Show Quacks Bite Elderly I 1 The elderly are more susceptible susceptible susceptible sus sus- to quackery and are often more involved in such schemes because many of the elderly born before 1900 have only a sixth grade education DR CHARLES Taylor specialist In gerontology department department department depart depart- ment of Sociology and Anthropology Anthropology Anthropology Anthro Anthro- Pennsylvania State University University University Uni Uni- In making the statement statement statement state state- ment was illustrating why some of or the quackery schemes flourIsh flourish flourish flour flour- ish among the elderly who can ill afford the loss of or their in in- in vestment He also said that quack in instruments instruments instruments in- in which are sold as cure aIls by fast talking salesmen salesmen salesmen sales sales- men who use all the wiles of or showmanship are difficult to detect and control He cited an example where a senator in Pennsylvania offered a cure for cancer on the grounds that his sister had been cured by it Time and time again he was fined but it failed to put him out of business DR TAYLOR said the best results in curbing quackery lie in education and by upgrading the examinations provided by some doctors He suggested that there is a need also for a I referral agency to be set up where elderly people could contact contact contact con con- tact some informed person about the merits of an advertised advertised advertised adver adver- cure He recommended too that stronger legislative controls be exercised He said present Utah II law regarding prosecuting those involved in quackery Is very 11 limited rotted DR TAYLOR spoke at a re recent recent recent re- re cent seminar on medical and I nutritional quackery held in Park City Davis County was represented by Joan I Community A Action c tI 0 n Program Percy Fisher chairman of the Senior Citizens Citizens' Council and LaVerel Christensen secretary secretary secretary secre secre- tary of the Council Helen Keaveney consumer specialist US U.S. Food and Drug Administration explained to those attending the seminar that the FDA enforces the law and makes investigations of false cl claims ms She said some of the devices used where quackery is involved are not harmful in and of themselves but may allow the user to fail fall to seek adequate medical help long after the disease disease disease dis dis- ease has progressed too far SOME OF THE frauds involve I vibrators air purifiers radioactive radioactive radio radio- active ve substances he healing a Ii n g grings rings colored lights magic belts zinc plates etc All guarantee guarantee guarantee guar guar- antee to cure everything from corns to cancer Last year the FDA seized 4 II about of these devices she said Including a machine guaranteed to cure epilepsy OTHER MACHINES which claimed false cures Included a voltmeter called a Micro SI- SI which sold for and an Ozone generator which gave off oU ozone gases In dangerous danger danger- ous quantities Some of the claims Included statements that they are being persecuted by medical doctors and that they Invite Investigation On Oct 20 at 2 pm p.m. the Senior Senior Sen Sen- lor Citizens' Citizens Council of Davis County plans to present two two films on the subject In cooperation cooperation cooperation cooper cooper- with the Community Action Program and the Food and Drugs Section Utah State De Depa Department Department De- De pa of Agriculture THE FILMS are provided free freeby freeby freeby by the supervisor sor of the section section section sec sec- tion Ronald J. J Tolley One will t concern fraud and quackery the theother theother theother other will explain medicare t Mr 1 Tolley will augment the latter film with a short talk on understanding medicare The films will be shown in inthe inthe the meeting room of Us Drug don donated ted by Jack Pickett 1 The address Is 55 North Main in Bountiful Should anyone need transportation the Community Action Program at 1421 will be glad to arran arrange e it it Ik lk lk |