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False Claims Halted
for Pain-Relief Device
Stephen Barrett, M.D.
- In 1996, Natural Innovations, Inc., its president William S. Gandee,
D.C., of Akron, Ohio, agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission (FTC) charges
stemming from the advertising and sale of "The Stimulator," an
alleged pain-relief device widely advertised in an infomercial titled "Saying
No To Pain." According to the FTC, the infomercial made unsubstantiated
claims that the device would relieve virtually all types of pain and provided
immediate, long-term pain relief superior to that of medications and other
treatments. The consent agreement requires Gandee and his company to have
scientific proof to back up any health or medical-benefit claim they make
in the future. It also requires them to be able to substantiate any claim
that an endorsement or testimonial they use represents the typical experience
of users, or to accompany such a claim with a prominent disclaimer. World
Media T.V., Inc., which made the infomercial, signed a separate but similar
agreement.
| The Stimulator, which sold for about $80, is essentially a barbecue igniter
outfitted with finger grips. Its marketers claimed it could relieve migraine
headaches, other headaches, back pain, arthritis, stress, menstrual cramps,
earaches, sinus, nosebleeds, flu and other ailments. Users were instructed
to "touch the tip . . . to the general area in which you feel pain"
and depress a plunger to generate electric sparks. |
|
- The infomercial, hosted by television personality Lee Meriwether, featured
endorsements by daredevil Evel Knievel, former basketball great Bill Walton,
Gandee himself, and several consumers who said that the device had helped
them. In an instructional video, Gandee stated:
As I work with the Stimulator, it is very obvious to me that soon this
product will be worldwide. I believe that every household in America very
soon will own a Stimulator. It might even go to the point where each individual
person in the household will own a Stimulator because they'll want to keep
it with them all the time. I also sincerely believe that the Stimulator
will help you lead a more active, productive, and pain-free life. And as
you share the Stimulator with your family and friends, which I hope you
do and soon, I know that your family and friends are going to be calling
you "Doc" or they're going to be asking for you to use the Stimulator
on them.
The FTC agreement bars Gandee and his company from making unsubstantiated
claims that:
- Use of the device will significantly reduce, relieve, or eliminate
musculoskeletal pain, including but not limited to pain in the back, feet,
knees, wrists, knuckles, elbows, shoulders, ankles, joints, or calves;
carpal tunnel syndrome; muscle spasms or strains; or sciatica.
- Use of the device will significantly reduce, relieve, or eliminate
abdominal pain or pain or discomfort caused by allergies, sinus conditions,
diverticulosis, cramps, or menstrual cramps.
- Use of the device will eliminate the pain caused by severe headaches,
including but not limited to occipital, frontal, migraine, cluster, or
stress headaches, or headaches caused by benign tumors.
- Pain relief or pain elimination provided by the device is immediate.
- Use of the device provides long-term pain relief.
- For pain relief, the device is as effective as, or more effective than,
prescription or over-the-counter medications, including but not limited
to aspirin, acetaminophen, Darvon, Darvocet, or codeine.
- For pain relief, the device is as effective as, or more effective than,
physical therapy, massage therapy, chiropractic treatment, acupuncture,
acupressure, or reflexology.
In May 1995, the FDA seized thousands of Stimulators marketed by Universal
Management Services, Inc., of Akron, Ohio. In December, 1995, at the FDA's
request, the U.S. Justice Department sought an injunction against this company.
In December 1997, the District Court for the Northern Division of Ohio issued
a permanent injunction halting the manufacture and sale of the device and
ordering Universal Management Services to offer full refunds to each person
who purchased one after May 1995. In September 1999, the United States Court
of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit upheld the district court's ruling.
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This article was posted on December 27, 1999.