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Consumer Health Digest #21-45
November 14, 2021
Consumer Health Digest is a free weekly e-mail newsletter edited by William M. London, Ed.D., M.P.H
http://www.calstatela.edu/faculty/william-m-london., with help from Stephen Barrett, M.D
http://www.quackwatch.org/10Bio/bio.html. 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. Its primary focus is on health, but occasionally it includes non-health scams and practical tips. To subscribe, click here
http://lists.quackwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/chd_lists.quackwatch.org###
Report finds beliefs in COVID-19 vaccine misconceptions are commonKey findings in a new KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation) Vaccine Monitor report include:
*** 78% of adults say they have heard at least one of eight different false statements about COVID-19 and that they believe them to be true or are unsure if they are true or false.
*** 32% of adults believe or are uncertain about at least four of the false statements.
*** Among those who say they trust COVID-19 information from network news, local TV news, CNN, MSNBC, and NPR, 11–16% hold at least four misconceptions.
*** Among those who trust COVID-19 information from One America News, Fox News, and Newsmax, 36–46% hold at least four misconceptions.
*** Unvaccinated adults and Republicans are much more likely to believe or be unsure about false statements compared with vaccinated adults and Democrats.
The false statements in the study were:
*** The government is exaggerating the number of COVID-19 deaths. (60% have heard and either believe this to be true or don’t know if it’s true.)
*** Pregnant women should not get the COVID-19 vaccine. (39%)
*** Deaths due to the COVID-19 vaccine are being intentionally hidden by the government. (35%)
*** COVID-19 vaccines have been shown to cause infertility. (31%)
*** Ivermectin is a safe and effective treatment for COVID-19. (28%)
*** You can get COVID-19 from the vaccine. (24%)
*** The COVID-19 vaccines contain a microchip. (24%)
*** The COVID-19 vaccines can change your DNA. (21%)
[Hamel L, and others. KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor: Media and Misinformation
https://www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/poll-finding/kff-covid-19-vaccine-monitor-media-and-misinformation/. KFF, Nov 8, 2021]
The KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor
https://connect.kff.org/e3t/Btc/RB+113/c1ThL04/VWRCB82CnNvRW8M_BbL6s48MdW4TqGZG4zFgdFN74Pqv93q3phV1-WJV7Cg_23N5NVqk9lV6BVW4CG_Dw4_WpYJW8MC4d33y40qWW3zTlRL2BXskhW60Xyn95xW1C2W7_lXFT4W1RrMW8nqrQN986tklW46QK3f1cdTbCW2x_1P340Jt6lW2sTvNq2HylFhW62jsLj7jtbBsW6hkCpP8VncFrW6y_9yg3-fjhhMV_8VM5s7vmW1CRTDZ6WKdC7W3-Gxtp4LwM80W4bHgbg4hFrlMW5hKNQ672ZsvWW5pH5yF1LLhp2W52Rn7786xVHFW8YN7RC82BfQNN2pDr6rLDRtnW3yMPW06GwDjCW5vJrr52vZrK1W9j8vQV4s0Z4pVHk0fX5PjgcTVxVrvM1y-gbKW6Q6SCd5JJjtV3q4-1tracks public attitudes and experiences with COVID-19 vaccinations through a combination of surveys and qualitative research.
[COVID-19 misinformation is ubiquitous: 78% of the public believes or is unsure about at least one false statement, and nearly a third believe at least four of eight false statements tested
https://www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/press-release/covid-19-misinformation-is-ubiquitous-78-of-the-public-believes-or-is-unsure-about-at-least-one-false-statement-and-nearly-at-third-believe-at-least-four-of-eight-false-statements-tested/. KFF news release, Nov 8, 2021]
###
Surgeon General issues toolkit to counter health misinformationThe Office of the U.S. Surgeon General has issued a 22-page overview of health misinformation and resources to counter it. [A Community Toolkit for Addressing Health Misinformation <https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/health-misinformation-toolkit-english.pdf>. Office of the U.S. Surgeon General, 2021] The intended audiences are: (a) health-care professionals and administrators; (b) teachers, school administrators, and librarians; (c) faith leaders; and (d) trusted community members. Resources in the Community Toolkit include:
*** a Health Misinformation Checklist to help evaluate the accuracy of health-related content
*** tips on how individuals can talk to loved ones about health misinformation
*** an outline of common types of misinformation and disinformation tactics
*** reflections and examples of times individuals have encountered misinformation
[As vaccinations are approved for children across the country, U.S. Surgeon General releases new community toolkit for addressing health misinformation
https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2021/11/09/as-vaccinations-approved-for-children-across-country-us-surgeon-general-releases-new-community-toolkit-for-addressing-health-misinformation.html. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services news release, Nov 9, 2021]
Two one-page infographics based on the Community Toolkit are also available:
“Talk to Your Community About Health Misinformation”
https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/talk-to-your-community-about-health-misinformation-english.pdfand
“Health Misinformation Checklist.”
https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/health-misinformation-checklist-english.pdf###
Physician reprimanded for aiding chiropractor in “stem cell” scamThe Texas Medical Board has found that George Givens Miller, M.D., an internal medicine and cardiovascular disease physician, aided and abetted a chiropractor in the unlicensed practice of medicine in:
*** offering regenerative medicine to patients
*** falsely marketing allograft products with little to no stem cells as “stem-cell” injections to patients
*** failing to maintain adequate medical records and obtain informed consent from two patients who were billed $38,500 and $13,000, respectively.
The Board and George Givens Miller, M.D. have entered into an agreed order
https://cdn.centerforinquiry.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/33/2008/05/14202419/agreed_order_2021.pdfpublicly reprimanding Dr. Miller and requiring him to:
*** within one year and three attempts pass the medical jurisprudence exam
*** within one year complete the medical recordkeeping course offered by the University of California San Diego Physician Assessment and Clinical Education Program
*** within one year complete at least 16 hours of continuing medical education that include eight hours in ethics and eight hours in informed consent
*** within 30 days submit to the board for review and approval all consent forms for complementary and alternative medicine, including stem cell treatment
*** within six months pay an administrative penalty of $6,000
###
Physician accused of spreading dangerous COVID-19 misinformation loses hospital privilegesHouston Methodist Hospital has suspended privileges for Dr. Mary Bowden, an ear, nose, and throat specialist, after officials claimed she was “spreading dangerous misinformation” about the COVID-19 vaccine and treatments. She has misled patients by:
*** touting the anti-parasitic drug ivermectin for use in COVID-19
*** urging against vaccinations for children and those with “natural immunity”
*** suggesting Houston Methodist won’t treat unvaccinated patients (a statement she later walked back)
The hospital also commented on Twitter
https://twitter.com/MethodistHospabout Bowden’s suspension.
[Gill J. Houston Methodist suspends River Oaks doctor for spreading COVID misinformation
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/health/article/Houston-Methodist-suspends-River-Oaks-doctor-for-16615892.php. Houston Chronicle, Nov 12, 2021]
Bowden has acknowledged prescribing ivermectin for COVID-19 in her practice. Family members of COVID-19 patients are suing two Texas hospitals to force them to administer such treatment.
[Sims V. Two families fight to get ivermectin for loved ones battling COVID-19
https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/two-families-fight-to-get-ivermectin-for-loved-ones-battling-covid-19/2814895/. 5NBCDFW, Nov 12, 2021]
===========================
Stephen Barrett, M.D.
Consumer Advocate
7 Birchtree Circle, Apt. 703
Chapel Hill, NC 27517
Telephone: (919) 533-6009
http://www.quackwatch.org (health fraud and quackery)
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