Federal officials announced yesterday they have successfully stopped a Canadian
company from making "unsubstantiated claims" that its products can cure or treat
cancer.
The announcement is part of a wider crackdown, called Project False Hope,
launched by the Competition Bureau last year to protect vulnerable Canadians,
including cancer patients, from dozens of companies willing to exploit those
weaknesses to sell treatments or services, which are often very costly and have
little or no evidence of working.
"We've seen products such as creams, pills, herbal teas, medical devices," said
Tagreed Boules, senior competition law officer at the Competition Bureau. "We've
seen all kinds of claims: cure your cancer, treat your cancer, help with cancer
treatment symptoms. They're very creative."
Since Project False Hope was launched last March, the bureau has worked with
Health Canada, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration, among others, to take action against nearly 100
Canadian-operated sites making cancer prevention or treatment claims.
Instead of pursuing binding enforcement action against the companies, which can
be time-consuming, the bureau opted to request the companies remove claims it
deemed to be fraudulent or misleading.
In more than 90 per cent of cases, the companies agreed to voluntarily remove
the claims. Companies are also free to submit any evidence they believe can
prove claims of cancer prevention or treatment.
Yesterday's announcement involved an Edmonton-based company, Bioenergy Wellness
Inc., which operates under the name EnergyWorks Wellness Centre. The company
negotiated an agreement with the Competition Bureau to stop making cancer
claims. Ms. Boules said she couldn't discuss the specific details of the case or
how the agreement was reached.
A call to the company's Edmonton number was not returned.
The products in question include the papimi, a device the company says delivers
radiation-free, non-thermal magnetic pulses into body tissue; a magnapulse,
which is also supposed to deliver magnetic pulses to the body; and an infrared
sauna, a device contained in a tent-like chamber that emits heat and infrared
rays to the user.
The products - particularly the papimi and magnapulse - have already been the
subject of controversy in the United States and Britain and appear to be
available for purchase on various Internet sites. The Edmonton company has put
corrective notices on its websites offering refunds to customers.
Ms. Boules said Canadians should seek professional medical advice before buying
into cancer prevention or treatment claims found online.
"People targeted by claims are very vulnerable," she said.
