Advanced Wholistic Centre advertises on internet site that sells drugs

[Terry Polevoy]

I am shocked that Dave Wickware and his associate have the
balls to advertise their retreat up near Port Elgin, Ontario
on a site that sells drugs over the internet. The site that
runs it appears to have been registered in Arizona.

I thought Wickware and Lauzon were holistic practitioners
in Canada.

http://www.pillsupplier.com/add_review/review54837.html

This on-line pharmacy was reviewed and found to be non-
complient with privacy issues.
http://www.privacyrights.org/ar/PharmacyPrivacy.htm

The pillsupplier.com web site is dangerous because no
medical doctor who prescribes the drugs, including
potentially dangerous anti-depressants and diet pills
actually knows the patient. As far as I can tell, they just
rubber stamp the prescriptions.

You also will note that their prices are over the top as far
as cost is concerned, especially for Canadian residents.

Do not trust internet pharmacists, and do not trust
the information provided in alternative health clinics
or retreats.

Terry Polevoy, MD HealthWatcher.net

[Jan]

>Subject: Advanced Wholistic Centre advertises on internet site that sells
>drugs
>From: info@healthwatcher.net (Terry Polevoy)
>Date: 7/1/2004 6:12 PM Pacific Standard Time
>Message-id: <d0acb77d.0407011812.25084f37@posting.google.com>
>
>I am shocked

<snip>
>
>I thought Wickware and Lauzon were holistic practitioners
>in Canada.
>
>http://www.pillsupplier.com/add_review/review54837.html
>
>This on-line pharmacy was reviewed and found to be non-
>complient with privacy issues.
>http://www.privacyrights.org/ar/PharmacyPrivacy.htm
>
>The pillsupplier.com web site is dangerous because no
>medical doctor who prescribes the drugs, including
>potentially dangerous anti-depressants and diet pills
>actually knows the patient. As far as I can tell, they just
>rubber stamp the prescriptions.

That goes for doctors also, but you wont hear it from Terry.

http://tinyurl.com/yqcxx

do not trust the information that Terry Polevoy posts or
what is on his website.

He is an organized medicine member.

Who has a big mouth and would like to stop all alternative.

He and his ilk are failing miserably.

The corruption of organized medicine is well know while
they mouth off and are guilty of EXACTLY what they acuse
others of.
>
He isn't a health wacher, he overlooks doctors who kill,
committ fraud, cover-ups and repeated violations, while they
remain on staff.

Jan

[Debbee1023]

<< Do not trust internet pharmacists, and do not trust
the information provided in alternative health clinics
or retreats.

Terry Polevoy, MD HealthWatcher.net
>><BR><BR>

And do not trust anyone that posts that they are a MD
or Dentist online, because how do we know if they
really are....

"If you're gonna walk on thin ice, you may as well dance."
(Jessie Winchester).

[Debbee1023]

<< Do not trust internet pharmacists, and do not trust
the information provided in alternative health clinics
or retreats.
>><BR><BR>

Obviously, this is YOUR opinion (which you have the right to
state), but why do you really have it in for alternative
health??? Family reasons? Do state why you are so anti
alternative......and closed minded against things that work
for some people just like with conventional medicine....

"If you're gonna walk on thin ice, you may as well dance."
(Jessie Winchester).

[Dave Wickware]

I am shocked that any person who spends his time accusing
others of being liars and cheats would post a totally false
and fabricated story. If you follow his links you see they
are a trip to nowhere.

If somebody who had any credibility posted this info I might
get upset.

"Terry Polevoy" <info@healthwatcher.net> wrote in message
news:d0acb77d.0407011812.25084f37@posting.google.com...
> I am shocked that Dave Wickware and his associate have the
> balls to advertise their retreat up near Port Elgin,
> Ontario on a site that sells drugs over the internet. The
> site that runs it appears to have been registered in
> Arizona.
>
> I thought Wickware and Lauzon were holistic practitioners
> in Canada.
>
> http://www.pillsupplier.com/add_review/review54837.html
>
> This on-line pharmacy was reviewed and found to be non-
> complient with privacy issues.
> http://www.privacyrights.org/ar/PharmacyPrivacy.htm
>
> The pillsupplier.com web site is dangerous because no
> medical doctor who prescribes the drugs, including
> potentially dangerous anti-depressants and diet pills
> actually knows the patient. As far as I can tell, they
> just rubber stamp the prescriptions.
>
> You also will note that their prices are over the top as
> far as cost is concerned, especially for Canadian
> residents.
>
> Do not trust internet pharmacists, and do not trust the
> information provided in alternative health clinics or
> retreats.
>
> Terry Polevoy, MD HealthWatcher.net

[Gymmy Bob]

Please troll elsewhere.

"Terry Polevoy" <info@healthwatcher.net> wrote in message
news:d0acb77d.0407011812.25084f37@posting.google.com...
> I am shocked that Dave Wickware and his associate have the
> balls to advertise their retreat up near Port Elgin,
> Ontario on a site that sells drugs over the internet. The
> site that runs it appears to have been registered in
> Arizona.
>
> I thought Wickware and Lauzon were holistic practitioners
> in Canada.
>
> http://www.pillsupplier.com/add_review/review54837.html
>
> This on-line pharmacy was reviewed and found to be non-
> complient with privacy issues.
> http://www.privacyrights.org/ar/PharmacyPrivacy.htm
>
> The pillsupplier.com web site is dangerous because no
> medical doctor who prescribes the drugs, including
> potentially dangerous anti-depressants and diet pills
> actually knows the patient. As far as I can tell, they
> just rubber stamp the prescriptions.
>
> You also will note that their prices are over the top as
> far as cost is concerned, especially for Canadian
> residents.
>
> Do not trust internet pharmacists, and do not trust the
> information provided in alternative health clinics or
> retreats.
>
> Terry Polevoy, MD HealthWatcher.net

[Jebus]

Terry, get your facts straight.

You said:
> I am shocked that Dave Wickware and his associate have the
> balls to advertise their retreat up near Port Elgin,
> Ontario on a site that sells drugs over the internet. ...
> http://www.pillsupplier.com/add_review/review54837.html

I highly doubt Mr. Wickware actually paid or even requested
to have his site shown at the above URL. In fact, if you go
to the base, it looks like the pillsupplier site is simply
mirroring the Open Directory Project's health category
(which anyone can do as it's public information, and a lot
of sites do). I don't see how you can make the connection
between an open directory and advertising a site.

http://www.pillsupplier.com/dir/ http://www.dmoz.org/Health/

You also said:
> This on-line pharmacy was reviewed and found to be non-
> complient with privacy issues.

Did you personally verify this information? I doubt you did,
because I spent five minutes on the site and tried to put in
a test order, where I found the following privacy notice.
Obviously the report you linked to that says this pharmacy
doesn't have a privacy notice is grossly inaccurate.

"IV. Privacy Statement

· As part of the processing of your order through
www.pillsupplier.com you will be asked to provide certain
identifiable personal information, which includes your name,
email address, telephone number, mailing address, telephone
number, billing information including your credit card
number or checking account information, in addition to other
information to facilitate the ordering, billing, or payment
process. This information is maintained in a secure
encrypted form and is not given, sold, traded, or otherwise
provided to third parties unless legally required. Medical
information provided on a medical questionnaire or as a part
of any medical consultation or any prescription information
or other medical information will not be released other than
to the prescribing physician and the pharmacy or to the
subscriber or their authorized representatives or designated
agent. [...]"

> You also will note that their prices are over the top as
> far as cost is concerned, especially for Canadian
> residents.

Last I checked, US pharmacies did not ship to Canada, quite
the opposite in fact due to Canada's much lower drug costs.
I'll agree with you however that their prices are still a
little high, but I think the idea is that online pharmacies
appeal more to US citizens without health insurance for whom
it is cheaper and more convenient in the end.

Regards, Jebus

[Jebus]

Terry, get your facts straight.

You said:
> I am shocked that Dave Wickware and his associate have the
> balls to advertise their retreat up near Port Elgin,
> Ontario on a site that sells drugs over the internet. ...
> http://www.pillsupplier.com/add_review/review54837.html

I highly doubt Mr. Wickware actually paid or even requested
to have his site shown at the above URL. In fact, if you go
to the base, it looks like the pillsupplier site is simply
mirroring the Open Directory Project's health category
(which anyone can do as it's public information, and a lot
of sites do). I don't see how you can make the connection
between an open directory and advertising a site.

http://www.pillsupplier.com/dir/ http://www.dmoz.org/Health/

You also said:
> This on-line pharmacy was reviewed and found to be non-
> complient with privacy issues.

Did you personally verify this information? I doubt you did,
because I spent five minutes on the site and tried to put in
a test order, where I found the following privacy notice.
Obviously the report you linked to that says this pharmacy
doesn't have a privacy notice is grossly inaccurate.

"IV. Privacy Statement

· As part of the processing of your order through
www.pillsupplier.com you will be asked to provide certain
identifiable personal information, which includes your name,
email address, telephone number, mailing address, telephone
number, billing information including your credit card
number or checking account information, in addition to other
information to facilitate the ordering, billing, or payment
process. This information is maintained in a secure
encrypted form and is not given, sold, traded, or otherwise
provided to third parties unless legally required. Medical
information provided on a medical questionnaire or as a part
of any medical consultation or any prescription information
or other medical information will not be released other than
to the prescribing physician and the pharmacy or to the
subscriber or their authorized representatives or designated
agent. [...]"

> You also will note that their prices are over the top as
> far as cost is concerned, especially for Canadian
> residents.

Last I checked, US pharmacies did not ship to Canada, quite
the opposite in fact due to Canada's much lower drug costs.
I'll agree with you however that their prices are still a
little high, but I think the idea is that online pharmacies
appeal more to US citizens without health insurance for whom
it is cheaper and more convenient in the end.

Regards, Jebus

[M.A.R.K P.R.O.B]

"Dave Wickware" <dwickware@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:_YbFc.89626$Ax1.1140295@news20.bellglobal.com...
> I am shocked that any person who spends his time accusing
> others of being liars and cheats would post a totally
> false and fabricated story. If you follow his links you
> see they
are
> a trip to nowhere.

Actually, I did follow his links and found that he is
totally correct. I looked at the pillsupplier site, just to
confirm. They offer absolutely no assuances of privacy. I
would wager that if anyone makes a purcahse through them,
their email inbox will be effectively useless due to a
deluge of spam.

It is a shame that you are affilated with them in any
manner.,

>
> If somebody who had any credibility posted this info I
> might get upset.
>
>
> "Terry Polevoy" <info@healthwatcher.net> wrote in message
> news:d0acb77d.0407011812.25084f37@posting.google.com...
> > I am shocked that Dave Wickware and his associate have
> > the balls to advertise their retreat up near Port Elgin,
> > Ontario on a site that sells drugs over the internet.
> > The site that runs it appears to have been registered in
> > Arizona.
> >
> > I thought Wickware and Lauzon were holistic
> > practitioners in Canada.
> >
> > http://www.pillsupplier.com/add_review/review54837.html
> >
> > This on-line pharmacy was reviewed and found to be non-
> > complient with privacy issues.
> > http://www.privacyrights.org/ar/PharmacyPrivacy.htm
> >
> > The pillsupplier.com web site is dangerous because no
> > medical doctor who prescribes the drugs, including
> > potentially dangerous anti-depressants and diet pills
> > actually knows the patient. As far as I can tell, they
> > just rubber stamp the prescriptions.
> >
> > You also will note that their prices are over the top as
> > far as cost is concerned, especially for Canadian
> > residents.
> >
> > Do not trust internet pharmacists, and do not trust the
> > information provided in alternative health clinics or
> > retreats.
> >
> > Terry Polevoy, MD HealthWatcher.net

[David Wright]

In article <20040702015013.23881.00001060@mb-m28.aol.com>,
DEBBEE1023 <debbee1023@aol.comnojunk> wrote:
><< Do not trust internet pharmacists, and do not trust the
>information provided in alternative health clinics or
>retreats.
>
>Terry Polevoy, MD HealthWatcher.net
> >><BR><BR>
>
>And do not trust anyone that posts that they are a MD
>or Dentist online, because how do we know if they
>really are....

That's true. You also might run into some nutcase who
claims to be a professional journalist and can't even write
decent English.

<Jesse Winchester misquote deleted>

-- David Wright :: alphabeta at prodigy.net These are my
opinions only, but they're almost always correct. "If I
have not seen as far as others, it is because giants were
standing on my shoulders." (Hal Abelson, MIT)

[Dave Wickware]

BINGO!

"Jebus" <jebus88374@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:bda4dbde.0407022116.d702e7@posting.google.com...
> Terry, get your facts straight.
>
> You said:
> > I am shocked that Dave Wickware and his associate have
> > the balls to advertise their retreat up near Port Elgin,
> > Ontario on a site that sells drugs over the internet.
> > ...
> > http://www.pillsupplier.com/add_review/review54837.html
>
> I highly doubt Mr. Wickware actually paid or even
> requested to have his site shown at the above URL. In
> fact, if you go to the base, it looks like the
> pillsupplier site is simply mirroring the Open Directory
> Project's health category (which anyone can do as it's
> public information, and a lot of sites do). I don't see
> how you can make the connection between an open directory
> and advertising a site.
>
> http://www.pillsupplier.com/dir/
> http://www.dmoz.org/Health/
>
>
> You also said:
> > This on-line pharmacy was reviewed and found to be non-
> > complient with privacy issues.
>
> Did you personally verify this information? I doubt you
> did, because I spent five minutes on the site and tried to
> put in a test order, where I found the following privacy
> notice. Obviously the report you linked to that says this
> pharmacy doesn't have a privacy notice is grossly
> inaccurate.
>
> "IV. Privacy Statement
>
> · As part of the processing of your order through
> www.pillsupplier.com you will be asked to provide certain
> identifiable personal information, which includes your
> name, email address, telephone number, mailing address,
> telephone number, billing information including your
> credit card number or checking account information, in
> addition to other information to facilitate the ordering,
> billing, or payment process. This information is
> maintained in a secure encrypted form and is not given,
> sold, traded, or otherwise provided to third parties
> unless legally required. Medical information provided on a
> medical questionnaire or as a part of any medical
> consultation or any prescription information or other
> medical information will not be released other than to the
> prescribing physician and the pharmacy or to the
> subscriber or their authorized representatives or
> designated agent. [...]"
>
>
> > You also will note that their prices are over the top as
> > far as cost is concerned, especially for Canadian
> > residents.
>
> Last I checked, US pharmacies did not ship to Canada,
> quite the opposite in fact due to Canada's much lower drug
> costs. I'll agree with you however that their prices are
> still a little high, but I think the idea is that online
> pharmacies appeal more to US citizens without health
> insurance for whom it is cheaper and more convenient in
> the end.
>
> Regards, Jebus

[Terry Polevoy]

Dave Wickware has no idea of the seriousness of what
internet pharmacies can do.

First of all pillsupplier.com has a secret address. They
hide themselves through a thick layer of security.

They are not on the approved list of internet
pharmacies that is maintained by the National
Association of Boards of Pharmacy. That means that what
pillsupplier.com does implies risks that I would not
take, and anyone who uses or recommends that on-line
URL ought to have their head examined.

http://www.nabp.net/

Try to track down who pillsupplier.com really is and you are
out of luck. When you go to Godaddy.com to find out who they
are and go to their whois section you may think that they
are in Arizona, but you may be wrong:

WHOIS Search Results for: PILLSUPPLIER.COM

The data contained in Go Daddy Software, Inc.'s WHOIS
database,while believed by the company to be reliable, is
provided "as is"with no guarantee or warranties regarding
its accuracy. Thisinformation is provided for the sole
purpose of assisting youin obtaining information about
domain name registration records.Any use of this data for
any other purpose is expressly forbidden without the prior
writtenpermission of Go Daddy Software, Inc. By submitting
an inquiry,you agree to these terms of usage and limitations
of warranty. In particular,you agree not to use this data to
allow, enable, or otherwise make possible,dissemination or
collection of this data, in part or in its entirety, for
anypurpose, such as the transmission of unsolicited
advertising andand solicitations of any kind, including
spam. You further agreenot to use this data to enable high
volume, automated or robotic electronicprocesses designed to
collect or compile this data for any purpose,including
mining this data for your own personal or commercial
purposes. Please note: the registrant of the domain name is
specifiedin the "registrant" field. In most cases, Go Daddy
Software, Inc. is not the registrant of domain names listed
in this database.Registrant:

Domains by Proxy, Inc. 15111 N Hayden Rd., Suite 160 PMB353
Scottsdale, Arizona 85260 United States Registered through:
GoDaddy.com (http://www.godaddy.com (http://www.godaddy.com/)) Domain Name:
PILLSUPPLIER.COM Created on: 08-Sep-03 Expires on: 08-Sep-04
Last Updated on: 06-May-04 Administrative Contact: Private,
Registration PILLSUPPLIER.COM@domainsbyproxy.com Domain
servers in listed order: NS.PILLSUPPLIER.COM
NSX.PILLSUPPLIER.COM

Then you locate their address and you find that the company
known as DomainsByProxy.com is hiding their location in a
UPS (formerly MBE - Mailboxes, Etc.) location:

http://www.mbe.com/hpgen/CenterPage.asp?strCenterNum=MBE1669

Now why would they do that? Are they afraid that someone
might want to locate their offices to file a complaint?

Isn't that curious. They have no Adminitrative contact
listed. These bozos could be anywhere in the world. They may
not even be in North America. They use a mailbox drop, too.

Then you try to see who Domainsbyproxy.com (DBP) is and you
get even murkier. But you find out that DBP is commited to
protect the identity of any of their users at any cost
unless there are legal proceedings against them. If a
consumer complained they could probably just ignore you.

So anyone can use them to set up an anonymous URL. They
could be in Timbuktu, or Waterloo.

http://www.domainsbyproxy.com (http://www.domainsbyproxy.com/)

When you plug their ISP number 67.15.38.23 into Sam Spade
you get a location in Houston, Texas.

http://www.samspade.org/t/whois?a=67.15.38.23;server=auto

Here is what DBP says on their web site:

Did you know that for each domain name you register, anyone
- anywhere, anytime - can find out your name, home address,
phone number and email address?

The law requires that the personal information you provide
with every domain you register be made public in the "WHOIS"
database. Your identity becomes instantly available - and
vulnerable - to spammers, scammers, prying eyes and worse.

But now there's a solution: Domains By Proxy!

Now why in the world would anyone want to advertise the
Advanced Wholistic retreat centre, which is located in a
small Ontario town, on an internet site that hawks dangerous
prescription drugs over the internet, who hides their
identity AND location? Furthermore, who is Roger King, what
are his qualifications, and who are the doctors and
pharmacists who work for his operation?

Dave, you don't obviously know what you are getting into
here. If you don't own the Advanced Wholistic clinic, then
tell us who does, and tell us their qualifications, please?

Your defense of an unregulated industry is unimaginable. It
is dangerous, and you are obviously out of your league here.

How can a ginseng pedlar like you, or your associates,
support internet pharmacies?

How can you, or your associates, advertise a wholistic
retreat on one of those sites?

The internet pharmacy has been reported to the proper
authorities so that they can deal with it.

So, why don't you ask your friends to remove the
advertisement from the site in question and apologize to
your fans.

Terry

"Dave Wickware" <dwickware@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:<arsFc.93537$Ax1.1324828@news20.bellglobal.com>...
> Terry Polevoy seems to be taunting me to some end known
> only to himself , by suggesting some things that are
> untrue. First he says that I own the Advanced Wholistic
> Centre. I am a patient of the doctor of holistic medicine
> who owns it. Since she is not a licensed physicician she
> can't prescribe prescription drugs. Since she is a
> wholistic, intuitive doctor, she would never be aparty to
> selling drugs. She refers her patients to their doctors
> for that.
>
> http://www.pillsupplier.com/
>
>
> Next he posts a review which simply copies and pastes
> some information from the Advanced Wholistic Centre
> website and then says that we own a company of physicians
> named PillSupplier in Arizona. This is pretty
> unacceptable behaviour and shows what he stands for. Here
> is Terry's post.
>
> http://www.pillsupplier.com/add_review/review54837.html
>
> I have contacted PillSupplier and requested some things
> from them in this regard. I guess when I said Terry
> Polevoy means nothing to me, I must have hurt his
> feelings. I did not mean to, its just that to me, he is
> not relevent.
>
> PillSupplier.com is dedicated to providing cutting-edge
> medicine through Internet technology. Our physicians
> specialize in consulting with privacy-minded individuals
> and prescribing popular medications. These medications,
> sometimes called "embarrassment" drugs, are prescribed and
> dispensed by our physicians and pharmacists!
>
> As one of our patients, you are able to: 1- Enjoy
> complete privacy, discretion, and dignity while
> addressing your condition. 2- Play an active role and
> participate more fully in your own process of care. 3-
> Enjoy your health care in an enlightened manner and
> maintain better health. 4- Enjoy a professional
> consultation at an affordable cost.
>
> More and more individuals have become weary of the medical
> profession's attitude toward patient care. Patients are
> often left with little or no choice as to their course of
> treatment or what medications they are permitted to take.
> Our physicians are dedicated to helping you make your own
> medical decisions. We are here to provide you with the
> professional consultation you need to decide which plan of
> care is right for you. You are a partner with us in the
> medical decision-making process.
>
> Many patients prefer the anonymity of an online
> consultation as opposed to a conversation with one's
> personal physician. The patient is benefited by
> technology. Although computers are often dismissed as
> dehumanizing, their use in online consultations greatly
> eases the patients' anxiety about discussing their medical
> conditions.
>
> It is not our position that the Internet could ever
> replace the importance of seeing your doctor regularly, in
> person. It is important that you seriously consider a full
> physical exam specifically to evaluate possible causes for
> your problem. The issuance of medication does not replace
> the need for a physical exam.
>
> On behalf of PillSupplier.com, I'd like thank you--our customers--
> for helping make us the world's foremost online pharmacy.
> Your continued support and business are truly appreciated.
> We are grateful that we are able to offer you our services
> and that we have made such an impact in the health and
> wellbeing of so many people's lives.
>
> Sincerely, Roger King President, PillSupplier.com

jebus88374@yahoo.com (Jebus) wrote in message
news:<bda4dbde.0407022116.d702e7@posting.google.com>...
> Terry, get your facts straight.
>
> You said:
> > I am shocked that Dave Wickware and his associate have
> > the balls to advertise their retreat up near Port Elgin,
> > Ontario on a site that sells drugs over the internet.
> > ...
> > http://www.pillsupplier.com/add_review/review54837.html
>
> I highly doubt Mr. Wickware actually paid or even
> requested to have his site shown at the above URL. In
> fact, if you go to the base, it looks like the
> pillsupplier site is simply mirroring the Open Directory
> Project's health category (which anyone can do as it's
> public information, and a lot of sites do). I don't see
> how you can make the connection between an open directory
> and advertising a site.
>
> http://www.pillsupplier.com/dir/
> http://www.dmoz.org/Health/
>
>
> You also said:
> > This on-line pharmacy was reviewed and found to be non-
> > complient with privacy issues.
>
> Did you personally verify this information? I doubt you
> did, because I spent five minutes on the site and tried to
> put in a test order, where I found the following privacy
> notice. Obviously the report you linked to that says this
> pharmacy doesn't have a privacy notice is grossly
> inaccurate.
>
> "IV. Privacy Statement
>
> · As part of the processing of your order through
> www.pillsupplier.com you will be asked to provide certain
> identifiable personal information, which includes your
> name, email address, telephone number, mailing address,
> telephone number, billing information including your
> credit card number or checking account information, in
> addition to other information to facilitate the ordering,
> billing, or payment process. This information is
> maintained in a secure encrypted form and is not given,
> sold, traded, or otherwise provided to third parties
> unless legally required. Medical information provided on a
> medical questionnaire or as a part of any medical
> consultation or any prescription information or other
> medical information will not be released other than to the
> prescribing physician and the pharmacy or to the
> subscriber or their authorized representatives or
> designated agent. [...]"
>
>
> > You also will note that their prices are over the top as
> > far as cost is concerned, especially for Canadian
> > residents.
>
> Last I checked, US pharmacies did not ship to Canada,
> quite the opposite in fact due to Canada's much lower drug
> costs. I'll agree with you however that their prices are
> still a little high, but I think the idea is that online
> pharmacies appeal more to US citizens without health
> insurance for whom it is cheaper and more convenient in
> the end.
>
> Regards, Jebus

[Terry Polevoy]

http://www.privacyrights.org/ar/PharmacyPrivacy.htm

This online pharmacy was reported by this study:

Study Finds No Privacy Rights at Many Online Pharmacies By
Mark Hochhauser, Ph.D. Readability Consultant 3344 Scott
Avenue North Golden Valley, MN 55422 Phone: 763-521-4672
Fax: 763-521-5069 E-mail: MarkH38514@aol.com

Posted on web site of Privacy Rights Clearinghouse,
www.privacyrights.org

June 29, 2004 Summary

Visits to 50 online US pharmacies in mid-April 2004 found
only 9 (18%) with HIPAA Privacy Notices, 15 (30%) with
website privacy notices, and 7 (14%) with both p\rivacy
notices for their customers. Five (10%) were certified by
VIPPS (Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites) through
the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy
(www.nabp.net/index.asp). Privacy Missing from Most Online
Pharmacy Reports

Although the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) 1999
Congressional testimony identified several problems with
online pharmacies, privacy was not one of them. Issues of
online privacy—and spam—were not the important customer or
regulatory issues that they are now.
(www.ftc.gobv/opa/1999/07/pharma.htm) However, online
pharmacy privacy issues were raised in the FTC's July 2000
report, which found several online pharmacies not adhering
to their privacy and confidentiality assurances
(www.ftc.gov/opa/2000/07/iog.htm). Pharmacy owners were
prohibited by the FTC from: "selling, renting, leasing,
transferring or disclosing the personal information that was
collected from their customers without express authorization
from the customer." In addition, the FTC required the
defendants to post a privacy policy describing the personal
identifying information they collected and used, and how
their customers could access, review, modify or delete their
personal information. Four years after that FTC settlement,
most online pharmacies still don't meet these privacy policy
criteria. A 2000 article in FDA Consumer
(www.fda/gov/fdac/features/2000/100_online.html) identified
problems such as sites outside the USA selling unapproved
products, or not requiring contact with a physician or a
prescription. But the article did not address privacy
issues. (Although I assume that the online pharmacy sites I
reviewed were in the United States, many may have been
located outside the country. However, since most did not
have a postal address or phone number, I had no way of
determining their actual location.) The FDA's 2001 "Buying
Prescription Medicines Online: A Consumer Safety Guide"
(www.fda.gov/cder/drug/consumer/buyonline.guide.htm) noted
the "lack of assurance of confidentiality and security
issues" as a potential risk. FDA recommended that consumers
"Look for easy-to-find and understand privacy and security
policies," and that consumers should not "provide any
personally identifiable information (social security number,
credit card, and health history) unless you are confident
that the site will protect them. Make sure the site does not
share your information with others without your permission."
But another FDA guide, "Buying Medicine and Medical Products
Online," says nothing about consumer privacy.
(www.fda.gov/buyonline/default.htm) In a March 2004 press
release, "Drugstore.com Warns Against the Growing Dangers of
Pharmacies Outside US.; Consumers Urged to Seek the VIPPS
Seal of Approval before Buying Prescriptions Online," the
company warned that buying from online pharmacies "…could
seriously increase the risk of receiving counterfeit
medicine, incorrect dosages, improperly stored medications,
or expired, contaminated or recalled medications. In
addition, consumers patronizing overseas pharmacies may be
unaware that their private medical information is not
protected by the strict HIPAA regulations that govern
privacy of both paper-based and electronic medical
information in the U.S." (http://home.businesswire.com/port-
al/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=
news_view&newsId=20040330006008&newsLang=en) Privacy,
Business, and Spam

While a November 2003 article in Business Week analyzed the
future business possibilities of online pharmacies, it did
not mention privacy issues and their business implications.
(http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/nov2003/tc2-
0031125_2272_tc136.htm) A January 2004 Associated Press
report listed the 10 most common spam topics as reported by
America Online. Number 1 was spam for drugs such

pharmacies. Since you have to buy the drugs at a pharmacy,
these are essentially the same ads. If you buy from an
online pharmacy, is your identifying information sold to
drug or other online pharmacy spammers? Are you at risk for
identity theft? Without privacy notices, customers have no
way of knowing how their personal, financial, and health
information is being used — and misused. (http://www.crn.co- (http://www.crn.co-/)
m/sections/BreakingNews/dailyarchives.asp?

Online Pharmacy Privacy Practices Online pharmacies with no
privacy protection

24. pillsupplier.com was not compliant

HIPAA Notice? NO Privacy Notice? NO VIPPS Certification? NO

So, it wasn't me that found that they offered no privacy
protection. It was as researcher in Minnesota.

Terry

jebus88374@yahoo.com (Jebus) wrote in message
news:<bda4dbde.0407022119.4c8ffd81@posting.google.com>...
> Terry, get your facts straight.
>
> You said:
> > I am shocked that Dave Wickware and his associate have
> > the balls to advertise their retreat up near Port Elgin,
> > Ontario on a site that sells drugs over the internet.
> > ...
> > http://www.pillsupplier.com/add_review/review54837.html
>
> I highly doubt Mr. Wickware actually paid or even
> requested to have his site shown at the above URL. In
> fact, if you go to the base, it looks like the
> pillsupplier site is simply mirroring the Open Directory
> Project's health category (which anyone can do as it's
> public information, and a lot of sites do). I don't see
> how you can make the connection between an open directory
> and advertising a site.
>
> http://www.pillsupplier.com/dir/
> http://www.dmoz.org/Health/
>
>
> You also said:
> > This on-line pharmacy was reviewed and found to be non-
> > complient with privacy issues.
>
> Did you personally verify this information? I doubt you
> did, because I spent five minutes on the site and tried to
> put in a test order, where I found the following privacy
> notice. Obviously the report you linked to that says this
> pharmacy doesn't have a privacy notice is grossly
> inaccurate.
>
> "IV. Privacy Statement
>
> · As part of the processing of your order through
> www.pillsupplier.com you will be asked to provide certain
> identifiable personal information, which includes your
> name, email address, telephone number, mailing address,
> telephone number, billing information including your
> credit card number or checking account information, in
> addition to other information to facilitate the ordering,
> billing, or payment process. This information is
> maintained in a secure encrypted form and is not given,
> sold, traded, or otherwise provided to third parties
> unless legally required. Medical information provided on a
> medical questionnaire or as a part of any medical
> consultation or any prescription information or other
> medical information will not be released other than to the
> prescribing physician and the pharmacy or to the
> subscriber or their authorized representatives or
> designated agent. [...]"
>
>
> > You also will note that their prices are over the top as
> > far as cost is concerned, especially for Canadian
> > residents.
>
> Last I checked, US pharmacies did not ship to Canada,
> quite the opposite in fact due to Canada's much lower drug
> costs. I'll agree with you however that their prices are
> still a little high, but I think the idea is that online
> pharmacies appeal more to US citizens without health
> insurance for whom it is cheaper and more convenient in
> the end.
>
> Regards, Jebus

[Terry Polevoy]

http://www.fda.gov/oc/buyonline/faqs.html

1. Why is FDA concerned about unlawful drug sales on
the Internet?

Patients who buy prescription drugs from Websites operating
outside the law are at increased risk of suffering life-
threatening adverse events, such as side effects from
inappropriately prescribed medications, dangerous drug
interactions, contaminated drugs, and impure or unknown
ingredients found in unapproved drugs.

The current system of federal and state safeguards for
protecting patients from the use of inappropriate or unsafe
drugs has generally served the country well. These laws
require that certain drugs be dispensed only with a valid
prescription because they are not safe for use without the
supervision of a licensed health care practitioner.
Generally, before the practitioner issues a prescription for
a drug the patient has never taken before, he or she must
first examine the patient to determine the appropriate
treatment. Subsequently, the patient receives the drug from
a registered pharmacist working in a licensed pharmacy that
meets state practice standards.

The Internet makes it easy for unscrupulous people to sell
drugs to patients without these safeguards in place. A
Website may appear to be associated with a legitimate
pharmacy when in fact it is not. Websites that sell
prescription drugs without a valid prescription deny
consumers the protection provided by an examination
conducted by a licensed practitioner.

2. Are there any benefits to purchasing approved
drugs online?

Yes. Legitimate pharmacy sites on the Internet provide
consumers with a convenient, private, way to obtain
needed medications, sometimes at more affordable prices.
The elderly and persons in remote areas can avoid the
inconvenience of traveling to a store to purchase
medications. Many reputable Internet pharmacies allow
patients to consult with a licensed pharmacist from the
privacy of their home. Moreover, Internet pharmacies can
provide customers with written product information and
references to other sources of information like the
traditional storefront pharmacy. Finally, the increasing
use of computer technology to transmit prescriptions
from doctors to pharmacies is likely to reduce
prescription errors.

3. How many web sites sell prescription drugs?

The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy has
identified approximately 200 domestic web sites that
dispense prescription drugs but do not offer an online
prescribing service. According to a recent Chicago Tribune
article cited by the American Medical Association, there are
at least 400 web sites that both dispense and offer a
prescribing service -- half of these sites are located in
foreign countries. Some have estimated that the number of
Websites selling prescription drugs may now be closer to
1,000. The number of Websites, however, fluctuates from day
to day, and seems to be growing.

4. How many people have been harmed from drugs purchased
over the Internet?

It is impossible to accurately quantify adverse event rates
because FDA's postmarketing surveillance system receives
reports on only a relatively small percentage of all adverse
events caused by drugs. However, as a result of
postmarketing surveillance data collected by FDA, we know
that the sale of unapproved drugs and the illegal sale of
approved drugs over the Internet poses a serious public
health risk. We know, for example, of many adverse events
resulting from the use of the drug GBL and the date rape
drug GHB, which are unapproved drugs sold illegally over the
Internet. FDA learned recently of a person who

examination by a healthcare professional. Unfortunately, the
man had a family history of heart disease and died after
taking the drug.

We also know of cases where people choose the Internet for
treatment to avoid consulting a health care professional.
These consumers, however, run the risk of purchasing
inappropriate drugs or unknowingly purchasing counterfeit or
sub-potent drugs.

5. If FDA is not aware of adverse events associated with
approved drugs sold online, why does the agency think
that unlawful online sale is a big problem?

We know that adverse events are under-reported and we know
from history that tolerating the sale of unproven,
fraudulent, or adulterated drugs results in harm to the
public health. It is reasonable to expect that the illegal
sale of drugs over the Internet and the number of resulting
injuries will increase as sales on the Internet grow.
Without clear and effective law enforcement, violators will
have no reason to stop their illegal practices. Unless we
begin to act now, unlawful conduct and the resulting harm to
consumers most likely will increase.

6. Why shouldn't the online pharmacy industry be self-
regulated?

Industry self-regulation has a role to play when applied to
legitimate businesses. However, self-regulation is an
insufficient mechanism to control illegal practices.

7. Some Websites offer to prescribe medication based
only on a questionnaire. Is this a safe practice?
Is it legal?

Unlike the traditional relationship between a patient and
the patient's health care professional, some online
practitioners issue prescriptions in the absence of a
physical examination or direct medical supervision.
According to the American Medical Association, a health care
professional who offers a prescription for a patient the
practitioner has never seen before and based solely on an
online questionnaire generally has not met the appropriate
medical standard of care. As a result, patients may receive
a drug that is inappropriate for them to use and may
sacrifice the opportunity for a correct diagnosis or the
identification of an underlying medical condition for which
use of the prescription drug may be dangerous.

It is a violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic
Act to dispense prescription drugs without a valid
prescription. FDA will work with the states to determine the
validity of online prescriptions and to bring enforcement
actions under state law, federal law, or both, as
appropriate. In addition, several state boards of medicine
have ruled that such practice is medical misconduct and have
fined and suspended the licenses of health care
practitioners who have prescribed drugs in this manner.

8. How many states have acted against web sites selling
prescription drugs?

Several states have taken or are contemplating taking action
against illegitimate online sellers of prescription drugs.
Fourteen states (Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut,
Illinois, Michigan, Kansas, Nevada, New Jersey, Ohio, Texas,
Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming) have already taken some
action against physicians prescribing drugs over the
Internet. Although most of these cases involve cease and
desist orders, some states have assessed fines and are
contemplating stiffer penalties. One state has issued a
temporary restraining order against an Internet pharmacy
selling drugs without a valid prescription.

9. Who will FDA refer complaints to at the state level?

FDA has been working with the National Association of Boards
of Pharmacy, the Federation of State Medical Boards, and the
National Association of Attorneys General to establish
points of contact in all states specifically for Internet
related problems. Both the FDA and NABP Websites have online
reporting forms for consumers to use in referring complaints
to the appropriate regulatory authorities.

10. How will FDA integrate its efforts with the White House
Electronic Commerce Working Group?

FDA believes its activities will complement those of the
White House working group and are consistent with the
Administration's July 1997 Framework for Global Electronic
Commerce and the President's November 1998 Memorandum on
Successes and Further Work on Electronic Commerce. Effective
consumer protection is necessary to foster legitimate
electronic commerce. Because legitimate electronic commerce
activities may involve the practice of medicine or the
practice of pharmacy, FDA will work with state law
enforcement and regulatory bodies to better define the
boundaries of legitimate online practices. By reducing the
availability of illegal and harmful products in the
electronic commerce marketplace, FDA enforcement activities
will increase consumer confidence in the Internet.

11. What are international organizations like WHO doing
about Internet prescribing and dispensing?

The World Health Organization is in the process of
developing a guide entitled "Medical Products and the
Internet." In addition to providing tips on finding reliable
health and medical information on the Internet, it will
provide advice on buying medical products online. FDA
participated in the development of this guide.

12. Can an American patient get a medication not approved in
the U.S. from a foreign dispenser?

As a general matter, it is illegal to import an unapproved
drug into the U.S. However, under FDA's personal importation
policy, FDA has authorized its inspectors to use their
enforcement discretion to allow U.S. residents to import
certain products under certain limited conditions. Under
this policy, FDA may allow a U.S. resident to bring into
this country an unapproved drug for their personal use for a
serious condition, if there has been no commercialization or
promotion of the drug to U.S. residents.

13. Is it illegal for a foreign pharmacy to ship
prescription medicines into the U.S.?

It is illegal for anyone, including a foreign pharmacy,
to ship prescription drugs that are not approved by FDA
into the U.S. even though the drug may be legal to sell
in that pharmacy's country. Under the scheme that
Congress established to ensure that drugs are safe and
effective, drugs are tested and test results are
thoroughly reviewed by FDA scientists. U.S. law also
requires that products approved for sale in the United
States have their formulation approved by FDA, be made in
a plant registered with FDA, and be produced under
quality standards enforced by FDA.

Prescription drugs available from a foreign pharmacy that
are products that FDA has not approved; products with
similar, but not identical formulations as FDA-approved
products; products not made under the quality standards
required by U.S. law or labeled according to U.S.
requirements; or products not stored or distributed under
the quality conditions required in the U.S. cannot be
legally sold in the U.S.

[Terry Polevoy]

PRIVACY ISSUES ARE JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG

HERE ARE SOME CASES TO WATCH

http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2000/07/iog.htm

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-
8&oe=UTF-8&q=FTC+privacy+online+pharmacies

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-
8&q=%22attorney+general%22+privacy+online+pharmacies

Why does Dave Wickware, hawker of ginseng cures for cancer
and other diseases use an online pharmacy that does not
provide secure information to help with the promotion of the
Advanced Wholistic retreat?

http://www.pillsupplier.com/rate_it/rate54837.html

Hmmm Dave, why don't you tell us why you do that?

Terry

[Jebus]

info@healthwatcher.net (Terry Polevoy) wrote in message news:<d0acb77d.0407030404.7ae86d3c@posting.google.com>...
> Dave Wickware has no idea of the seriousness of what
> internet pharmacies can do.

As wrong as the above statement is, it is a mute point. I
did not once hear Mr. Wickware advocating this online
pharmacy. The fact that his site shows up on a mirrored
health directory that happens to be hosted on
pillsupplier.com is simply a result of the openess of the
Internet. Take a look at sites that link to yours Terry, I'm
sure you'll find a lot of people linking to you who
absolutely hate your guts. That doesn't mean that you
endorse them and it certainly doesn't mean that you're
"advertising" with them.

Get real.

Jebus.