Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

question everything

(47,271 posts)
Tue Oct 6, 2015, 01:54 PM Oct 2015

Ben Carson Has Had Ties to Dietary Supplement Firm That Faced Legal Challenge

Source: WSJ

Faced with a prostate-cancer diagnosis more than a decade ago, Ben Carson consulted an unusual source: the medical director of a Texas company that sells nutritional supplements made of substances such as larch-tree bark and aloe vera extract.

The company doctor “prescribed a regimen” of supplements, Mr. Carson told its sales associates in a 2004 speech. “Within about three weeks my symptoms went away, and I was really quite amazed,” he said to loud applause, according to a YouTube video of the event. The candidate today is cancer-free after surgery. He told associates of the company, Mannatech Inc., that he initially considered forgoing surgery and treating the cancer with supplements only.

Mr. Carson, who is running near the front in the GOP presidential contest, has never held public office and holds up his career as a pediatric neurosurgeon as one of his chief credentials. In a contrast some medical researchers find jarring, he has also had a long and personal involvement with Mannatech, a company that has weathered scrutiny from state and federal officials over allegedly improper health claims for its products.

The company in 2009 settled false-advertising charges brought by the Texas attorney general’s office, which alleged Mannatech had permitted “deceptive” and “illegal” miracle-cure testimonials at sales meetings and allowed materials circulated by associates suggesting its products could treat or even cure Down Syndrome, cystic fibrosis, autism, cancer and other serious ills. The Texas AG’s civil complaint said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had notified Mannatech on multiple occasions that its marketing materials made illegal drug claims.

(snip)

Without admitting wrongdoing, Mannatech and a co-founder paid a total of $7 million to settle the civil charges. The company agreed to avoid false marketing claims, and the co-founder agreed not to serve as an officer or director for five years. Today Mannatech has new leadership and says it rigorously enforces its compliance rules.


Read more: http://www.wsj.com/articles/ben-carson-has-had-ties-to-dietary-supplement-firm-that-faced-legal-challenge-1444057743

4 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Ben Carson Has Had Ties to Dietary Supplement Firm That Faced Legal Challenge (Original Post) question everything Oct 2015 OP
The bark of...the larch? rocktivity Oct 2015 #1
I am surprised mercuryblues Oct 2015 #2
well if he pulled his head out of his ass, he could at least see the area where to cut dembotoz Oct 2015 #3
I think you mercuryblues Oct 2015 #4

mercuryblues

(14,491 posts)
2. I am surprised
Mon Oct 12, 2015, 02:55 PM
Oct 2015

that he didn't say he operated on himself.

He claims the supplements "cured" him, but still had surgery. Why would he need surgery if he was cured?

I seriously think Carson has something physically wrong with him that effects his mental state.

Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»Ben Carson Has Had Ties t...