2.17 Self-teaching question (4)

In some cases, particularly with regard to treatment for disease, you may be able to spot the warning signs of questionable research just by checking the website of the company that markets the treatment.

Look at the website for Secomet [ http://www.secomet.com ], a company that markets the unproven herbal remedy for HIV mentioned in section 2.13.

In some cases, particularly with regard to treatment for disease, you may be able to spot the warning signs of questionable research just by checking the website of the company that markets the treatment.

Ask the questions in the table below, and compare the answers for each company.

Question	Secomet	Amgen
Does the company claim a "cure" or "reversal" of the target disease?
Is there scientific evidence for the claims published in peer-reviewed journals?
Are all the ingredients identified in precise biochemical terms and quantities?
Is the treatment only available privately, or from only one source?
Is there full disclosure of product safety information
Has the product been tested in controlled clinical trials?
Is the product registered with the medicine control council (if one exists) in the country in which it is marketed?

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