html For
additional information, see
http://www.fda.gov/cber/products/gardasil.htm###
Illegal Internet drug prescribing is widespread.
Columbia University's National Center on Addiction and Substance
Abuse (CASA) has reported on the availability of controlled drugs
through online pharmacy sites. During the first quarter of 2008,
CASA's investigators found that about 85% of 365 Web sites that
advertised or sold drugs like OxyContin, Valium, Xanax, Vicodin,
Ritalin, and Adderall did not require a prescription. The 28-page
report-"You've Got Drugs!" V: Prescription Drug Pushers on the
Internet-is CASA's fifth annual White Paper on this subject. The
report also notes:
**Of the sites not requiring prescriptions, 42% explicitly stated
that no prescription was needed, 45% offered cursory "online
consultations," and 13% made no mention of a prescription.
**Some sites sold prescriptions that could be filled at local pharmacies.
**Of the few sites that require prescriptions, half permit them to be
faxed, allowing significant opportunity for fraud.
**Only two of the sites were certified by the National Association of
Boards of Pharmacy as Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites.
**Benzodiazepines (like Xanax and Valium) continue to be the most
frequently offered drugs for sale with 90% of sites selling them;
followed by opioids (like Vicodin and OxyContin) at 57% of sites, and
stimulants (like Ritalin and Adderall) at 27%of sites.
**The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency estimates that in 2007, 11% of
prescriptions filled by traditional pharmacies were for controlled
substances compared to 80% of prescriptions filled by Internet
pharmacies.
**No controls block access to these sites by children and teens.
The CASA report recommended that Internet search engines block all
advertisements for controlled prescription drugs that do not come
from licensed and certified online pharmacies and that the United
States negotiate treaties with foreign governments to help curb the
problem. The report can be purchased in print form or downloaded free
of charge via
http://www.casacolumbia.org/ViewProduct.aspx?PRODUCTID=756e24b7-5db0-4433-acb2-115a59b78894###
Other issues of the Digest are accessible through
http://www.ncahf.org/digest08/index.html. For information about the
National Council Against Health Fraud, see
http://www.ncahf.org/about/mission.html. If you enjoy the newsletter,
please recommend it to your friends.
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