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A Closer Look at Why HCG Diet Products are Illegal

Posted on January 31st, 2012 by Robert D. Rowland

While last month we posted about the FDA’s HCG alert advising consumers to avoid all HCG weight loss products, I wanted to take a closer look at why HCG is considered dangerous.

Unsafe Claims

Most HCG diet products are marketed in conjunction with extremely low calorie diets – as low as 500 calories a day. These diets claim consumers will lose up to 30 pounds in 30-40 days.

The problem is, any weight loss experienced is a result from severe calorie restriction – not from HCG. The FDA has approved HCG as a prescription drug for the treatment of female infertility and other medical conditions – but not for weight loss. Its prescription drug label states there “is no substantial evidence that it increases weight loss beyond that resulting from caloric restriction, that it causes a more attractive or ‘normal’ distribution of fat, or that it decreases the hunger and discomfort associated with calorie-restricted diets.”

A Dangerous Diet

Eating 500 calories a day is extremely dangerous, and can leave you at an increased risk for gallstone formation, an imbalance of the electrolytes that keep the body’s muscles and nerves functioning properly, and an irregular heartbeat. Without constant medical supervision for a condition such as obesity, such a restrictive diet could even be fatal.

FDA Legal Action

It’s illegal to sell products claiming to contain HCG as an OTC drug product. Companies marketing and selling these products could face enforcement actions, legal penalties or criminal prosecution. The FDA also advises consumers who have purchased homeopathic HCG for weight loss to stop using it, throw it out, and stop following the dieting instructions.

If you or a loved are on an HCG diet and have experienced any illnesses while taking HCG, contact Robert D. Rowland.

Competition, Mud, and Speed on Two Wheels

Posted on January 18th, 2012 by The Firm

Congratulations to GHAR’s own Elizabeth Heller, who took second place in the UCI Master’s World Championships this past Sunday in Louisville, KY, and third place in the USA Cycling Cyclo-cross National Championships, held in Verona, WI, earlier this month.

Cyclo-cross isn’t a typical bike race. It’s a fast course on pavement, wooded trails, grass, steep hills and obstacles requiring the rider to quickly dismount, carry the bike while navigating the obstructions and remount. And since races are usually held during the Fall and Winter, rain, wind, snow – and mud – is common. Competitors often change bicycles mid-race so mud can continually be power-washed washed off in the pit area. Falls are common in cyclo-cross, and so are broken bones.

Elizabeth began competing in triathlons after graduating from Beloit College in 1980. A natural-born competitor, she decided to switch to cycling, and has continued to pursue it as a passion over the years.

“It’s no walk in the park. When you’re 54 you’re as old as your mother used to be. I think I’m crazy, but then I see others out here who are just as crazy as I am,” Elizabeth says. “I’ll keep doing it as long as I can.”

The Power of Volunteering, and Giving Children a Voice

Posted on December 26th, 2011 by Tina Italiano

For a little over two years, I have been a volunteer for Voices for Children – the CASA program in the City of St. Louis. The mission of the National Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Association, together with its state and local members, is to support and promote court-appointed volunteer advocacy for abused and neglected children so they can thrive in safe, permanent homes.

I chose to volunteer because I wanted to do something to help out in the community and I knew I wanted to work with kids. In order to be appointed as a CASA advocate, you have to be committed to the cause – you must complete a 16-hour training course and be sworn in by the Judge. CASA advocates dedicate their hearts and minds to improving life for children in St. Louis, maintaining the child welfare system’s focus on the child. It’s my responsibility to provide the court a full picture of a child’s life and recommend what I think is best for him or her. CASA advocates can truly change the lives of abused children by helping them move from foster care to safe, stable homes where they have a chance for a brighter future.

Here’s an example of how a case can unfold: my very first case involved an infant who was left in a car on a hot summer day, as his mother passed out from drug use. Once the child was taken into custody by Children’s Division and placed into relative foster care (with a Great Aunt), the Court became his legal guardian.

The main goal, as with any case, is reunification with the child’s biological parent(s). In order to do that, the parent(s) is/are required to complete Court required services. In addition to a parenting course and psychological evaluation, this child’s mother needed to complete drug rehabilitation. She was in and out of several programs, but kept relapsing. She finally determined that she was not and would not be in a good place to raise her child. Currently, she has found a program that is working for her, but she still granted permission for the child’s Great Aunt to have guardianship so that he could get out of the Children’s Division custody. If, in the future, the mother is able to provide a stable, healthy lifestyle, she can petition the court for custody of the child.

During this entire process, the CASA advocates “speaks” for the child – giving them a voice in all critical decisions affecting their well being while in foster care.

It’s been a rewarding experience, and I’m glad I decided to volunteer my time. If you would like more information on Voices for Children, or are interested in volunteering or becoming a CASA advocate, visit their website at www.voices-stl.org.

Medtronic INFUSE Bone Graft Off-Label Complications

Posted on December 20th, 2011 by Robert D. Rowland

It is estimated that 900,000 patients may have used the Medtronic INFUSE Bone Graft, a medical device with an active ingredient, rhBMP-2, that’s described as “a “genetically engineered version of a naturally occurring protein that is capable of initiating bone growth in specific, targeted areas of the spine.”

In 2002, the Food and Drug Administration approved INFUSE for only one type of spine surgery – anterior approach lumbar fusion. It has not been approved for any other type of spine surgeries, such as lateral or posterior approach lumbar fusion surgeries, or for surgery on the neck or cervical spine (the portion of the spine that runs from the shoulders to the head).

Despite its limited authorized use, INFUSE has been used off-label in surgeries on the lumbar or cervical spine for many patients. Today, as much as 85% of INFUSE use is off-label. In cases like these, when any drug or medical device is used off-label, the surgeon must fully disclose any and all risks prior to the surgery, so that the patient may make an informed decision as to whether or not to proceed with the surgery.

In June of 2011, a medical journal called The Spine Journal criticized earlier studies by physicians with financial ties to Medtronic that supported the widespread use of INFUSE. The Spine Journal charged “biased and corrupted research,” alleging the studies greatly understated INFUSE’s serious side effects and risks. In fact, in none of the 13 trials funded by Medtronic were any adverse events disclosed.

U.S. regulators and other research has now shown that up to 50% of patients who have received an INFUSE implant have suffered adverse effects, including ectopic bone growth, uncontrolled bone growth, swelling in the neck and throat, infection, inflammatory cyst formation, cancer, and infertility in men.

Have you or a loved one suffered side effects after receiving an INFUSE implant? Contact Robert D. Rowland.

The HCG Diet Alert

Posted on December 16th, 2011 by Katie A. Hubbard

The HCG diet is everywhere you look these days. From online advertising to your local chiropractor’s office, it is being marketed as a weight-loss wonder drug. HCG, or Human Chorionic Gonadotropin, is a hormone that women produce during pregnancy. It is now being used as a homeopathic weight loss supplement in the form of drops, pellets or sprays that are ingested or injected into the body. The entities that are promoting this hormone claim that it allows the body to metabolize fat and use it for energy. This along with a 500-calorie diet is said to produce significant weight loss results.

A quick Google search will lead to countless websites selling HCG, and any search for HCG side effects is filled with ads promoting the substance. Like many other diet fads, there is a lack of long-term research on side effects that can be caused by adding this hormone to your diet at such a high level.

The FDA has not approved HCG for weight loss, and is advising consumers to avoid all HCG weight loss products. Along with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), they have issued letters to companies warning them that they are selling illegal homeopathic HCG weight-loss drugs that have not been approved by FDA, and that make unsupported claims. The FDA advises consumers who have purchased homeopathic HCG for weight loss to stop using it, throw it out, and stop following the dieting instructions.

If you or a loved are on an HCG diet and have experienced any illnesses while taking HCG, contact Katie A Hubbard.