Red Flags in Health Claims, Unnecessary Testing, Delayed Treatment, Informed Consent and Second Opinions

Red flags in health claims

These signs do not prove a claim is false, but they are reasons to slow down and check.

• A treatment is said to cure a serious disease. NCCIH says no complementary approach has been shown to cure cancer or cause it to go into remission. [1]
• You are told to stop or skip standard treatment. NCCIH advises not to use unproven products to replace or delay medical treatment for cancer. [1]
• A test is sold for a use medical societies advise against, such as food IgG tests. [2]
• The same practice that sells the test also sells the supplement it recommends. A review of consumer microbiome tests noted that some are a way to sell supplements. [3]
• Results conflict between labs, as in a study of hair mineral analysis. [4]
• Natural is presented as the same as safe. NHS says herbal medicines and complementary therapies are not tested in the same way as standard medicines. [5]

The NHS also warns that some products can interact with medicines such as statins, antidepressants and blood thinners. [5] See how to evaluate a therapy claim.

Unnecessary testing and supplement burden

Broad panels can return borderline or irrelevant results that lead to more tests and more products. The NHS says home food-intolerance tests may suggest avoiding multiple foods, which can be harmful. [6] Allergy societies say IgG food testing should not be used to identify reactions. [2] Proper evidence not found for a source that measures how many supplements people are told to take after such panels, so we do not give a number. Practical steps: write down every product and dose, ask what each is for and how you will know if it helped, and review the list with a pharmacist or doctor. See claim-check pages on tests and amounts and duplicate ingredients.

Delayed diagnosis or treatment

NCCIH defines "alternative" as used in place of conventional medicine and "complementary" as used together with it. [7] Its cancer guidance says delayed treatment of cancer reduces the likelihood of remission or cure. [1]

A 2018 US study of about 1.9 million people with nonmetastatic breast, prostate, lung or colorectal cancer compared 258 patients who used "complementary medicine" (defined as unproven treatments given by nonmedical personnel) with 1,032 matched patients. They refused surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormone therapy much more often, and had worse 5-year survival (82.2% vs 86.6%). The link with survival was no longer significant once refusal or delay of standard treatment was counted, so the authors concluded the risk was mediated by refusing standard care. [8] It is an observational study, so it shows an association, not proof of cause.

See a doctor promptly for symptoms that are new, severe or worsening, such as chest pain, trouble breathing, sudden weakness, a lump that persists or unexplained weight loss. In the US, call 911 for emergencies.

Informed consent

The NHS explains that consent must be voluntary, informed and given by a person with capacity. Informed means you are given all the information about what the treatment involves, including benefits and risks, reasonable alternatives and what happens if you do not go ahead. [9] If you change your mind before a procedure you may withdraw consent. [9] That is UK guidance; legal details differ by country. The NHS also says the decision must not be influenced by pressure from staff, friends or family. [9]

When to get a second opinion

Consider one before major treatment decisions, after a serious diagnosis, or if a plan seems to rest on unusual tests. NHS 111 Wales says you do not have a legal right to a second opinion but clinicians rarely refuse to refer you for one, and that it may delay treatment, so ask your doctor whether a delay could be harmful. [10] That is Welsh NHS guidance; processes differ elsewhere. Bring your records, and tell each clinician what the others recommended. See coordinating complementary and medical care.