Healthy Skepticism Library item: 11064

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Dowden JS.
A century of concern about complementary medicines
Aust Prescr 2007 Aug; 30:(4):91
http://www.australianprescriber.com/magazine/30/4/artid/896/

Notes:

(Free full text at Aust Prescr site)

In August 1907 the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia received the report of the Royal Commission on Secret Drugs, Cures and Foods.1 This revealed the widespread promotion and purchase of dangerous and useless medicines…

…Beale found that newspapers and magazines were publishing stories which were really promotional pieces, in addition to accepting advertising for unproven medicines. Even then the marketing was sophisticated with companies buying and selling the names of pharmacists’ customers. Beale therefore proposed a ban on pharmaceutical advertising…