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Archives | (February 2002)
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The Other Assault On Our Freedom
------------------------------------------------------------------ Page 1 of 4 The horrific attack on the World Trade Center witnessed on television by millions of Americans September 11th brought home as nothing else could the reality of the threat to our freedom posed by international terrorism. What those millions of viewers did not realize, however, was that the terrible events of September 11th temporarily derailed a different but equally dangerous threat to one of our most important freedoms here at home... On September 10th, the Senate Select Committee on Aging held a hearing titled "Swindlers, Hucksters and Snake Oil Salesmen: The Hope and Hype of Anti-Aging Medicine." The title, though, was merely a smokescreen to hide its real purpose. Chaired by Senator John Breaux of Louisiana, the proceeding had little to do with protecting senior citizens. Rather, it was in reality nothing less than a thinly veiled rabid attack on the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) and on the very notion of dietary supplements and alternative medicine. Senator Breaux did not even attempt to give the appearance of balance. Instead, he used the Committee to provide a platform for a rag-tag parade of self-anointed experts, power hungry government bureaucrats and officials with private political agendas to mount a full-fledged media circus. The clear bias of the hearing was underscored by the fact that the only witnesses called to give testimony in favor of DSHEA were Glen Braswell, convicted of mail fraud and pardoned by President Clinton and an associate. Both, understandably, took the Fifth! In a performance worthy of the legendary Stalinist "show trials," witness after witness recited laundry lists of criticisms of DSHEA and of alternative medicine. In the course of this mindless assault, truth became the victim of ideological self-interest. Indeed, the hostility expressed towards supplements and the use of alternative medicine was palpable. So what did the other witnesses want? Although there were a variety of complaints, all agreed on one essential point: more regulation was needed. This, it should be noted was in direct contradiction to the testimony of FDA Commissioner Jane Henney two years earlier who said the FDA had all the authority it needed! Specifically, what they all wanted was to have dietary supplements subjected to the same sorts of rules that apply to prescription drugs. How supplement manufacturers were expected to find the money to pay the estimated $600 million price tag that could accompany the testing of each of their products was not addressed. With C-SPAN cameras rolling, and Committee members posturing, it was clear that Breaux and his colleagues thought that this was going to be the start of something big – and then the terrible events of September 11th knocked them out of the headlines, but not out of the picture. The sad truth is that the Breaux hearing was only the latest in an ongoing assault on DSHEA and on alternative medicine that has been going on for several years. What is of concern, however, is that over the past year the assault has intensified dramatically and garnered considerable media attention. Although it was temporarily overshadowed by the events of September 11th, as news related to the terrorist threat becomes less prominent in the headlines, the attack on dietary supplements and alternative medicine has been renewed. Indeed, on January 25th of this year, ABC’s "Prime Time Live" newsmagazine ran an extensive "expose" on Mexican cancer clinics. In an interview posted on ABC’s website, Dr. Stephen Barrett, of "Quackbusters" makes clear his attitude towards alternative and complementary medicine: "Alternative" is a slogan, not a definable group of therapies. If something works, it would not be proper to refer to it as alternative. The vast majority of cancer treatments referred to as alternative obviously don't work. It's unlikely that any others work." The following exchange with Barrett is particularly revealing: MODERATOR What's the most common health-related scam? DR. STEPHEN BARRETT It's the promotion of unnecessary vitamins - the claim that it is difficult or impossible for people to get the nutrients they need from ordinary food. It is important to understand why DSHEA and supplements such as vitamins have become the focus of so much attention by the defenders of medical orthodoxy. Most forms of alternative and complementary medicine employ some form of supplement as an integral element of their therapy. Whether its vitamins, minerals, herbs or some other form of supplement, without the ability to use them, most of these therapies cannot be employed. It would be like prohibiting a conventional physician from using prescription drugs or a stethoscope. But what are the concerns being raised about DSHEA, and is there any substance to them? A simple review of the facts makes clear just how specious the claims are. To begin with, it is important to recognize that DSHEA was not enacted in a vacuum. Congress knew exactly what it was doing. Indeed, the law was enacted in response to a move by the FDA to assume power through regulation it had been denied by legislation. |
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