A New Kind of Dr. Kevorkian

[Hellbound]

Wanted to post this here. I sent a letter to Randi to see if he can get it up in the commentary, and see how many people we can get the message to. Here's the text of my email to Randi, I'm sure some of you here can help me out with who to contact and how, as well...or send in your own complaints to the relevant parties.

Dear Randi & JREF,

I'm a fan of your website and rather active member of the forums. I was prompted to write this afternoon because of your reach within the skeptical community and your reaction to medical quackery.

I was just watching The Science Channel, and was almost floored when a commercial came on during their "Extreme Machines" show. Featuring one "Dr." James Chapell, OD, ND, PhD, MH, he is touting his new book "A Promise Made, A Promise Kept: One Son's Quest for the Cause and Cure of Diabetes". My first thought was "Oh, this should be interesting. I bet it's some good advice on living with diabetes and managing the problems associated with it". I couldn't have been more wrong.

This "Doctor" immediately begins talking about his "natural medicine" quest, and how he's found an herb that can cure diabtetes (not treat), and that has apparantly been around for 1500 years. He then goes on to say that modern medicine has not found a cure for diabetes because "researchers find cures, not doctors" and "all the researchers work for drug companies". He then exclaims that drug comapnies don't want a cure, because it isn't profitable. The same old nonsense we've heard time and again from various snake oil salesmen. For more (mis) information about his theories, you can find his website at http://www.coral-cure.com/Promise-Made-Promise-Kept.htm.

I coudln't believe. The Science channel, of all places. They've aired some questionable science before, but this? The book this gentleman is peddling might as well be a do-It-Yourself manual to slow and painful suicide. Having a histroy of diabetes in my family, I am intimately familiar with the problems this disease can cause, especially when not effectively treated by real medicine. Very rarely do I get so angry at nonsense, but this one hit home. I can only hope that this quack really believes his own nonsense...the thought that he would knowingly gamble with the lives of millions to make a few bucks would likely cause me to blow an artery!

I hope you can get the word out about this quck on your website. I plan to post this information in the forums, and am currently trying to discover what government agencies would handle this sort of malpractice. Any advice on who I would need to report this too would be appreciated, as well. I'm already planning on contacting the FDA, the State Medical Board (as soon as I find the state he is licensed in), and Discovery Communications, Inc.

Thanks for your time. I love your web site and the forums, and hope you can keep up the good fight for many years to come.

[swstephe]

while the premise that reseachers for drug companies are actively surpressing a cure for diabetes from the general public is flawed, (i'm sure the fame and fortune and competitive advantage for supplying a cure to the uncured is much higher than having to compete with all the other drug manufacturers in churning out treatments).

i think your faith in the "science channel" is a little too optimistic. their researchers can only profit by covering what their audience wants to see or believe as long as they are exposed to their sponsor's ads. i got the feeling that the topics on that channel slowly drifted more and more toward tabloid subjects. that was years ago, however, i don't get science channel anymore out here. even pbs, which often had much more informational subjects was more ethical. i heard that pbs has been unfunded by the government? well, i guess there is bbc, but they tend to pick tabloid subjects too.

[shecky]

Did Kevorkian promote quack cures, too?

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Originally posted by shecky
Did Kevorkian promote quack cures, too?

No, his cures worked!

[Johnny Pneumatic]

I saw that commercial as well. I'll second the mention about networks not caring what commercials they air. The Science Channel also airs all those awful diet pill commercials, as does every other network on TV. Back when TLC and Discovery actually had quality programming, I remember they still ran those, now illegal, psychic reading and tarot card reading commercials. Ms. Cleo, remember her?

[Hellbound]

I know they air a lot of woo commercials, but at least the diet pills A) recommend exercise and talking to your physician and B) have the FDA warning on the screen (yeah, it's microscopic, but at least it's there).

This guy had no warning that I saw, and basically attacks scientific medicine with his gobbledy gook. It's a step beyond the usual junk, IMO, and I'm fairly sure that it's a violation of some sort of federal regulation or law. I've already contacted Discovery (not holding my breath on a reply, but you never know), but I'm not sure if the FDA would be the organization to handle this or not. I'm also having trouble finding information on this guy, as I'd like to report this to his state medical board....should be grounds for some sort of penalty if he's actually licensed. I suspect his "Dr." title comes from his PhD though, rather than any license to practice medicine.

Basically, I'm looking for who I can bring this up to that might actually do something about it.

[Johnny Pneumatic]

Another note worthy difference is being overweight isn't nearly as much a health hazard as diabetes is. Something I thought as interesting, but don't know what it means, is that the commercial in question completely lacked a web site or any other contact information other than the phone number.
Did you happen to write the number down by chance?

[Hellbound]

Yep.

Have the commercial on my DVR, too.

1-800-585-1814 (might be 1819, I was in a hurry when writing it down).

Doing a Google search for the book title (A Promise Made, A Promise Kept) brought up several sites with some info, but not what I was looking for. Of course, on those sites include claims that he can cure cancer, strokes, MS, diabetes, obesity, hepatitis, lupus, emphysema, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and Chronic Fatigue. Some more info is available at http://www.911healthshop.com/dr-james-chappell-a-promise-made-a-promise-kept.html.

Edited to add:

From the link above:
James Chappell is a chiropractic (D.C.) and naturopathic (N.D.) physician, clinical nutritionist (Ph.D.) and medical herbalist (M.H.). Since 1971, he has been a health researcher and educator specializing in chronic, severe and so-called "terminal" illnesses. He does not treat "disease," but rather teaches people how to HEAL themselves using classical, aboriginal, advanced quantum energy and natural healing protocols from around the world. In his 34 years of practice, Dr. Chappell has helped more than 10,000 people get on the road to health and well-being.

He is the president of Chappell Consulting Services, founder and formulator of QCI Health Products, vice president of Heart to Heart Media/Publishing and former producer/co-host of The Shoong & Chappell Show aired on KTMS radio Santa Barbara, California. Dr. Chappell is a noted author, internationally recognized medical consultant and a leading authority on natural healing. He also worked ten years as a lot doctor at Universal, MGM, Paramount and Burbank studios in Hollywood, California helping actors, producers and directors.

Whether consulting, participating in seminars, radio or television interviews, writing articles, newsletters or books, Dr. Chappell is a teacher's teacher and a whole food nutrition purist, stating, "The key to health is not treatment, be it natural or orthodox, the key is and has always been love and attention, education and taking effective action. We need to remember that we are what we eat, assimilate and don't eliminate. Caution should be taken as to what we consume through our food, air, water and especially our minds. I have devoted my entire adult life to sharing the wisdom contained in nature and what befalls us when we ignore Her. Ignorance is definitely not bliss and hence we continue to suffer because of it. Nothing is more important than our health. Nothing. The laws of nature are without negotiation. The key is in understanding and adapting to them. Those who fail to take the time to be healthy will ultimately have to take the time to be sick."


Makes me sick :mad:

[luchog]

Originally posted by swstephe
Nothing worthwhile to add, just wanted to comment on your .sig; since Josh Billings is one of my personal favorites. I have another appropriate quote from him on my wall at work:

"As scarce as truth is, the supply has always been in excess of the demand."

[Hellbound]

Well, maybe someone at Discovery has integrity left.

I can't post the email (they had a big confidentiality disclaimer on it, so just to be safe), but they requested information about the ad, the time slot, where we are (it may have been an ad inserted by our provider), etc. They do seem to be interested in pulling the ad. I hope so. Of course, I'm suspiscious that this may just be lip service...but the particular person at Discovery did sign her name, and added some information at the beginning of what was most likely a stock email, so maybe something will get done there.

I'm still not sure what federal agency would cover this. I'll try calling the FDA and see if it's within their perview. I thought possibly the AMA or the FTC as well. If anyone has any ideas, please left me know.

[Johnny Pneumatic]

Apparently Discovery blew you off Huntsman. I've seen that awful commercial twice-three times in just the last few days. :(

[Hellbound]

Figures.

I have no idea what governmental agency to report this too. I'd assume the FDA, since they came down on Trudea (sp?) and this guy is spouting similar nonsense.

I haven't written the local broadcast company yet, but I plan to.

I hadn't seen it again, but them I've pretty much given up on Discovery (with the exception of Mythbusters).

[Psi Baba]

This guy's got balls. He's claiming to be able to "Stop--Reverse--and Cure diabetes." Of course he uses most of the typical quackery buzzwords:
"all-natural"
"dis-ease" (hyphenated like that) :rolleyes:
"orthodox medical community"
"detoxify"
"immune system"
"Government secrets"

Come on, if you've got the secret to curing diabetes, you don't need 430 pages to tell it! :mad:

I truly hope he develops diabetes himself. No insulin for you "Doctor." Heal thyself!

[Deetee]

James Chappell is a chiropractic (D.C.) and naturopathic (N.D.) physician, clinical nutritionist (Ph.D.) and medical herbalist (M.H.)

Probably the same unaccredited correspondence PhD that Gillian McKeith has
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gillian_McKeith
McKeith originally claimed, both on her website and in her book Dr Gillian McKeith's Living Food for Health, to have a PhD from the American College of Nutrition (by implication, the Florida-based institution of that name). This claim has since been amended to say that she received a Master's degree and PhD from the American Holistic College of Nutrition, Alabama - now the Clayton College of Natural Health - which offers non-accredited correspondence courses: that is, ones not recognised by the US Secretary of Education for the purpose of educational grants.

[Johnny Pneumatic]

Originally posted by Psi Baba
I truly hope he develops diabetes himself. No insulin for you "Doctor." Heal thyself!


Seconded. I wonder if this man even really had a mother at all? It's more parsimonious an explanation that the kind of filth he is simply congealed in a sewer pipe somewhere.

[Eos of the Eons]

Originally posted by Deetee
Probably the same unaccredited correspondence PhD that Gillian McKeith has
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gillian_McKeith

Geez. Gets to call himself "Doctor" with a crap PhD, or are NDs allowed to call themselves "Doctors" now?