We Get Letters: FDA Outlaws Vitamins

02/02/07

"FDA Outlaws Vitamins" Topic Struck a Nerve with Readers

Our last issue of HealthBeat News, wherein we revealed some of the plot and plan of the FDA and Big Pharma to make all nutritional supplements "prescription only," really struck a nerve with readers. In case you missed this article, you can read it here: FDA Outlaws Vitamins:
Closer By The Minute  Here is some of the feedback we received, and our replies.

Russ said:

"I believe everything you say in this newsletter, and have believed it longer than I've known about you!! The question is, how can it be stopped! This has got to be POLITICALLY UNPOPULAR! My question is, how do these UNELECTED people get off changing the lives of Americans? The deaths and disfigurements from prescription drugs is a national disgrace. Death and injury from the 'Doctors' and Hospitals exceeds the deaths on our highways EVERY year!! Medicine is protected from blame as long as they 'stay within the boundaries.' Our doctor, a primary provider cannot even suggest a natural alternative substance, without endangering his license to practice. We need a medical freedom amendment to the constitution. But, there is too much money involved now! It will never happen."

Dr. Myatt answers: Yeah, it's a sorry state of affairs, don't we know. YOU'LL SEE THAT HealthBeat News is going to have regular "political action alerts." When there is some actual measure we can take, such as write a letter or contact a politician, I'm going to keep you informed about what to do and how to do it.

Gary asked:

"Dr.Myatt,in regards to issue 4, vol 7 is there anything we do? Gary!"

Dr. Myatt answers: There's nothing at this red-hot moment to take political action on but I'll be including political action updates whenever they come up in our new HealthBeat newsletter. Stay tuned.

Marilyn's input:

"Thought you might like to see my editorial on this subject. It is CAFTA that causes the vitamin control problem."

Dr. Myatt: Thanks for the input. Yes, CAFTA is part of the problem, but the FDA has been acting to curtail our health freedoms even before CAFTA came on the scene. CAFTA is certainly accelerating the degradation of our health freedoms, however. We'll mention this in another newsletter and I'll ask permission to quote part of your article. NOTE: Marilyn's excellent explanation of CAFTA (Central America's Free Trade Agreement), the big, border-erasing "One World Government" plan that is accelerating the degradation of our health freedom, can be found here: Open Access to Vitamins Soon to be a Thing of the Past
(http://www.businessreform.com/article.php?articleID=11480)

Josh writes:

"I am currently a 2nd year ND student at Bastyr.  I'm looking into politicians who are actively working to stop the FDA's attack on vitamins/minerals.  Do you know any that are standing up for this important issue?  Or, anyone who might know?  I'm writing our local politicos here in WA. Thanks for any help!"

Nurse Mark:  Thanks for your note Josh, and stay tuned - in response to this note and a number of others asking much the same thing we will be starting a regular feature in the newsletter that will pass along important legislative updates and contact information for legislators. We also invite our readers to tell us of positive (or negative) interactions that they have with our legislators and politicians on these important issues.

Betty is more optimistic:

"An article in Public Citizen regarding our new Congress, says in part: '. . . They have also promised greater oversight of the troubled Food and Drug Administration which has been plagued for years by the politicization of scientific decisions and cozy relationships with the drug companies it is supposed to be monitoring, thereby leading to controversial and even dangerous decisions by the agency.' Thought it might make you feel better to know that maybe there is some help here. At least those in power are aware of the problem. We can only hope."

Dr Myatt: Betty, Betty, Betty! What is the "new Congress" going to say after the head of the FDA has been caught red-handed with ties to Big Pharma, and so much news coming out about serious flaws in their drug oversight, under-the-table money deals with drug companies, and thousands of deaths due to "FDA approved drugs" that they had advanced knowledge of? Congress fairly well HAS TO say something about it, but "promised greater oversight" sounds pretty lame to me. How about "Fire the whole damned lot of them and set up a new regulatory agency"? That would make more sense. I'm betting the new Congress will just keep watching without taking action, or else give the FDA an obligatory slap on the wrist. If they do more, well, I'll believe it when I see it. But thanks for your optimism! And please do read this week's related funny, "Montana cowboy."

And finally, the booby-prize of the week goes to Andy:

"Take your lithium."

Dr. Myatt: Every letter of feedback we received was either lucid and insightful or at least polite. I certainly don't mind feedback that disagrees with me --- in fact, disagreement is how we all learn. But this comment contained nothing of value. The interesting thing about Andy's comment, which implies that the editors of HealthBeat News suffer from bipolar disorder (what we used to call "manic/depression"), is that "Andy" is an M.D./Ph.D. with ties to the pharmaceutical giant Smith Kline Glaxo. (Who of course offer their own version of lithium, a toxic drug). Do you suppose we hit a nerve with Ol' Doc Andy? As Russ noted (see above), "This has got to be politically unpopular." Oh well, talking the truth is a dirty job but someone's got to do it, huh? :-)

And that's the past week in review...