Avoiding Quackery and Fraud

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A lot of people believe TV advertisements, testimonials and other advertising campaigns about a certain drug or therapy that provides “cure”. These adverts often claim (in an indirect way) that they have the cure for chronic problems like cancer, diabetes, impotence, heart diseases, and other more.

These advertisements usually target those people who are ready to try anything to cure their illnesses. Sadly, these claims rarely help and most of the time causes side-effects.

As nurses, we should be the first person to be aware of these modus and warn clients about them also. These claims can be ineffective and worst, can be dangerous to your health!

Here are some tips on how to be a better health consumer and avoid fraud and quackery:

Advertisements Through Testimonials

We often see advertisements like an (iridology commercial) on TV with people giving their testimonials about a certain drug or therapy that helped cure them. We often believe these shit, but little we do know that we have different reactions to a certain medical therapy. So, (most of the time) there is no absolute therapy for a certain disease a person have since all of us are unique.

A very good example are those "iridology" centers wherein they claim to diagnose a variety of problems with just the iris as the basis

Claims to Have a Secret Ingredient

This is a no, no in pharmacology. Consumers must know what they are taking.

Drugs That Are Not Evaluated

Drugs should be evaluated in prominent medical journals.

Claims Benefits That Seems Too Good To Be True

How about I advertise this slimming drug that cuts about 2 pounds per week, increases your immunity, gives you stable heart conditions, detoxifies, and is also a potent anti-cancer drug all in one single pill you have to take once? Be suspicious of those kind of drugs.

Treatments That Are Unethical and Illegal

Unethical means contrary to conscience or morality and professional standards. There are some faith-healers here in the Philippines that have unethical way of ‘treating’ their patients.

Are Available Only Through Mail or Home Delivery

Sometimes there are people who go house-to-house to promote a certain drug product. Be suspicious when that happens.

Ask Questions

The best way to protect yourself against fraud is to ask questions and be observant. You have the right to refuse a treatment.You have the right to be informed about your condition in terms you understand. Do not take the risk and agree on anything without asking “why” first.

Trust Your Common Sense

Medicines doesn’t work like magic. If someone takes the time to explain a problem or a treatment to us (which is your right as a health consumer), we usually make a pretty good decision on what is best for us.

Do Your Own Research

If you have a complicated problem, or want to know more about your options:

Start by asking your doctor for any books or any written information you could borrow and read.
Access the Internet and surf for legitimate websites about health (health.com, mayoclinic.com, webmd.com).
If you find something interesting about your condition, make a copy for your doctor and discuss it at your next visit.

Conclusion

Overall, what needed here most to avoid fraud is to be knowledgeable, suspicious, and trust your common sense. Do not risk your health to alternative treatment which are unapproved and untrustworthy. As nurses, we should be able to suppress some believes of the client which are unhealthful. This makes health education important.

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