FSM Friends’ News and Articles
Superspreading events: “It is fairly clear that one of the most effective methods for minimizing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic is to limit large gatherings. This one step can prevent superspreader events, which can reduce the spread of the virus by as much as 80%.”
Lesser-known Health Professions
A career in radiation oncology – Radiation Oncologist: Radiation Oncologists are specialist doctors who oversee radiation therapy particularly for cancer patients, both for curing cancer or slowing the cancer growth in incurable cases.
Today’s Abused Health Concept
Therapeutic Goods Administration – Top doctor resigns TGA role over concerns with policing of fringe medicine: FSM president Ken Harvey has resigned in frustration from the TGA’s advertising committee due to the notable lack of enforcement action for non-compliant complementary medicine advertising. “The Therapeutic Goods Administration received 1468 complaints in 2018-19 about advertisements for drugs and devices, many of them alleging herbal supplements, fat burners and hangover cures were being sold with wild and unsupported claims about their effectiveness.” Despite most complaints being upheld, in most cases the TGA only sent an ‘advisory letter’, and “…many products remain for sale despite an upheld complaint, Dr Harvey said.”
Very high numbers of “non compliant” products – an average of 77 per cent of those reviewed between 2014 and 2018 – are revealed every year by the TGA’s own surveillance. Most make misleading claims or lack evidence showing they work. This has included everything from supplements and weight loss pills, through to fake facemasks being sold to hospitals. (602 facemasks brands eventually lost their licences, but only after ‘The Age’ raised concerns). Imagine if instead of products being sold, this conversation was about drink drivers. Imagine being on a committee aiming to protect victims. And imagine how frustrating it would be to always see more warnings being sent out while the perpetrators continue their abusive behaviour unabated. “I have come to the conclusion I have been wasting my and Choice’s time,” Dr Harvey said. “The TGA is not going to fix the problem of advertising until there is changes, either at the top of the TGA or at government level.”