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Consumer Health Digest #22-38
October 9, 2022

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

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Spokesman for COVID-19 misinformation group convicted on Capitol riot charges. ==

John Herbert Strand, who served as spokesperson and creative director of America’s Frontline Doctors (AFLDS), has been found guilty of all five charges against him related to the storming of the Capitol building on January 6, 2021. Because he refused to take a plea deal, he now faces up to 24 years in prison.
[Mencimer S. A jury just found the insurrectionist underwear model guilty on all charges
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2022/09/a-jury-just-found-the-insurrectionist-underwear-model-guilty-on-all-charges/
. Mother Jones, Sept 27, 2022]

Strand had been indicted
https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/case-multi-defendant/file/1365386/download
along with girlfriend and AFLDS founder Simone Gold, M.D., J.D. In February 2022, Gold pleaded guilty to knowingly and unlawfully “entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds,” a Class A misdemeanor. The government’s sentencing memo against her noted that she raised more than $430,000 for her legal defense without mentioning her guilty plea and “seemingly leveraged her criminal conduct to bring in hundreds of thousands of dollars to AFDLS, from which she draws $20,000 per month.” In June, Gold was sentenced to 60 days in jail, to be followed by one year of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $9,500 fine plus $500 restitution. In July, the State of Florida issued Gold a license to practice medicine.
[Barrett S. A skeptical look at Simone Gold and America’s Frontline Doctors
https://quackwatch.org/11ind/a-skeptical-look-at-simone-gold-and-americas-frontline-doctors/
. Quackwatch, Sept 27, 2022]

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Misconduct by anti-vaccine doctor alleged

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia has issued a citation for Dr. Daniel Yoshio Nagase
https://www.cpsbc.ca/news/citation-re-dr-daniel-yoshio-nagase
, a family physician and former registrant of the College. A Discipline Committee Panel will be appointed to conduct a hearing to look into Nagase’s alleged misconduct on or about December 9, 2021, while he was a registrant. Nagase allegedly made public addresses that included misleading, incorrect, or inflammatory statements about vaccinations, treatments, and COVID-19 measures. The statements included:

*** ivermectin is a safe and effective treatment for COVID-19

*** COVID-19 vaccinations are dangerous

At least some of these public statements were made while appearing in front of effigies of political figures who were hung from nooses. Nagase is the third doctor the College has publicly acknowledged investigating for spreading misinformation about COVID-19 and vaccines. Last fall, Alberta Health Services issued a warning
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/ivermectin-covid-alberta-nagase-1.6205075
about Nagase’s public claims of using ivermectin to cure COVID-19 in elderly patients. His medical license has been cancelled in Alberta for non-renewal and non-payment of fees. A notice next to his name
https://search.cpsa.ca/PhysicianProfile?e=9472eac0-db55-45b1-8e61-36ea066286ea&i=0
in the College of Physicians of Alberta registry says he is restricted from writing mask or vaccine exemption letters, prescribing ivermectin, or treating COVID-19 patients.
[Lindsay B. Doctor who gave anti-vaccine speech in front of effigies of officials being hanged faces discipline hearing
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/daniel-nagase-anti-vaccine-speech-effigies-disciplinary-hearing-1.6602820
. CBC News, Oct 1, 2022]

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Need for community mental health service funding identified

The editorial board of The New York Times is calling for legislation to provide billions of dollars in funding to adequately support President John F. Kennedy’s vision for the community mental health model of services. This model would enable people in psychiatric distress to remain anchored in their communities. The article notes:

*** states failed to provide funding to sustain community mental health centers initially funded through the Community Mental Health Act of 1963
https://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ajp-rj.2021.160404

*** investment in the model is wise because the successes of various pilot programs since 2014 suggest significant potential to offset societal costs of untreated mental illness

*** few Americans receive adequate psychiatric care or psychological support; in many cases, the reasons are lack of insurance, inadequate insurance coverage, or long wait lists

*** community-based mental health clinics lose money on reimbursement rates provided by Medicaid

*** pressing charges against loved ones in crisis has become a way to get them psychiatric care through the criminal justice system

[Editorial Board. The solution to America’s mental health crisis already exists
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/04/opinion/us-mental-health-community-centers.html?unlocked_article_code=H1hNCl0iHCHZCRcUrYhXVgSirIasAcjcyKvHlnwyZnsCFBnU7aCvkMTfjbIeC38zvYAs_jjpmwFkwhNMNUzAG3cDK5zwBx8eR_kTLPhywpvlzDX-wwm1EQ_hd6kuoc1XKwKsJBzyt5EU-a83Y_-F3EOAyX6VYXbTwXcfJLIKdQW1DZ-QrdJ9P1AOMnY-fEQIEkBzFQD8UyJByopFqoycEWRKK30rP_NenolPlTB89C67HVtiYU2AEXWJ2mfwogVdiW6b8fHGZb9-chvCUsB0IdYT5E_j9NYJiVo0A_pbEVMfTy4DoDMJpwyYEJBSfyekSD1edrfPsPSj4P_5bjkPS_ehvApmIsh0M1BAMQ&smid=tw-share
. The New York Times, Oct 4, 2022]

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988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline launched

The new 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
https://988lifeline.org/
is now active across the U.S. Modeled after the emergency number 911, it offers 24/7 call, text, and chat access to trained crisis counselors who can help people experiencing suicidal thoughts, substance use issues, a mental health crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress. People can also dial 988 if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support. Calls through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s number, 1-800-273-8255, launched in 2005, will now be routed to 988. The new number is a joint effort by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and the Department of Veterans Affairs. President Donald Trump signed a bipartisan bill
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/10/19/925447354/new-law-creates-988-hotline-for-mental-health-emergencies
to create 988 service to respond to all mental health crises. According to HHS, the Biden administration has increased federal funding from $24 million to $432 million toward building the capacity of local and backup call centers and providing associated services, including a subnetwork for Spanish speakers.
[Chatterjee R. The new 988 mental health hotline is live
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/07/15/1111316589/988-suicide-hotline-number
. NPR, July 16, 2022]

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Small-print disclaimers for Nugenix Total-T scrutinized

TruthInAdvertising.org has warned consumers that small-print disclaimers in ads offering a “complimentary bottle” of purported testosterone-boosting supplement Nugenix Total-T indicate

(a) responders will be charged $4.99 S&P for the “complimentary” 14-day sample, and

(b) those who fail to cancel will be enrolled in a subscription program that will cost $75 per month.

TruthInAdvertising.org has previously noted
https://truthinadvertising.org/articles/nugenix/
“low testosterone” is a condition invented by marketers.
[‘Complimentary bottle’ of Nugenix Total-T
https://truthinadvertising.org/articles/complimentary-bottle-of-nugenix-total-t/
. TINA.org, Sept 28, 2022]


==================

Stephen Barrett, M.D.
Consumer Advocate
7 Birchtree Circle
Chapel Hill, NC 27517

Telephone: (919) 533-6009

http://www.quackwatch.org (health fraud and quackery)
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