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Attacking scam artists - Cell Tech, Dr. John F. Taylor, and Dr. Laura Thompson
Today I attended a workshop on ADHD in Bend led by Dr. John F. Taylor. In the beginning of the workshop I noticed that John mentioned a product that can really help ADHD - algae. Not just any algae - Cell Tech blue-green algae. I thought, "What? Why would he say that? He must have some special interest in this product." And, he does. Using my laptop, I learned a lot.
Now, I could never find official documents online to prove he's an employee or investor in Cell Tech products... but I found enough information to make his life miserable for a few minutes. #1: The Cell Tech site is plastered with positive feedback from him. #2: A promotional CD put out by him and Dr. Laura Thompson led me to research Dr. Laura. #3: Dr. Laura is the head of "The Southern California Institute of Clinical Nutrition" which is a fancy name for a business that sells non-FDA approved suppliments to cure/help various ailments. #4: Dr. Laura never mentions this on her site, or elsewhere - but she is an official distributor of Cell Tech products, making the top 100 list in 2002.
It was easy to make the connections. John makes money off of Cell Tech, just like Dr. Laura does.
So, then the bad news. Cell Tech lost a lawsuit in 2003 in California over false advertising. Cell Tech is banned from selling their products in California and everyone who purchased Cell Tech products were allowed refunds for restitution. Yikes. Additionally, in Feburary 2006, Cell Tech has been sued over the wrongful death of someone's daughter who was being treated for ADHD with the algae... and died. It is horrible - this crap science is killing people, in addition to defrauding people of thousands of dollars.
And I learned all of these while John talked and talked and talked. 75 minutes at a time, with 10 minute breaks. He also mentioned that he was James Dobson's first ever guest for Focus for the Family which really set off all of my alarms. If you are unfamiliar with James Dobson, let's provide you with some quotes:
"Homosexuals are not monogamous. They want to destroy the institution of marriage. It will destroy marriage. It will destroy the Earth."
"[P]ain is a marvelous purifier. . . It is not necessary to beat the child into submission; a little bit of pain goes a long way for a young child. However, the spanking should be of sufficient magnitude to cause the child to cry genuinely."
"Some strong-willed children absolutely demand to be spanked, and their wishes should be granted. . . [T]wo or three stinging strokes on the legs or buttocks with a switch are usually sufficient to emphasize the point, 'You must obey me.'"
"[P]eople talk about the potential for good that can come from destroying these little embryos and how we might be able to solve the problem of juvenile diabetes. There's no indication yet that they're gonna do that, but people say that, or spinal cord injuries or such things. But I have to ask this question: In World War II, the Nazis experimented on human beings in horrible ways in the concentration camps, and I imagine, if you wanted to take the time to read about it, there would have been some discoveries there that benefited mankind."
and finally... and most disturbingly:
"[T]he boy's father has to do his part. He needs to mirror and affirm his son's maleness. He can play rough-and-tumble games with his son, in ways that are decidedly different from the games he would play with a little girl. He can help his son learn to throw and catch a ball. He can teach him to pound a square wooden peg into a square hole in a pegboard. He can even take his son with him into the shower, where the boy cannot help but notice that Dad has a penis, just like his, only bigger."(source: http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/James_Dobson)
What would a psychiatrist have to do with someone who obviously has no clue about how to raise a child? Who would brag about that?
Well, obviously, a crook. I called him on that during the workshop. He hated it, he said he didn't know about the lawsuit in California and continued to say that he knew for certain that Cell Tech works. I was really nervous to comment on it, but mostly I was angry. I hate feeling like people are trying to take advantage of me or other people. I had to speak up, despite knowing that this guy wouldn't be helpful. Other people had to know. I follwed up when I got home and wrote Dr. Laura Thompson an e-mail. Have a look:
The lesson is this - 1) do not buy Cell Tech products, 2) do not trust people who call themselves "experts" without looking at what makes them experts, 3) do research, 4) call them on their shit when you can.
Other sources:
http://www.drlaurathompson.com/ Dr. Laura's page/The Southern California Institute of Clinical Nutrition homepage
http://www.mlmwatch.org/04C/CT/ruling.html False Advertising suit with results.
http://www.casewatch.org/civil/celltech/complaint.shtml Lawsuit over wrongful death.
http://www.celltech.com/resources/events/top100_02.html See #26: Laura Nell Thompson, 88 points as a top distributor of Cell Tech products
You can find much more using efficient searches.
Now, I could never find official documents online to prove he's an employee or investor in Cell Tech products... but I found enough information to make his life miserable for a few minutes. #1: The Cell Tech site is plastered with positive feedback from him. #2: A promotional CD put out by him and Dr. Laura Thompson led me to research Dr. Laura. #3: Dr. Laura is the head of "The Southern California Institute of Clinical Nutrition" which is a fancy name for a business that sells non-FDA approved suppliments to cure/help various ailments. #4: Dr. Laura never mentions this on her site, or elsewhere - but she is an official distributor of Cell Tech products, making the top 100 list in 2002.
It was easy to make the connections. John makes money off of Cell Tech, just like Dr. Laura does.
So, then the bad news. Cell Tech lost a lawsuit in 2003 in California over false advertising. Cell Tech is banned from selling their products in California and everyone who purchased Cell Tech products were allowed refunds for restitution. Yikes. Additionally, in Feburary 2006, Cell Tech has been sued over the wrongful death of someone's daughter who was being treated for ADHD with the algae... and died. It is horrible - this crap science is killing people, in addition to defrauding people of thousands of dollars.
And I learned all of these while John talked and talked and talked. 75 minutes at a time, with 10 minute breaks. He also mentioned that he was James Dobson's first ever guest for Focus for the Family which really set off all of my alarms. If you are unfamiliar with James Dobson, let's provide you with some quotes:
"Homosexuals are not monogamous. They want to destroy the institution of marriage. It will destroy marriage. It will destroy the Earth."
"[P]ain is a marvelous purifier. . . It is not necessary to beat the child into submission; a little bit of pain goes a long way for a young child. However, the spanking should be of sufficient magnitude to cause the child to cry genuinely."
"Some strong-willed children absolutely demand to be spanked, and their wishes should be granted. . . [T]wo or three stinging strokes on the legs or buttocks with a switch are usually sufficient to emphasize the point, 'You must obey me.'"
"[P]eople talk about the potential for good that can come from destroying these little embryos and how we might be able to solve the problem of juvenile diabetes. There's no indication yet that they're gonna do that, but people say that, or spinal cord injuries or such things. But I have to ask this question: In World War II, the Nazis experimented on human beings in horrible ways in the concentration camps, and I imagine, if you wanted to take the time to read about it, there would have been some discoveries there that benefited mankind."
and finally... and most disturbingly:
"[T]he boy's father has to do his part. He needs to mirror and affirm his son's maleness. He can play rough-and-tumble games with his son, in ways that are decidedly different from the games he would play with a little girl. He can help his son learn to throw and catch a ball. He can teach him to pound a square wooden peg into a square hole in a pegboard. He can even take his son with him into the shower, where the boy cannot help but notice that Dad has a penis, just like his, only bigger."(source: http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/James_Dobson)
What would a psychiatrist have to do with someone who obviously has no clue about how to raise a child? Who would brag about that?
Well, obviously, a crook. I called him on that during the workshop. He hated it, he said he didn't know about the lawsuit in California and continued to say that he knew for certain that Cell Tech works. I was really nervous to comment on it, but mostly I was angry. I hate feeling like people are trying to take advantage of me or other people. I had to speak up, despite knowing that this guy wouldn't be helpful. Other people had to know. I follwed up when I got home and wrote Dr. Laura Thompson an e-mail. Have a look:
Dear Laura Thompson,
Today I went to an ADHD workshop presented by John F. Taylor. In the workshop, he presented his case that everyone with ADHD should use Cell Tech's algae suppliment. This would be perfectly ethical, if John had disclosed at some point during the workshop that he made money off of the product. In fact, I confronted him during the workshop about the lawsuit in California that was settled in 2003 that Cell Tech lost which barred Cell Tech from selling its products in California and provided restitution to everyone who purchased Cell Tech products. Additionally, I mentioned that you, Ms. Thompson, are a distributor of Cell Tech products who even made the top 100 list in 2002. I also mentioned the current lawsuit filed in Feb. 2006 that Cell Tech's algae suppliment caused the death of someone's child.
I am writing to tell you that I am incredibly disappointed in John for using my time to promote a product without disclosing his monetary connection to that product, which is required by law. I suggest that in the future you make full disclosures about your business practices, because you will end up being sued again if you continue this unethical way of conducting business. Using a position of authority (being a doctor) to promote a product can be very persuasive, which is why I am certain that non-disclosure of John's connection (or yours) to the product you promote is criminal.
Please, for the sake of what is moral and ethical, stop these illegal practices and start living ethically within the laws of our United States of America. I ask for you consider my words. Feel free to write back.
-Will
The lesson is this - 1) do not buy Cell Tech products, 2) do not trust people who call themselves "experts" without looking at what makes them experts, 3) do research, 4) call them on their shit when you can.
Other sources:
http://www.drlaurathompson.com/ Dr. Laura's page/The Southern California Institute of Clinical Nutrition homepage
http://www.mlmwatch.org/04C/CT/ruling.html False Advertising suit with results.
http://www.casewatch.org/civil/celltech/complaint.shtml Lawsuit over wrongful death.
http://www.celltech.com/resources/events/top100_02.html See #26: Laura Nell Thompson, 88 points as a top distributor of Cell Tech products
You can find much more using efficient searches.
posted by Will at 6:27 PM
9 Comments:
Interesting post. When I attended a conference with Dr. Taylor he was making a big point of NOT being a distributor. This was in 1998,and I understand he has since re-married to a woman who is one.
It is true, I went to the seminar because I had become a Cell Tech distributor.
I knew next to nothing about ADD.
"The algae" had transformed me from an exhausted, depressed, menopausal mess to an energetic woman who knows where the car keys are. After almost a year of taking it I asked the friend who had shown me the way if she would mind if I kept some in my Reflexology office to sell to clients. I had NO idea of the whole MLM thing till then.
Meanwhile, my "difficult child" who was by now 18 started eating a gram a day as well. And became a much easier person, with fewer mood swings and meltdowns, better focus and better social skills.
When I heard Dr. Taylor talk about ADD minus the H I just about sat there with my mouth open. He was describing my unique, brilliant but not easy to live with son as if he knew him.
The seminar, at least back then, was about a lot more than selling SBGA. I would recommend Dr. Taylor's resources to anyone with a child with problems, whether they eat algae or not. I do NOT get a commission on Add-Plus materials.
How did I end up here anyway?
Ah, Google...
This is almost worth creating a whole new post for, other than the fact that I don't give a shit about Cell Tech and particularly Dr. Taylor. Just a few things:
1) Dr. Taylor is one of the worst presenters I've ever seen in my life. He was boring, his information was not backed by clear research (though he continued to talk as though he was quoting actual research), and he did not reference any of the standard research shared in most educational colleges.
2) It is quite obvious that whoever "Ien Van Houten" actually is most likely is involved at this time with the same players from Cell Tech considering that the link from "Ien Van Houten" takes you to a Klamath Falls website that sells blue-green algae. I would have guessed that this company used to be Cell Tech and then changed names. And I would be correct. The website lists "Bob Underwood" as the CEO of Simlexity Health" and another website refers to him as being the President of the New Algae Company with a link to Cell Tech with him.
The point: not a reliable source of unbiased info. In fact, more of exactly the same. Do not trust Simplexity Health any more than Cell Tech as they are effectively the same exact thing!
3) This poster uses anecdotal evidence from his or her personal life. This is a similar tactic that Dr. Taylor used when talking about his daughter. Proof is always "in the pudding" and when the only proof provided comes from personal anecdotal experience, be very worried.
In all, I can't be sure whether this person is intentionally a liar or if they've drank the kool-aid of company that promises magical changes without any sort of FDA testing to ensure their product actually works.
After my initial conclusions, I decided to search "Ien Van Houten" on google I've discovered that her name is Ieneke Van Houten, a 64-year-old grandmother and a distributor of all sorts of things via e-commerce websites. She claims to be interested health, the planet Earth, and unity (among other things).
I can trust nothing of what she says at all, and this does nothing to convince me of anything that I didn't learn before. It just reaffirms to me that Cell Tech still exists and people are still being bamboozled.
I've deleted a comment due to its irrelevance related to the FDA. If you'd like to see my reasoning, click here: http://demonwilbjammin.blogspot.com/2009/02/simplexitycell-techproducts-not-to.html
Will, get off you're high horse and realize that the cell tech products work for many people, they are not dangerous and me and my family have used them with great success. The couple that introduced me to the products were upfront about the multi level marketing structure and that you do not have to sell the products to buy them.
The doctors views on marriage and homosexuality are protected free speech and you are a miserable person that will attack anyone who disagrees with you by trying to destroy them personally with non-factual claims that you cannot back up but you hope will smear him enough to discredit him.
Get a life.
Everything I have said is factual. Prove me wrong, Mr. Anonymous.
You are the one the one that is claiming that is making the claims about someone dying from blue green algae. Where are the court documents. If you know the state and the plaintiffs or defendants name you can get the legal documents for free.
You are the one making the claim so the burden of proof lies with you.
Maybe if you read the links at the bottom of the post you'd see that I did link to it... http://www.casewatch.org/civil/celltech/complaint.shtml
Get your own blog, this isn't a site for spam.
So I followed the link and it says the suit against Cell Tech was overturned. What's your point Will?
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