Help! I need the debunking of Kevin Trudeau's "Natural Cures" book ASAP

[Goshawk]

And I can't find it, I thought there was a Quackwatch page just on him but I can't find it.

A well-intentioned Church Lady acquaintance is busily forwarding links about this book to a couple of cancer patients in my church, one of whom is a personal friend in the middle of fighting breast cancer (the other person is a woman diagnosed with Stage IV ovarian cancer), so I need to jump on this garbage ASAP before my friend actually goes and tells her cancer doctor that she doesn't need chemo anymore. Which she might do. And the lady with ovarian cancer doesn't need to be told that her high-priced, rather famous, and very well-recommended cancer specialist is lying to her, either.

The FTC page about him being fined for coral calcium infomercials isn't it, the whole "coral calcium" thing isn't it, I need the debunking of what's in the book itself, all the junk science, and I thought there was a page somewhere. And it has to be fact-based, because that's all I've got to fight with.

The Salon article is good, but I think I need more. This particular Church Lady is one of those Fundie Innocents who, for example, truly believes that "they couldn't print it in the paper if it wasn't true". But she will listen to facts.

Thanks in advance, anybody.

[Hokulele]

You could start off with the John Stossel 20/20 report.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YN5ihrECJms

(Thanks to Eos of the Eons who posted this originally in SMMT.)

[jimtron]

Salon article (http://dir.salon.com/story/books/feature/2005/07/29/trudeau/index.html)
WaPo article (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/22/AR2005102201272.html)
Wikipedia article (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_Cures_%22They%22_Don%27t_Want_You_To_Know_ About)
Consumer complaints about KT (http://consumeraffairs.com/health/trudeau.html)
Skeptic Dictionary article (http://skepdic.com/trudeau.html)

[Ducky]

And I can't find it, I thought there was a Quackwatch page just on him but I can't find it.

A well-intentioned Church Lady acquaintance is busily forwarding links about this book to a couple of cancer patients in my church, one of whom is a personal friend in the middle of fighting breast cancer (the other person is a woman diagnosed with Stage IV ovarian cancer), so I need to jump on this garbage ASAP before my friend actually goes and tells her cancer doctor that she doesn't need chemo anymore. Which she might do. And the lady with ovarian cancer doesn't need to be told that her high-priced, rather famous, and very well-recommended cancer specialist is lying to her, either.

The FTC page about him being fined for coral calcium infomercials isn't it, the whole "coral calcium" thing isn't it, I need the debunking of what's in the book itself, all the junk science, and I thought there was a page somewhere. And it has to be fact-based, because that's all I've got to fight with.

The Salon article is good, but I think I need more. This particular Church Lady is one of those Fundie Innocents who, for example, truly believes that "they couldn't print it in the paper if it wasn't true". But she will listen to facts.

Thanks in advance, anybody.

http://www.randi.org/jr/2006-04/040706federlein.html#i4
http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=55887


There's a paper I wrote linked in the second link I gave, and the fundy folks won't like the tone or the language, but it's from the heart. Trudeau enrages me, especially when people send his crap to cancer patients.

[Blue Wode]

And I can't find it, I thought there was a Quackwatch page just on him but I can't find it.


This might be what you’re looking for:

Analysis of Kevin Trudeau's "Natural Cures" Infomercial (2004) by Stephen Barrett, M.D.
http://www.infomercialwatch.org/tran/trudeau.shtml

[Goshawk]

Wow, yes, excellent ammunition, thanks all.

[SkeptismIsHealthy]

Of course, chemo has killed people, too.

[Gord_in_Toronto]

Of course, chemo has killed people, too.

So has water. :boggled:

[Ducky]

Of course, chemo has killed people, too.

...and has been effective far more times than it has been deadly. You do realize that chemotherapy is a very broad term, covering any number of chemical intravenous or pill form treatments, and is not always the brutal seemingly destructive treatment it was 25 years ago, yes?

[Solus]

So has water. :boggled:

Don't forget air bubbles. :p

[hubbub2]

Of course, chemo has killed people, too.

Not as many as having cancer and NOT doing the chemo.

[EeneyMinnieMoe]

Of course, chemo has killed people, too.

Very true. Between cancer and chemo, though, I'd take my chances with the chemo.

[Katana]

Of course, chemo has killed people, too.


And?

[Beady]

Of course, chemo has killed people, too.

So has oxygen. What's your point?

[aggle-rithm]

Living itself is pretty hazardous, given that everything that lives ends up dead.

[HarryKeogh]

This might be what you’re looking for:

Analysis of Kevin Trudeau's "Natural Cures" Infomercial (2004) by Stephen Barrett, M.D.
http://www.infomercialwatch.org/tran/trudeau.shtml

Interesting link. I knew he was "out there" but not this "out there".

Page 11 of More Natural "Cures" Revealed :

As a member of this secret society I have sat in private meetings with the heads of state from countries around the world. I have attended secret international business meetings where business leaders, politicians, and media moguls coerce together to create the new world order with global control over individual people everywhere. I have been shown and have seen with my own eyes secret government and corporate documents. I have heard with my own ears how BigPharma, the food industry, and the oil industry are working together with governments and media outlets around the world. I have been in over sixty countries, yet there are no stamps of evidence in any of my passports. I have been to Area 51 in Nevada. (This top secret military installation is still denied to exist by the U.S. government.) This is where much of our technology has been developed. Area 51 houses most extraterrestrial artifacts, including a working spacecraft and dead alien bodies. I've seen these things with my own two eyes. As a member of this secret society I was used in covert operations around the world.

[BPSCG]

Of course, chemo has killed people, too.Wow, wish I'd known that when I had cancer and chemo 20 years ago. I might still be alive today... :boggled:

[Anacoluthon64]

From an FTC ruling (http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2004/09/trudeaucoral.shtm) (emphasis added):A Federal Trade Commission settlement with Kevin Trudeau … broadly bans him from appearing in, producing, or disseminating future infomercials that advertise any type of product, service, or program to the public, except for truthful infomercials for informational publications. In addition, Trudeau cannot make disease or health benefits claims for any type of product, service, or program in any advertising, including print, radio, Internet, television, and direct mail solicitations, regardless of the format and duration.His book, being chockfull of "disease or health benefits claims," appears to contravene the above ruling, at least in spirit. That these claims are almost uniformly fraudulent is not the issue; that Trudeau can disseminate them in print, despite the FTC's ruling, is. I seem to recall reading that in the USA's legal framework, books are considered as platforms of expression first, before being considered as saleable products, and to prevent Trudeau from publishing a book, regardless of its content, would infringe on his First Amendment rights.

Perhaps someone more knowledgeable than I on this subject would care to comment and/or expand on it.

ETA: Also, a book is not obviously "advertising."

'Luthon64

[Gord_in_Toronto]

I have been in over sixty countries, yet there are no stamps of evidence in any of my passports

Umm. Er. Sure. :rolleyes:

[Miss Anthrope]

Interesting link. I knew he was "out there" but not this "out there".

Page 11 of More Natural "Cures" Revealed :

When I'm able to pick my jaw off the floor maybe then I can think of something better to say. I am appalled he thinks he can get away with such an outrageous claim.

[krazyKemist]

If she prefers testimonials instead of scientific data, I can testifiy that my best friend, who has stage III ovarian cancer, has been brough to remission using chemotherapy, by a very reknown gyneco-oncologist. Her hair is now growing back, and she is slowly back to work on her PhD thesis.

the Kemist

[Beady]

I am appalled he thinks he can get away with such an outrageous claim.

I'm appalled that he can get away with it.

[JJM]

More than a year ago, I looked at the reviews of his first book at Amazon. They were quite negative. Would-be woo-believers noted that the book doesn't contain any "cures." Instead, it refers you to his web site, where you can pay to get information. Apparently, since then he has gamed the system by planting good reviews and repeatedly voting the negative reviews as "not helpful."

I would link to Amazon; but the pade has frozen twice for me.

[Hydrogen Cyanide]

More than a year ago, I looked at the reviews of his first book at Amazon. They were quite negative. Would-be woo-believers noted that the book doesn't contain any "cures." Instead, it refers you to his web site, where you can pay to get information. Apparently, since then he has gamed the system by planting good reviews and repeatedly voting the negative reviews as "not helpful."

I would link to Amazon; but the pade has frozen twice for me.

Here:
http://www.amazon.com/Natural-Cures-They-Dont-About/dp/0975599518/

The first three reviews are negative.

For an antidote I recommend this:
http://www.amazon.com/Natural-Causes-Politics-Americas-Supplement/dp/0767920422/

On that book you will notice a glowing review from The SkepDoc (http://forums.randi.org/z/index.php?z-profile=The-SkepDoc), Harriet Hall (who I noticed had a birthday this week!).

[SkeptismIsHealthy]

I believe I learned about chemo and radiation up close and personal. Yes.
I'm not defending the man's book. I'm stating that chemo can also kill. It can.
Mistakes can be made in radiation, too. Yes. I am very sadly aware. That's why I said what I did. It's never an easy choice.

[Katana]

I believe I learned about chemo and radiation up close and personal. Yes.
I'm not defending the man's book. I'm stating that chemo can also kill. It can.
Mistakes can be made in radiation, too. Yes. I am very sadly aware. That's why I said what I did. It's never an easy choice.


But to what were you responding?

I'm sorry to hear that you have encountered chemo and radiation first-hand, by the way.

[aggle-rithm]

I'm appalled that he can get away with it.

The real hell of it is that people gullible enough to allow themselves to be killed by his bad advice have probably already passed on their genetic material to the next generation. :(

[Ducky]

I believe I learned about chemo and radiation up close and personal. Yes.
I'm not defending the man's book. I'm stating that chemo can also kill. It can.
Mistakes can be made in radiation, too. Yes. I am very sadly aware. That's why I said what I did. It's never an easy choice.

While I sympathize with having to deal with chemo, it would be more helpful for those reading this thread if you could elaborate on what you mean about chemo and choices. I'm afraid cryptic testimonials don't do much to sway this crowd in any direction.

[ponderingturtle]

When I'm able to pick my jaw off the floor maybe then I can think of something better to say. I am appalled he thinks he can get away with such an outrageous claim.

No, he seems to be pretty sure that he is largely getting away with it, so I would think that he knows he can get away with that kind of claim.

[tracer]

When I saw the title of this thread, I immediately thought of this Onion article:

http://www.theonion.com/content/node/34135

Just thought I'd share.

[Anacoluthon64]

Ah yes, here it is (http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/story?id=1503856). Here (http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Health/story?id=541641) too. And here (http://abcnews.go.com/2020/Health/story?id=1527774).

'Luthon64

[Cuddles]

I have been in over sixty countries, yet there are no stamps of evidence in any of my passports Umm. Er. Sure. :rolleyes:

To be fair, I've been to about 20 countries and I have one stamp in my passport (stupid Americans, spoiling my nice, clean passport).

[Beady]

To be fair, I've been to about 20 countries and I have one stamp in my passport (stupid Americans, spoiling my nice, clean passport).

I've placed you on the ICE watch list so that next time you come here we can rectify any mistakes we might have made (now, where did I put that box of rubber gloves?).

[dakotajudo]

The Salon article is good, but I think I need more. This particular Church Lady is one of those Fundie Innocents who, for example, truly believes that "they couldn't print it in the paper if it wasn't true". But she will listen to facts.

If she needs something printed in paper, the Barrett analysis was published in the Skeptical Inquirer; you can order a back issue ( http://www.csicop.org/si/2006-01/trudeau.html ) or perhaps find a hard copy in a library.

There's a review of 'Natural Cures “They” Don’t Want You to Know About' in the same issue.

[EeneyMinnieMoe]

PLease tell me Kevin Trudeau smokes. If anyone ever deserved cancer, it's him.

[sivazh]

Man, the fact that this twit took his money and started the IPT sickens me.

[Gord_in_Toronto]

To be fair, I've been to about 20 countries and I have one stamp in my passport (stupid Americans, spoiling my nice, clean passport).

Well the one I could exempt him from having would be the USA one. :(